Students can apply for their visa after paying the SEVIS I-901 Fee. With limited exceptions, all international students applying for admission to the United States need an entry visa.

Review the State Department's website and contact the nearest US embassy or consulate for details on how to obtain an F-1 or J-1 visa. In Taiwan, please contact the American Institute. Application instructions may vary by location, so it is important to review the specific instructions provided by your embassy or consulate.

We encourage you to schedule an appointment as soon as you receive your documents from Emory, since there could be long wait times.

To schedule your appointment, first complete the Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160.

• Print the application form confirmation page to bring to your interview.
• You will be asked to provide a point of contact in the U.S. and an address where you will be staying. If you don’t have a US-based contact, please use the name of the DSO or ARO who issued your I-20 or DS-2019. If you don’t know your US address yet, you can use ISSS's office address (1784 North Decatur Road, Suite 130, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322).
• You will be asked to submit a photo along with your application. Please refer to the official photo guidelines here.
• For additional assistance on completing the form, please refer to their FAQ.

You may be eligible for an expedited interview appointment based on your I-20 or DS-2019 start date.

• The process to request an expedited nonimmigrant visa interview varies by location.
• You should refer to the instructions on the website of the Embassy or Consulate Visa Section where you will interview, or on their online appointment scheduling site. 

While you are allowed to stay in the US with an expired visa, you will need a new visa to re-enter the country after international travel.

You don't have to return to your home country to get a new F-1 or J-1 visa, but if you choose to do so in another country, be sure to confirm that the US embassy or consulate will accommodate requests for third-country nationals (meaning that you're applying in a country outside the US, but you aren't a citizen of that country). 

You may be eligible for an expedited interview appointment based on your school start date.

• The process to request an expedited nonimmigrant visa interview varies by location.
• You should refer to the instructions on the website of the Embassy or Consulate Visa Section where you will interview, or on their online appointment scheduling site. 

NOTE: You don't need an entry visa stamp if you are a citizen of Bermuda or Canada. However, you still need an I-20 or DS-2019 with a valid travel signature to re-enter the U.S. to resume your studies at Emory. 

Before you apply for your visa, check with the US embassy or consulate where you plan to apply to find out exactly what supporting documentation is required, since these requirements vary. Find the nearest embassy or consulate >>

If your visa application is approved, a visa stamp will be placed in your passport noting the length of validity and the name of the school on your Form I-20 or DS-2019. Make sure you get your original I-20 or DS-2019 back from the U.S. consulate. 

In addition to the completing the DS-160 online non-immigrant visa application and any documentation suggested, bring these documents to the embassy or consulate: