F-1 Students - Study Abroad

The following steps outline the process for obtaining an F Visa. International students who wish to come to the United States to pursue a degree at UNC Asheville must work with the Office of Admissions to complete this process. The Office of Study Abroad houses Immigration Services for international students and scholars and we will be happy to help you in any way.

Step 1: Apply to UNC Asheville

We are delighted that you are interested in studying at UNC Asheville!

The first step is to apply for admission* through the Office of Admission and Financial Aid. The International Student Applications page provides information about application requirements related to English Language Proficiency, Test Scores, Academic Records, Deadlines, etc.

The Office of Admissions makes all final admission decisions. Only after you are formally admitted by the Office of Admission can you proceed to Step 2: Obtain your Form I-20.

* Note: if you are an exchange student, you will go through a nomination process that is managed by the Office of Study Abroad, and will submit most of your application materials directly to that office. You will still need to complete a short application for the Office of Admissions however. You can complete that task by applying through the College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC).

Step 2: Obtain your Form I-20

The Form I-20

The Form I-20 serves to certify to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Student and Exchange Visa Program (SEVP), that you have been admitted to UNC Asheville for a specific program of study, have financial resources to support your academic and living expenses in the United States and are eligible to apply for the F-1 nonimmigrant student status. The Form I-20 is generated by the Student Exchange and Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and is associated with a particular SEVIS ID and record. It will be sent to you as part of your communications with the Office of Admissions.

Receive and check your I-20 for accuracy

After receiving your I-20, review it to verify that the biographical information matches that of your passport. In addition, check the PROGRAM OF STUDY section to ensure that it is correct. Note that the information in the MAJOR 1 field on the I-20 may not exactly match the name of your program of study at UNC Asheville but will correspond to the CIP code assigned to your major on the UNC Asheville Degree inventory.

If any piece of information does not match, please email ldobson@unca.edu as soon as possible with an explanation of the correction needed. We will send you a corrected I-20 as soon as possible.

Once you have confirmed the accuracy of your I-20, sign and date the STUDENT ATTESTATION section at the bottom of the first page.

Step 3: Pay the SEVIS Fee

If you have obtained a new SEVIS ID and record, you MUST pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee before applying for an F-1 visa, applying to change to F-1 status, or entering the U.S. in F-1 status (Canadian citizens do obtain F-1 visas but still must pay the SEVIS Fee before entering the U.S. with their I-20 and passport). For more information about the SEVIS fee and how to pay it, go to studyinthestates.dhs.gov/paying-your-i-901-sevis-fee.

If you have maintained the same SEVIS ID and record for which you have already paid the SEVIS Fee, you do not need to do so again. This is the case if you transferred your SEVIS record from another school or changed to a new degree program at UNC Asheville.

Note: Though F-2 dependents have their own SEVIS ID, they do not pay the SEVIS fee.

Step 4: Obtain your F-1 Visa

Now that you have been admitted to UNC Asheville, obtained your I-20 and paid your SEVIS fee, you are ready to apply for your F-1 visa. The next sections directs you to the F-1 visa application instructions and provides some tips for the visa interview.

Review and follow the F-1 visa application instructions on the Department of State’s Student Visa page and the website of the U.S. embassy or consulate where you will attend apply for your visa.

Bring to your interview all of the documents specified on the embassy or consulate’s website. Most interviews take less than five minutes, so be prepared and organized. When preparing for your interview, keep in mind the following tips:

Dress professionally.
Answer all questions truthfully. Permanent resident relatives and previous arrest records will not necessarily lead to a denial, but misrepresentation of any facts can lead to a permanent bar from the U.S.
Bring translated copies of your academic records and be prepared to talk about your academic plans and aspirations in detail.
Be knowledgeable about UNC Asheville, about your academic department, and about your chosen field of study.
Be prepared to speak about your future career goals and how a U.S. degree is important in meeting those goals. Keep in mind that these should be consistent with ties to your home country and with your intent to return home.
Take any documentation that may help you provide evidence of ties to your home country.
Have all documents in order and well organized. You have a very short time to make the best possible impression on the consular officer.
Before you leave the interview, make sure you receive all of your original academic and funding documents back from the consular officer. If you are asked to sign any document, please request a copy of the document for your records.

Check your visa for accuracy

When you receive your passport and visa stamp back from the embassy or consulate, make sure it was printed with accurate biographical information and the correct visa type (F-1). Be sure you also have received your I-20 form back from the consulate.

*If you transferred your SEVIS record from another school or changed to a new degree program at UNC Asheville, you do not need to obtain a new visa unless you are traveling abroad and your current F-1 visa has expired.

When you Enter the U.S.-At the Port of Entry

A Port of Entry is the U.S. immigration and customs inspection location at an international airport or land border crossing. When you reach a Port of Entry, a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer will ask about the purpose of your trip and for information about your final destination (i.e., UNC Asheville). The CBP officer may ask you to present any of the following documents:

Valid passport with valid F-1 visa (visa not required for Canadian citizens)
Original, signed I-20
SEVIS I-901 fee receipt
Funding information (to support the amount documented on your I-20 form, this includes scholarship letters and bank statements)
Previous Academic Records
Birth or Marriage Certificates (for dependents)
Destination address in the U.S. (even if temporary). Do not use the address of your academic department or the UNC Asheville Office of Study Abroad
Customs Declaration form

In addition to the above documents, we recommend you carry with you on the plane money to cover initial expenses, immunization records and a list of any medications you are bringing into the U.S. Certain medications, including vitamins, may be confiscated if you do not have proper documentation. Do not pack any of the above documents in your check-in luggage.

After inspecting your documents, the CBP officer will stamp your date of entry and write your visa status (“F-1,” “F-2”), and “D/S” (duration of status) in your passport. If the CBP officer writes an incorrect visa status or a date instead of “D/S”, let him or her know right away. It is much easier to get this corrected at the Port of Entry than it is later.

Items prohibited on flights or at the POE

Make sure that you do not bring any items in your carry-on or checked luggage that are prohibited by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). In addition, certain items cannot be brought into the U.S. See the CBP website for details.

Additional situations at the Port of Entry

Secondary Inspection. If the CBP officer at the Port of Entry cannot initially verify your information, or if you do not have all of the required documentation, the officer may direct you to an interview area known as “secondary inspection.” Secondary inspection allows inspectors to conduct additional research to verify information without causing delays for other arriving passengers. If the CBP officer asks to an immigration officer at your school, the please provide them with this phone number 828 612 6530.

Form I-515. If the CBP officer believes your immigration documents are incomplete or erroneous, you may receive a form I-515 with an instruction sheet. If you do, come to the UNC Asheville Office of Study Abroad as soon as you arrive. Do not send any documents anywhere before consulting with your UNC Asheville immigration officer. The form I-515 gives you only 30 days to remain in the U.S. legally and provide proof of your visa status, so do not delay.

Step 6: UNC Asheville Immigration Arrival Confirmation

When you arrive in the United States (or to UNC Asheville, if you are transferring your SEVIS record from another U.S. institution) you will complete a UNC Asheville Immigration Arrival Confirmation. DO NOT COMPLETE THIS FORM FROM OUTSIDE THE U.S.

You will need the following to complete this process, your:

UNCA I-20
Passport
F-1 Visa
I-94 Arrival Record. After arrival in the U.S. you can print your i-94 from https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov
Complete On- or Off-Campus Address (including all of the above which apply, room number, apartment number, building number, street number, street name, city, state and zip code)
Emergency Contact Information for one person in the U.S. or in your home country

Finally Attend your Mandatory Immigration Orientation

This orientation will last two hours and cover important information you need to know about maintaining your status, employment, tax filing and resources on campus. It is mandatory and is typically held the Friday or Saturday before classes begin. Look out for emails to your UNC Asheville email address for a final scheduling announcement.

Make sure to bring your most recent I-20, your passport and visa, and your I-94 to your orientation.

Of added importance: Take your I-94 Arrival/Departure Record seriously. It is proof of your lawful admission to the U.S. You will receive an I-94 record each time you come through a Port of Entry. If you traveled to the U.S. by airplane, you will be able to access your I-94 online at cbp.gov/I94. (Print out a hard copy of your new I-94 when you get to your new accommodations and keep this copy on your person as you go about your daily life, running errands around town or traveling in the U.S.) If you enter the U.S. through a land border crossing, a CBP officer will issue you a paper I-94 form.