How to Apply for a U.S. Visa
Congratulations! If you have been accepted to CWRU and have confirmed that you will attend, you can obtain an immigration form (Form I-20 (F-1) or DS-2019 (J-1)) from the Visa & Immigration Services & Advisors (VISA) Office.
Once you receive your Form I-20 or Form DS-2019, you should apply for a visa as soon as possible with the Department of State. The Department of State website includes information on:
- Student visa categories
- Visa application process and advice
- Visa wait times and denials
Required Fees
The I-901 Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee is a required fee charged by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Its purpose is to defray the costs of the administration and maintenance of the system, which is used to monitor and track F-1 students, J-1 Exchange Visitors, and their dependents. The SEVIS fee applies to students who are:
- Entering the U.S. as an F-1 or J-1 student
- Changing status within the U.S. to F-1 or J-1
Students who are transferring their current F-1 or J-1 status with SEVIS to CWRU have already paid this fee. The only reason a transfer student would have to pay the fee again is if their current status is completed and a new SEVIS record is issued.
SEVIS payments cannot and should not be made until you receive your Form I-20 or Form DS-2019.
Once you receive your form, you will need to pay the SEVIS fee by completing an I-901 Fee Remittance Form, in English, online. You are required to have proof that you paid the SEVIS fee in order to obtain a visa, so be sure to print the payment confirmation page after payment is complete and retain it in a safe place, as you may need it again later.
When you attend your interview at a U.S. consulate abroad, confirmation of SEVIS fee payment must be provided to the consular officer. You can request a visa appointment prior to paying the SEVIS I-901 fee, but you must have paid the fee and have a printed payment confirmation prior to your visa interview.
If you are a Canadian citizen, a visa is not required, however, you will need to present your Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 and prove that you’ve paid the SEVIS fee by presenting the payment confirmation to the Customs & Border Protection (CBP) officer at the port of entry.
If you have paid the required I‑901 SEVIS fee, you can access your information, check the status of your payment, and get any updates at FMJfee.com.
Advice for Applying
In most cases, you must attend at in-person interview at a U.S. consular post to obtain a visa stamp.
The procedures you must follow and the length of time required to process a visa application vary from consulate to consulate. Contact the nearest U.S. consulate as soon as possible to request information about visa application procedures and requirements. The U.S. Embassy website is organized by country and you can click on each country’s link to then identify the consulate most conveniently located for you. Consulate websites provide students with more specific information about any documentation and/or requirements unique to that location.
Keep in mind that:
- Interviews are short, so you should be prepared and make efficient use of your time with the consular officer.
- Proper preparation means providing as much documented proof as possible that you meet the criteria for a nonimmigrant visa.
- Interested parties (such as sponsors) may provide written information to support your application but may not always be allowed to accompany you to the interview; consult the consulate for more information.
- It is extremely difficult to obtain a visa after an initial rejection of a visa application. Consular officers will reconsider cases if visa applications are denied, but applicants must be able to show additional or new convincing evidence that their circumstances (personal, professional, or financial) have changed considerably since the previous application. It’s in your best interest to prepare your first application carefully and to present your case as clearly as possible.
Consular Officers may consider the following when reviewing a student visa application:
Objective
Your sole purpose in coming to the U.S. is to be a full-time student.
You should carefully consider your purpose for coming to the U.S. before you apply for a student visa. Your application is likely to be denied if it appears that you have only partial or primary—rather than sole—interest in being a full-time student during your stay in the U.S.
Intent
You must have both the ability and intention to be a full-time student.
Your ability can be proven with sufficient academic preparation and English-language knowledge. You can document your ability with items such as your diploma, transcripts of courses and test scores (TOEFL, GRE, GMAT, etc.). Your verbal responses and written statements made to the officer during an interview will also be considered as evidence of your English-language ability.
Your intention can be evidenced by specific plans for your course of study and clear academic and career goals. Your immigration document (Form I-20 or Form DS-2019) and CWRU acceptance letter will help to support your intention, but your verbal and written statements will also have an impact on the consular officer reviewing your application.
Funding
You must possess adequate funds to cover all tuition, health insurance, living, and anticipated incidental expenses during your stay in the U.S. without engaging in unauthorized employment.
You should be prepared to present documentation of funding consistent with documents you provided to CWRU to obtain your visa documents.
Intent to return to home country
You must have economic, family, social or other ties to your country that are strong enough to compel your departure from the U.S. upon the completion of your studies. Documentation of such such ties may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the following:
- Property ownership in your home country.
- Dependents remaining in your country, such as a spouse, children, or elderly parents.
- Employment which you may resume or begin upon your return to your country.
- Employment opportunities or prospects which are likely to be available in your country upon your return.
- High social status in your country or connections to influential business people or government officials in your country.
Social Media Review
As of June 2025, consular officers will review all student visa applicants for visa eligibility under general legal standards. As part of this new process, student visa applicants must change the privacy settings on their social media accounts to 'public.'
If an applicant is deemed to be otherwise eligible for a visa, the application will be refused under INA Section 221(g) so that the officer can conduct the social media review. Consular officers are reportedly looking for derogatory information in social media accounts, and evaluating whether any such information would render an applicant ineligible to receive a visa. As part of the review, the officer may contact the applicant for clarification or additional information. At the conclusion of the review, the visa will either be approved or denied.
Visa Denials
Visa denials can happen even to the best prepared applicants. If your visa is denied or you are experiencing significant delays in scheduling an appointment or in visa processing, please email the VISA Office at visa@case.edu so that we can advise you on next steps.
Traveling to the U.S.
You are required to arrive on campus by the start date printed on your Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 form, which is typically the first day of class.
CWRU offers orientation programs which most new students are either strongly recommended or required to attend. These programs are typically held one to two weeks prior to the indicated start date on your immigration form.
New F-1 or J-1 international students are permitted to enter the U.S. 30 days prior to the start date indicated on their I-20 or DS-2019, which does allow you to attend an orientation program before the first date on your I-20 or DS-2019. In fact, arriving a bit early to campus is a good idea, as it will allow you to get adjusted to the time change and settle into your new surroundings.
CWRU's Office of International Student Resources and Engagement (OISRE) has tips for travel as well as other helpful information for incoming students.
Required Documents
When arriving at the port of entry, go to the area for arriving passengers to begin inspection and be prepared to present the following documentation to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer:
- Valid passport (must be valid for at least six months into the future) with F-1 or J-1 entry visa stamp
- SEVIS Form I-20 or DS-2019, issued by CWRU
- Receipt verifying SEVIS fee payment
- Evidence of financial resources
- Name and contact information for Designated School Official (DSO) or Responsible Officer (RO) at CWRU
Like all entering visitors, you will be asked to explain the reason you wish to enter the United States and to provide information about your final destination.
When your inspection is complete, the officer will:
- Stamp your passport with your immigration details. The likely notation will include information about your status (either F-1 or J-1), the date of entry, and D/S, which means Duration of Status.
- Return the I-20 or DS-2019 and passport to you.
For more information on entering the United States, please visit the Customs and Border Protection website.
Form I-94
In most cases, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) gathers travelers’ arrival/departure information automatically from their electronic travel records and generates an online Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, when they go through the port of entry.
Your immigration details, such as your admission status (e.g. F-1, J-1), date of entry, and status end date will be stamped directly into your passport. Your arrival/departure information will all be recorded electronically by CBP and accessible to you online.
It is very important that you access your I-94 online after every entry to the U.S. to ensure that all of your personal information is correct. You should print a copy to keep with your immigration documents as proof of your current status in the U.S., as U.S. immigration law requires that you carry evidence of your immigration status with you at all times
Be prepared to present this printed copy of your I-94 when applying for a Social Security Number or driver's license, completing an I-9 Form for employment, or applying for a change in immigration status.
If you cannot access your I-94 and have been in the United States at least 10 days, please contact the VISA Office. If you access your I-94 and notice that any of the information is incorrect, please contact the CBP office in Cleveland at 440-891-3800. They may be able to fix your record over the phone or will make an appointment if necessary.
Arrival in Cleveland
When you arrive in Cleveland, please be sure to check in with the VISA Office through our Terra Dotta portal at https://visas.case.edu/. Please also be sure to attend orientation, which will include an orientation by the VISA Office as well as a presentation by OISRE about things you need to know to settle into Cleveland. You can find more information on their website.
If you have any questions before or after your arrival, please feel free to reach out to the VISA Office!