When the university admits a student, it sends the student a non-immigration form called the I-20. This form indicates your field of study (major), the length of your course, and the date when you must report to the university. The form I-20 allows a student to apply for a student visa known as the F-1. In some cases the university may issue a DS-2019 form which results in a J-1 student visa. Because the J-1 is not available to most students, mainly the F-1 visa is discussed in the following sections.
After you receive your I-20 or DS-2019 form, you have to schedule a visa interview at a U.S. Embassy/Consulate in your country. Please note that the I-20 does not guarantee receipt of an F-1 visa. The local Consular official makes the final decision on whether or not to issue a student visa.
- Receive I-20 form or IAP-66 form from Hawai'i Pacific University.
- Schedule your visa appointment with the U.S. Embassy/Consulate in your country.
- Submit SEVIS fee payment in time to allow Department of Homeland Security to process payment at least 3 days prior to visa interview.
Students from Canada, please click here for information about SEVIS fees.
- If you paid online, please print SEVIS fee payment receipt and bring it to your visa interview.
- Go to your visa interview to request a F-1 or J-1 visa (the visa may not be issued right away; many embassies mail the visa to the student a few weeks after the interview).
Canadian students entering the US from Canada are not required to apply at a U.S. embassy for a student visa (however, they are required to pay the SEVIS fee). They must present their I-20 and passport to an U.S. immigration officer at the point of entry for the F-1 student visa stamp.
When can I enter the U.S.A.?
New visa regulations allow you to enter the U.S.A. up to 30 days before the first day of classes (the reporting date shown on your I-20). If you attempt to enter the USA earlier, you will be denied entry at the airport immigration area. Please plan your flight itinerary with this important policy in mind.
What happens if I cannot arrive by the reporting date?
You must request a new I-20 from your university. Many universities will admit you for the next available session, but some universities may have restrictions on readmission.
What will happen when I enter the U.S.A.?
An airline flight attendant will ask you to complete the I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record) in the airplane before you land at the U.S. port of entry. You will present the I-94 form and your passport to the immigration inspector when you land. The immigration inspector will stamp the I-94 form with "D/S (duration of status). "D/S" means that you may stay in the U.S.A. until you complete your studies. You should keep the I-94 form and a copy of your valid I-20 or DS-2019 with your passport at all times.
Click here to download an important information sheet issued by the U.S. Immigration department on what a student or exchange visitor can expect upon arrival:
What are my obligations as a student on an F-1 visa?
Students on an F-1 visa must follow the regulations of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. According to these regulations, you must:
- register for classes at the university which issued the I-20
- be enrolled as a full-time student while you are in the U.S.A.
- follow the required procedures before requesting permission to work off-campus.
- request assistance from your foreign student advisor if you wish to transfer from one university to another.
How long can I stay in the U.S.A.
The I-20 indicates the length of time you can stay to finish your course of studies. Generally, you may stay 60 days after the last day of class.
(J-1 DS 2019 may stay 30 days).
If I cannot complete my studies in the required time, may I stay longer?
If you need a longer time to complete your studies, an I.S.S. representative at your university will help you apply for an extension. If you have completed your studies, you are not allowed to continue to stay in the U.S. with that I-20, even if it has not expired.
If my visa expires, how do I renew it?
The visa is an entry document only. The visa needs to be valid only at the time you enter the U.S.A. It does not need to be renewed if you stay in the U.S.A. However, you may wish to visit Canada, Mexico, or your home country during vacation periods. If your visa has expired, ask your I.S.S. representative to provide complete information about how to renew your visa. You may then apply for a new visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country you are visiting.
For more information, please contact the International Center:
