{"id":256,"date":"2024-05-08T07:58:57","date_gmt":"2024-05-08T11:58:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/iso\/?page_id=256"},"modified":"2026-08-04T16:05:04","modified_gmt":"2026-08-04T20:05:04","slug":"checklist","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/iso\/new-students\/checklist\/","title":{"rendered":"Checklist"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"parent":236,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/one-column.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"class_list":["post-256","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":{"lead_in":"","display_title":"Incoming Student Checklist","subtitle":"","call_to_action":"","hero_image_placement":"no_image","hero_media":"images","hero_pattern_option":"","hero_video":"","hero_image_landing":"","hero_image_landing_two":"","hero_image_landing_three":"","content_modules_above":[{"acf_fc_layout":"accordion_new","anchor_id":"","classes":"pt-15 mt-0","title":"","description":"Use this guide as your checklist of things to accomplish before and immediately after you arrive in Rochester as an international student. We are here to help you stay up to date on all the important requirements and information. Safe travels, and we look forward to seeing you soon!\r\n\r\n
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Step 1: Complete the New Student Intake Forms (NSIF)<\/strong><\/h2>\r\nISO is prepared to assist new international students who are seeking immigration permission for full-time study at UR. The New Student Intake Forms<\/a> must be used to request your Form I-20 (for F-1 study) or Form DS-2019 (for J-1 study) if you intend to study under the UR's immigration sponsorship. The NSIF consists of two parts, the NSIF Department Section and the NSIF Student Section. After your admitting department or admissions office submits the NSIF Department Section, you will receive an email communication inviting you to request your immigration document by completing the NSIF Student Section. Please contact your school directly if you have not received the invitation to complete your NSIF.\r\n\r\nIf you are planning to study under sponsorship from another organization, or you are not eligible for the F-1 or J-1 category, please find more information on Students in Non-UR Sponsored Categories<\/a>.\r\n\r\nIf you have been admitted through the Global Visitor Program, please instead follow the instructions to complete the Visiting New Student Intake Forms<\/a> (VNSIF).\r\n\r\nNew Student Intake Forms<\/a>\r\n\r\n \r\n

Step 2: Pay the I-901 SEVIS fee<\/strong><\/h2>\r\nAfter receiving the Form I-20 (for F-1 study) or DS-2019 (for J-1 study), international students must pay the I-901 SEVIS fee<\/a> online. This is separate from visa application fees. Pay this fee and print proof of payment before you attend your visa appointment. You can schedule an interview before you make the I-901 fee payment. Allow at least three business days for the payment to be received and verified.\r\n\r\nCanadian citizens<\/a> and Bermudian citizens<\/a> who will not apply for a student visa sticker must pay this fee several days before appearing at the US Port of Entry.\r\n\r\nStudents with the SEVIS category<\/a> of Change of Education Level (COEL) or Immigration Transfer do not need to pay the fee again, unless the transfer is from a federally sponsored exchange program that did not require the payment previously.\r\n\r\nIf you pay the I-901 Fee and then defer your admission, you may need to request a transfer of your SEVIS fee (if you receive an I-20 with a new SEVIS number) or you may need to pay the fee again; the fee expires<\/a> 12 months after the original fee payment is made for a SEVIS record in Initial status. More information about who must pay the fee and how to request a payment transfer is available online: https:\/\/www.ice.gov\/sevis\/i901\/faq<\/a>. Questions about payment may be directed to SEVP: fmjfee.sevis@ice.dhs.gov.\r\n\r\nI-901 SEVIS fee<\/a>\r\n\r\n \r\n

Step 3: Prepare and interview for your student visa<\/strong><\/h2>\r\nTo obtain the student visa, you must schedule an interview and apply for the visa in person at your local US Consulate or Embassy after completing the Form DS-160<\/a>.\r\n\r\nReference our video on Obtaining an F-1 or J-1 Visa<\/a> and our Visa Application page<\/a> for more information. Homebase is offering a monthly Prepare for your Visa Interview<\/a> webinar through August 2026. NAFSA\u2019s website<\/a> offers tips when applying for a student visa. In particular - as an applicant for the F-1 or J-1 visa, you will want to think through how you will demonstrate non-immigrant intent<\/a>.\r\n\r\nAdditionally, you may view a recording of the webinar ISO recently hosted with Matt Pierson, a former US foreign service officer:\r\n\r\nHow to Prepare for a U.S. Visa Interview<\/a>\r\n<\/strong>June 26, 2026 - 9:00AM Eastern Time\r\nThis ISO webinar focuses on preparing for the visa interview. Matt Pierson, a former U.S. Foreign Service Officer, offers expert advice on the visa interview process. He worked for over ten years at the Department of State, and has conducted over 100,000 visa interviews. He currently works as a Visa Interview Consultant, assisting travelers prepare for their visa interviews at embassies around the world. He discusses possible questions officers may ask, non-immigrant intent for visa applicants, and the social media vetting process.\r\n\r\nVisa Application process overview<\/a>","background":"plain","background_color":"#ffffff","style":"row_blank","expand":"no","accordions":[{"acf_fc_layout":"accordion","accordion_title":"Canadians and Bermudians","icon":"","row_content":"Under current immigration rules, Canadian and (most) Bermudian citizens are not required to apply for a visa. However, you still must prepare all other documents and pay the I-901 SEVIS fee for F-1 and J-1 students. The Department of State offers more information online:\u00a0Canadian citizens<\/a>,\u00a0Bermudian citizens<\/a>.","accordion_anchor":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"accordion","accordion_title":"Completing the DS-160","icon":"","row_content":"While navigating the US Visa Application Process<\/a>, it is critical that your documentation is accurate and consistent. Please have your immigration document available when completing the DS-160 Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application<\/a>; it includes UR\u2019s school code, address, and school official\u2019s name, as well as program dates and the official major code for your field of study. If additional academic details are needed, please contact your admitting department.\r\n\r\nBelow are suggested answers you are welcome to use when you fill out your DS-160. Please be aware that you are ultimately responsible for the accuracy of information you provide in this form.\r\n