Apply for a Student Entry Visa
To be a student at DePauw University, most international students will need an entry visa, which makes you eligible to enter and reenter the United States within a particular time frame. Below you will find the steps to obtain your entry visa.
One: Apply for Student Status
Obtain your I-20 or DS-2019 and pay your SEVIS fee before continuing with the steps below.
Two: Complete the DS-160 nonimmigrant visa application form
For questions, refer to the US Department of State’s DS-160 FAQs.
Three: Make Your Appointment for the Visa Interview
First, find the U.S. Consulate or embassy where you will apply for your visa. Refer to the posted information and links to learn how to schedule your visa appointment, as well as any requirements for documentation you will need to bring with you.
Note: Individuals may be able to apply for a visa at a consulate/embassy outside of their home country. Please refer to the relevant consular website for information about whether “third-country” nationals are able to apply for a visa there.
Four: Prepare to Demonstrate “Non-immigrant intent”
Individuals applying for F-1 or J-1 visas will need to indicate their intent to return to their home country after finishing their academic degree programs.
Suggested ways to show “non-immigrant intent”:
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Write a letter outlining the ways that you will use your academic degree back in your home country after you have completed it.
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Bring copies to any property (house, land, apartment) that you own in your home country
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Bring bank statements for any accounts you maintain in your home country
Five: Gather Your Documentation
At minimum, you should have the following documents with you when you attend your visa interview:
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Passport (valid for at least 6 months beyond the first date of travel to the United States)
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DS-160 confirmation page (with your application ID number)
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I-20 (F-1) or DS-2019 (J-1) document
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Your Admission Letter from DePauw University
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Proof of Sufficient Funding to cover tuition, housing, and meals (Bring copies of the documentation you submitted to DePauw to receive the I-20; typically these are bank statements along with confirmation of scholarship/grant)
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Documentation confirming non-immigrant intent
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Any additional documentation requested by your U.S. consulate or embassy
Six: Attend your Visa Interview
Be prepared to be interviewed in English. Answer all questions honestly and briefly.
Question: What if I’m told my application requires further processing? What if my visa is delayed?
Please reach out to International Student Affairs to let us know. We are happy to answer any questions you might have and give you additional support.
Question: What if the U.S. government requires a security clearance?
You may need a security clearance before the visa can be issued if you were born in or are a citizen of a country that the United States has decided to flag for special security concerns.
Security clearance can take from one to three months.
While the list of countries is not published, individuals with ties to the following countries have been flagged for security clearance before: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kubwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Morocco, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, and the territories of Gaza and the West Bank.
If you’d like more information or require support, please reach out to International Student Affairs.
Seven: Receive Your Passport with the Entry Visa: And Review It
Once you have received your passport with the visa stamped inside, please make sure to review it to make sure that all of the information is correct. Contact the consulate or embassy to correct any errors prior to departure for the United States.