Step 1: Receive Admission and Your Form I-20

Before you can apply for an F-1 visa, you must be admitted to a school that is certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). Once admitted and after providing proof of financial support, your school will issue a Form I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status).

Carefully review your I-20 to make sure:

• Your name matches your passport exactly
• Your date of birth is correct
• Your program information is accurate
• Your funding information is correct

Step 2: Pay the SEVIS I-901 Fee

All new F-1 students must pay the SEVIS I-901 Fee before attending their visa interview. The fee should be paid several days before your appointment to ensure the payment is recorded. Pay the SEVIS Fee here. 

After payment:

• Print and save your receipt
• Keep a digital copy for your records
• Bring the receipt to your visa interview

Failure to provide proof of payment may delay visa issuance. 

Step 3: Complete the DS-160 Application

Complete the DS-160 Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application through the U.S. Department of State. You will need a valid passport, your form I-20, your SEVIS ID number, information about your academic program, and a passport-style photograph (if required). There will be other questions in the application, make sure you take time to answer each one very carefully. 

After submission:

• Print the DS-160 confirmation page
• Save a copy of the application for your records

You will need the confirmation page for your visa interview.

Step 4: Schedule Your Visa Interview

Schedule an appointment with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate after receiving your Form I-20 and completing the DS-160 application. Visa appointment availability varies by country and season, so apply as early as possible. 

Find your nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate at https://www.usembassy.gov/.

Step 5: Prepare for Your Visa Interview

Bring the following documents to your appointment:

• Valid passport
• Form I-20
• UTampa admission letter
• DS-160 confirmation page
• SEVIS I-901 fee receipt
• Visa application fee receipt
• Financial support documents, such as:
  • Bank statements
  • Scholarship letters
  • Sponsorship affidavits
  • Financial guarantee letters
• Any additional documents requested by the U.S. Embassy or Consulate

During the interview, you may be asked about:

• Your academic plans
• Why you chose your university
• How you will pay for your education
• Your career goals after graduation
• Your ties to your home country

The consular officer must be satisfied that you are actually a student and intend to comply with the terms of your visa.

Step 6: Receive Your Visa and Prepare for Travel

Once your visa is approved, check that all information printed in your passport is correct.

Important Travel Rule

Students entering the United States for the first time with an initial F-1 I-20 may arrive no earlier than 30 days before the program start date listed on the I-20.

When traveling, keep the following documents in your carry-on luggage:

• Passport with F-1 visa
• Form I-20
• Admission letter
• Financial support documentation
• SEVIS fee receipt

When you arrive at a U.S. Port of Entry, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers will review your immigration documents and determine your admission eligibility.

After entering the United States:

1. Visit the official I-94 website and download your I-94 arrival record.
2. Verify that:
   • Your class of admission is F-1
   • Your admit-until date is listed as D/S (Duration of Status)

If any information is incorrect, contact International Student Services immediately for assistance.

Important: Your passport, visa, I-20, and I-94 are among your most important documents. Keep copies and store the originals in a secure location.

Canadian and Bermudian citizens are generally not required to obtain an F-1 visa prior to entering the United States. However, they must:

• Obtain a Form I-20
• Pay the SEVIS I-901 fee
• Carry their SEVIS fee receipt
• Present their I-20 at the Port of Entry
• Show proof of citizenship and financial support when requested

Students from Bermuda should ensure that airline personnel and CBP officers recognize their citizenship correctly during the admissions process.

Important Reminders

**Do Not Enter on a Tourist Visa**

If your immigration documents have not arrived in time, do not enter the United States using a B-1/B-2 visitor visa or visa waiver status if your intention is to begin a degree program.

Students generally cannot begin a full course of study while in visitor status, and changing status after arrival can be costly, lengthy, and may significantly delay enrollment.

Use the Correct School Document

Students must attend the institution listed on the I-20 or DS-2019 that was presented at the Port of Entry. Failure to do so may affect immigration status. 

If you will enter the United States in a visa category other than F-1, notify the University and do not use an I-20 to obtain a visa.

Students currently studying in the United States in F-1 status who plan to transfer to the University must complete all required immigration transfer procedures and complete the University's international student check-in and orientation requirements.

If you leave the United States before beginning studies at the University:

• Use the new University-issued I-20 when reentering the country.
• Keep all previous I-20s for your records.
• Students who have maintained valid F-1 status and possess an unexpired visa generally do not need to obtain a new visa simply because the previous school's name appears on the visa.

Students who complete one academic program and continue to another program at the University of Tampa (for example, progressing from a bachelor's degree to a master's degree) must request a Change of Educational Level and obtain a new I-20 for the new program.

Students should submit the request titled Change of Education Level via the ISSS portal as soon as they are admitted to the new program and before the end of their grace period following completion of the current program.

Failure to obtain an updated I-20 may result in the completion of your SEVIS record and loss of F-1 status, which can affect employment authorization and other immigration benefits.