NONIMMIGRANT VISAS
Supporting Documents
Academic/Non-Academic Students & Exchange Visitors
F-1 & M-1 Visas: Academic & Non-Academic Students
Together with the mandatory documents, you must bring the following supporting documents:
- Original SEVIS generated I-20 Form, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status, obtained from a U.S. college, school or university and signed by you and a school official. Please bring both pages of this bar-coded form
- Proof of payment of the SEVIS fee, also known as the "SEVIS I-901 fee"
- Proof that you or your sponsor have money immediately available to cover your first year's tuition and living expenses and evidence that money will be available to cover the remaining year(s) of study
- Original certificates, diplomas, mark sheets and transcripts from educational institutions you previously attended
- Scores from standardized tests required by the educational institution such as the TOEFL, SAT, LSAT, GRE and GMAT
Further Instructions & Information:
- All students, as well as their spouses and children who intend to travel to the U.S., must be registered in SEVIS
- Your school is responsible for entering your information for the I-20 Form into SEVIS
- Only bring financial documents that can support your or your sponsor's claim that your studies in the U.S. will be fully funded
- Issuance of a visa is not guaranteed because you bring supporting documents
- A Consular Officer relies mainly on the oral visa interview to determine eligibility for a visa
- Present only valid documents. Fraud or misrepresentation can result in permanent ineligibility for a U.S. visa
- It is the responsibility of the nonimmigrant visa applicant to prove to the Consular Officer that they do not intend to immigrate
To see the Mandatory Documents > click here
F-2 & M-2 Visas: Spouse/Children
Together with the mandatory documents, you must bring the following supporting documents:
If you apply for your visa with your spouse
- Original SEVIS generated I-20 Form, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status, obtained from a U.S. college, school or university, signed by your spouse and a school official and with all your names printed on it. Please bring both pages of this bar-coded form
- Proof that there is money available to support your stay (and the stay of your children) in the U.S. during your spouse's entire course of study
- Original marriage registration certificate
- Wedding ceremony photos and wedding invitation. At least five, but no more than ten, of each
- Original birth certificate for each child
If you apply for your visa separately
- Bring all other supporting documents required for the F-2 or M-2 visa excluding your spouse's I-20 Form. (See above)
- Your own original SEVIS generated I-20 Form, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status obtained from the U.S. College, school or university where your spouse is studying and has your name(s) printed on it. Please bring both pages of this bar-coded form
- A good quality photocopy of your spouse's passport -- all 36 pages -- that must include a copy of their valid U.S. visa. The copied pages must be readable and the photo must be clear enough to allow identification
Further Instructions & Information:
- All students, as well as their spouses and children who intend to travel to the U.S., must be registered in SEVIS
- Your school is responsible for entering your information for the I-20 Form into SEVIS
- Only bring financial documents that can support your claim that your stay (and that of your children) in the U.S. will be fully funded
- Issuance of a visa is not guaranteed because you bring supporting documents
- A Consular Officer relies mainly on the oral visa interview to determine eligibility for a visa
- Present only valid documents. Fraud or misrepresentation can result in permanent ineligibility for a U.S. visa
- It is the responsibility of the nonimmigrant visa applicant to prove to the Consular Officer that they do not intend to immigrate
To see the Mandatory Documents > click here
J-1 Visa: Exchange Visitor
Together with the mandatory documents, you must bring the following supporting documents:
- Original SEVIS generated DS-2019 Form obtained from your sponsor organization in the U.S. and that has been completed and signed. Please bring all the pages of this form
- Proof of payment of the SEVIS fee, also known as the "SEVIS I-901 fee"
- Original certificates, diplomas, mark sheets and transcripts from educational institutions you previously attended
- Proof that you or your sponsor have money to cover your tuition and living expenses for your entire course of study
Further Instructions & Information:
- All students, as well as their spouses and children who intend to travel to the U.S., must be registered in SEVIS
- The sponsor organization is responsible for entering your information for the DS-2019 Form into SEVIS
- Only bring financial documents that can support your or your sponsor's claim that your studies in the U.S. will be fully funded
- If your sponsor is an Indian or U.S. organization, bring a letter from them that explains in detail what funding is being provided
- Issuance of a visa is not guaranteed because you bring supporting documents
- A Consular Officer relies mainly on the oral visa interview to determine eligibility for a visa
- Present only valid documents. Fraud or misrepresentation can result in permanent ineligibility for a U.S. visa
- It is the responsibility of the nonimmigrant visa applicant to prove to the Consular Officer that they do not intend to immigrate
To see the Mandatory Documents > click here
J-2 Visa: Spouse/Children
Together with the mandatory documents, you must bring the following supporting documents:
If you apply for your visa with your spouse
- Your own original SEVIS generated DS-2019 Form obtained from the U.S. organization that is sponsoring your spouse and has been completed and signed. Please bring all the pages of this form
- Proof that there is money available to support your stay (and the stay of your children) in the U.S. during your spouse's entire course of study
- Original marriage registration certificate
- Wedding ceremony photos and wedding invitation. At least five, but no more than ten, of each
- Original birth certificate for each child
If you apply for your visa separately
- Bring all other supporting documents required for the J-2 visa. (See above)
- A good quality photocopy of your spouse's passport -- all 36 pages -- that must include a copy of their valid U.S. visa. The copied pages must be readable and the photo must be clear enough to allow identification
Further Instructions & Information:
- All students, as well as their spouses and children who intend to travel to the U.S., must be registered in SEVIS
- The sponsor organization is responsible for entering your information for the DS-2019 Form into SEVIS
- Only bring financial documents that can support your claim that your stay (and that of your children) in the U.S. will be fully funded
- Issuance of a visa is not guaranteed because you bring supporting documents
- A Consular Officer relies mainly on the oral visa interview to determine eligibility for a visa
- Present only valid documents. Fraud or misrepresentation can result in permanent ineligibility for a U.S. visa
- It is the responsibility of the nonimmigrant visa applicant to prove to the Consular Officer that they do not intend to immigrate
To see the Mandatory Documents > click here