Pre-Arrival Checklist

Follow these pre-arrival steps to make sure you complete all required actions for your arrival in the U.S..

Step 1: Request your I-20 or DS-2019

Undergraduate, Graduate, and Transfer Students

After confirming your enrollment and paying the Enrollment Confirmation Deposit, you will receive an email invitation (within 3-5 days) to the UW’s MyISSS portal, UW’s immigration portal. You must request your I-20 or DS-2019 for studies at the UW through this portal.

• Log into MyISSS using your UW NetID and password.
• Complete the Create I-20/DS-2019 request which requires:
  • A copy of the biographical page (photo page) of your passport
  • proof of funding for studies (read more)

If you do not receive an email inviting you to MyISSS, please reach out to your admissions unit rather than ISS. Undergraduate students should email intladm@uw.edu. Graduate students should email uwgrad@uw.edu

Step 2: Pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee

All F-1 and J-1 students must pay this fee.

• Pay online at fmjfee.com
• Keep the receipt. you must pay this fee before your visa interview and travel.

This fee is separate from the visa application fee.

Step 3: Apply for Your Visa

Submit Visa Application

You must apply for your F-1 or J-1 visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate outside the U.S.

Timing:

Apply for Your Visa as Early as Possible

• F-1 visas may be issued up to 120 days before the program start date listed on your I-20
• J-1 visas may be issued at any time before the start date of your program

To apply:

• Complete the DS-160 application for an F-1 or J-1 non-immigrant visa. You will be asked to select the country where you will be applying for the visa.
• Pay the visa fee (fee based on the country where you will apply)
• Schedule and attend a visa interview (if required)

The U.S. Department of State maintains an excellent website on the visa application process, and you should study it carefully. You can also check visa appointment wait times. Review the Visas page for information about preparing your supporting documents and getting ready for your visa interview.

Exceptions:

Citizens from Canada and Bermuda do not need to apply for a visa. You will simply present the I-20 or DS-2019, I-901 SEVIS fee receipt, and financial documentation to the immigration officer at the U.S. port of entry. A passport is required. For more information, visit U.S. Department of State’s travel pages.

Visas for SEVIS Transfer Students

If you are changing schools within the U.S. and transferring your SEVIS record to the UW, there are visa and travel policies unique to your situation.

• You can travel with a valid, unexpired F-1 visa and a “transfer pending” UW I-20, even if the visa has your previous school’s name on it. As long as your visa is still valid and you have not been outside of the U.S. more than five months between the end of your previous program and your return to the U.S.
• You are allowed to stay in the U.S. with a transfer pending I-20 as long as the end of your previous program and the start of your new program is no more than 5 months. You are also allowed to travel outside the U.S. with a transfer pending I-20 and return at any time to the U.S.

Step 4: Plan Travel

Initial Students (new I-20 or DS-2019)

Students who receive an Initial (new) I-20 or DS-2019 may enter the U.S. up to 30 days before the program start date listed on their document. This period, known as the “30-Day Arrival Window,” begins on the Earliest Admission Date shown in the Program of Study section of the I-20.

Entry to the U.S. more than 30 days before the program start date is against U.S. immigration law.

SEVIS Transfer Students

• The 30-day rule is only for travel with an Initial I-20. If your I-20 Form Issue Reason is “Transfer Pending” and the Earliest Admission Date is blank, you can return to the U.S. at any time between the end of your previous program and the start of your UW program.
• You can use your UW “transfer pending” I-20 for one entry to the U.S. before your academic program starts at the UW. You will not be eligible for a travel signature for multiple entries until after your academic program begins.

30-day arrival window	Requirements
First entry	Your first entry into the U.S. using your UW I-20/DS-2019 does not require a Travel Signature
Multiple entries	Multiple trips during the 30-day arrival window are not recommended

Related Resources