Information for F-1 Canadian Students
Information here is for Canadian citizens only.
Canadian citizens are not required to present an F-1 Student visa in their passport when entering the U.S., as other F-1 students need to do. Instead, you request F-1 visa status at the port of entry. The “port of entry” is the place you enter the U.S.A., which could be an airport or a land border crossing. All other F-1 immigration regulations apply to you. You should be careful to enter the U.S.A. as an F-1 student, as immigration officials at the port of entry are accustomed to admitting Canadians as visitors. If you enter the U.S.A. as a visitor, you would need to return to Canada and reenter the U.S.A. in F-1 student status before you could study at MassArt.
STEP 1: Check Your I-20
When you receive your I-20, you will need to check the following:
- Is your name spelled correctly and according to how it appears in your passport?
- Are your date of birth, country of birth, and country citizenship all listed correctly?
- Is it signed by the Designated School Official (DSO) on page one? (Note: The I-20 will not be signed by the DSO on page two as the signatures on page two are only for reentry to the U.S.A.)
STEP 2: Pay SEVIS Fee
Pay your SEVIS (I-901) Fee: You must pay the SEVIS (I-901) fee online. You will not be authorized to pay the SEVIS fee until you have your Form I-20 in hand. For more information about the SEVIS fee visit Study in the States.
STEP 3: Enter the U.S.
When entering the U.S.A. at either an airport or land border crossing, you will present the immigration officer with all of the following:
- Form I-20 issued by MassArt
- SEVIS I-901 fee receipt
- Valid passport
- Proof of financial support
- For those entering the U.S. at a land crossing: Completed I-94 form (provided to you at the port of entry)
Be prepared to answer the following questions:
- What is your purpose for entering the U.S.A.? I will study at MassArt.
- Why did you choose to study at MassArt, as opposed to a university in Canada?
- How will you support yourself at MassArt? Examples: I have received a scholarship from MassArt that covers part of the expenses, and my parents will support me as well; etc.
- What do you plan to do once you graduate?