F-1 Student Visa Application Process

1. After you are accepted into PSU's Intensive English Language Program (IELP), the IELP Office will send you an Acceptance Letter and a Visa Eligibility Form ("I-20").
   
   
2. You will need to pay a SEVIS fee of $200.00 to the US government. You can do this on the web at www.fmjfee.com/index.jhtml or look at www.ice.gov/sevis for more detailed visa information. Be sure to print out a receipt/confirmation of your SEVIS payment.
   
   
3. You will need to make an appointment for a visa interview at a U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate office in your country. To find the embassy or consulate nearest to you, visit: http://usembassy.state.gov
   
   
   
4. To apply for your F-1 student visa you must complete an application Form DS-156 Non-Immigrant Visa Application:
   https://evisaforms.state.gov/ds156.asp , together with a Form DS-158: Contact Information and Work History for Nonimmigrant Visa Applicant http://foia.state.gov/FORMS/visa/ds0158.pdf.
   Both forms must be completed and signed. Some applicants will also be required to complete and sign Form DS-157:
   Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application
   http://foia.state.gov/FORMS/visa/ds0157.pdf.
   A separate form is needed for children, even if they are included in a parent's passport. You may download the DS-156 and other forms online at http://foia.state.gov/FORMS/newscripts/forms.asp.
   
   ****As of November 1, 2006, all visa forms MUST be completed and submitted in electronic format.
   
   Take the following items to your visa interview:
• IELP acceptance letter
• I-20 Form
• Your passport
• Proof of financial responsibility
• SEVIS payment receipt
  
  

For detailed information regarding
preparing for your visa interview, please download:

10 Points When Applying for a Visa (PDF file. Size 95K)

Your IELP F-1 Student Visa (PDF file. Size 139K)

5. After you receive your F-1 Student Visa, you are now ready to come to Portland!
   

View the IELP Application Flow Chart for more information.