Visa Renewal

Visa Renewal

If you are traveling abroad and you will need to renew your F-1 visa before re-entering the U.S., allow yourself at least 2 months in advance to apply for the interview at the U.S. Embassy in your country. To set up your appointment, go to the U.S. Embassy website of your country. Look for the section: “How to apply for a visa.” Have all your documents with you to complete your application.

• Make sure that your passport will be valid at least 6 months beyond the date you plan to re-enter the U.S.
• Prepare passport pictures following U.S. Department of State requirements
• Complete the online Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160. Read about the Form DS-160. Once you have completed the form, be sure to immediately print it; you will need to bring the confirmation page with you to your interview.
• Set an appointment at the closest embassy in your country. Go to: https://evisaforms.state.gov/Instructions/SchedulingSystem.asp
• Pay the visa application fee.

On the day of the interview, take with you:

• DS-160 and receipt of visa fee
• I-20 with a valid signatures (and all previous I-20 forms, if any)
• Valid passport (see above)
• Passport photo (see above)
• Proof of funding documents
• Verification of Enrollment and transcript(s) from the Registrar’s Office
• Your next semester course schedule printed from your student portal in Workday

NOTE: If you are a current F-1 student who is maintaining status, then you do not have to pay the SEVIS fee.