F-1 Visa Process

Note: Financial documents must be less than six months old at the time of submission. Financial support may come from your own resources or from a sponsor. If your sponsor is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, an affidavit of support (PDF) must be completed and submitted with your application. These same financial documents will also be required at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate when you apply for your visa.

Acceptable evidence of financial support:

• Official bank statements
• Letter on bank letterhead with required signature/stamp
• Scholarship letters
• Lines of credit
• Governmental funding

Unacceptable financial documents:

• Chartered accountant statements
• Payroll reports/expected income
• Tax statements and W-2s
• Property assessments
• Credit cards
• Bank statements without currency amounts
• Other statements of non-liquid assets

For questions on the immigration process, please contact [email protected] or (949) 214-3469.

Once Step 1 and Step 2 are complete, an electronic I-20 will be sent to your Eagles email account.

• Check your Concordia Eagles email regularly
• Print a copy of your electronic Form I-20 and keep it with you when:
  • Applying for an F-1 visa
  • Traveling to the United States

If you have trouble logging in to your Eagles email, please contact IT at [email protected].

Pay the I-901 SEVIS fee online before your F-1 visa interview. You can review the processes for paying the Form I-901 SEVIS fee outlined by Homeland Security. After you have paid the fee, you may apply for an F-1 visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate in your home country.

Plan for Visa Wait Times

Visa interview appointment wait times vary by location and season; you should apply for the F-1 visa early. To review wait times for the location you intend to apply at, please visit the Visa Appointment Wait Times outlined by the U.S. Department of State, click Global Visa Wait Times to view the list. 

Complete the Online Visa Application

You must complete the DS-160 form and pay the visa application fee, print the application and confirmation page, and bring it to the visa interview. 

Schedule & Attend Your Visa Interview

Schedule an appointment for a visa interview at the U.S. embassy or consulate in the country where you live. Interviews may be scheduled at another embassy or consulate if accepted; you should be aware that it may be more difficult to qualify for a visa outside of the country where you live.

Visa Resources

• Study in the States, Applying for a Visa to Travel to the United States
• U.S. Department of State, Study & Exchange
• U.S. Department of State, Announcement of Expanded Screening and Vetting for Visa Applicant VISA EXCEPTION Citizens of Canada and Bermuda who meet all requirements do not have to apply for the F-1 visa.
• Guidance for Canadian citizen students
• Guidance for Bermudian citizen students

1. Enter the U.S. within 30 days of your program start date
You may enter the U.S. up to 30 days before the program start date on your I-20. You may not enter more than 30 days early.

2. Enter on an F-1 visa only
Do not enter the U.S. on a B-1/B-2 visitor visa or F-2 dependent visa if you intend to study. You are not permitted to attend school on a B-1/B-2 or F-2 visa, and U.S. Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS) may deny a change-of-status request if you had prior intent to study.

3. Use your Concordia University Irvine I-20
Do not enter the U.S. using an I-20 from another school. If it is your first time studying in the U.S., your F-1 visa should list Concordia University Irvine.

Documents Required at the Port of Entry

When traveling to the U.S., it is recommended that you carry:

• Your signed I-20
• Your valid passport
• Your valid F-1 visa
• Proof of class registration (if available)

We recommend you also hand-carry:

• Financial documents (proof of sufficient funds)
• Your Concordia admission letter
• I-901 SEVIS fee receipt

Documents needed at the Port of Entry:

Traveling without the required documents may result in being denied entry. Final decisions are at the discretion of the CBP officer at the port of entry.