F-1 Visa Information

1. Receive an I-20 document from BJU
   • Once you are admitted, have paid your admission deposit, and have submitted all required documentation, BJU will send you the Form I-20. This is a government document that proves you are eligible to apply for the F-1 student visa.
2. Pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee
   • SEVIS (Student & Exchange Visitor Information System) is the government site which stores the information listed on your I-20.
   • Before your visa interview, you must pay the SEVIS I-901 fee. Use information from your Form I-20.
   • Your SEVIS ID number is in the upper right corner of the I-20 (above the barcode).
   • Enter your name and personal data exactly as in your passport (no special characters like ñ, é, etc.).
3. Book your visa appointment early
   • Schedule your F-1 visa interview at the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate after paying the SEVIS fee.
   • Wait times vary, so book early.
   • Canadian citizens do not need a visa but must present their I-20 and SEVIS receipt at the U.S. border.
4. Pay the visa application fee
   • Pay the non-refundable visa application fee (typically $160).
   • Payment instructions vary by country — check your local U.S. Embassy website.
5. Complete the DS-160 Visa Application
   • Complete the DS-160 form online.
   • Ensure all information matches your passport.
   • Print the confirmation page and bring it to your interview.
6. Prepare for your interview
   • Gather all required documents.
   • At the embassy/consulate, the interview will be brief and verbal.

   Tips to practice

   • Why do you want to study in the U.S.? Why at BJU?
   • How will you pay for your studies?
   • What are your plans after graduation?
   • What do you know about your academic program?

   • Be honest, direct, and confident
   • Dress professionally
   • Arrive early
   • Make eye contact and smile

   Required documents for your visa interview and entry to the U.S.

   • Valid passport (valid at least 6 months beyond program end date)
   • Signed Form I-20
   • BJU admission letter
   • SEVIS I-901 fee receipt
   • DS-160 confirmation page
   • Visa fee payment confirmation
   • Financial proof (bank statement, financial affidavit)
   • Proof of home-country ties (job offer, family, property, etc.)
   • TOEFL scores (if applicable)
7. Attend your interview
   • Bring all the required documents.
   • If approved, your passport will be returned with the F-1 visa stamp.

After entering the U.S. with an F-1 visa, you are now on F-1 immigration status. It is important to carefully follow the regulations in order to maintain legal status while in the U.S.

1. Enroll Full-Time
   • Undergraduate: At least 12 credits each semester
   • Graduate: At least 8 credits each semester
   • PhD: Variable depending on program
   • Only 1 online class out of your minimum full-time credits is allowed.
   • In your final term*, if you have less than full-time credits remaining to complete your degree, you are allowed to only take those remaining credits.

*During your final term, you cannot take only online class(es) , even if it is the summer term. You must always be taking at least 1 in-person class or internship.

2. Work Legally
   • Only work on-campus, i.e. at a job paid by BJU; learn more about working on-campus
   • Make sure that all on-campus jobs combined do not exceed 19 hours per week
   • Any off-campus work must receive prior authorization
   • Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is authorization to do an internship
   • Optional Practical Training (OPT) is post-completion work authorization
3. Keep Documents Unexpired
   • Passport — make sure that your passport is valid for more than 6 months from today’s date.
   • You must contact your home country’s embassy in the U.S. for details on how to renew your passport.
   • If you get a new passport but your visa is in the old one, carry both.
   • Visa — once you are in the U.S. maintaining legal F-1 status, it’s OK if your visa expires. But if you leave the U.S. after your visa expires, you’ll need to apply for & receive a new one before you can return.
   • I-20 — If you will not be able to complete your program of study by the program end date on your I-20, you will need to request an extension at least 2 months before it expires.
4. Report Updates to I-20
   • Report any updates to your SEVIS I-20 record within 10 days of the change. For example:
   • Address
   • Major
   • Legal name
   • Source of funding
5. Obtain Travel Signatures
   • When you travel outside the U.S., your I-20 must be signed on page 2 in the “travel endorsements” section within the last few months.
   • Obtain this travel signature 1 to 2 months before leaving the U.S.

International students on F-1 status have several employment options to gain real-world work experience.

1. On-campus Jobs
   • Students may work on campus without any special authorization. On campus work is defined as work which is on the university grounds AND is paid for by a BJU department.
   • Students must limit their hours per week to 19 during Fall and Spring semesters. During summer break, there is no immigration limit to the number of hours worked per week (follow the policies of your department).
   • Certain on-campus companies providing services to BJU students are also approved to be on-campus employers for students on F-1 status. Examples include AVI Fresh dining services and the BJU Education Group. Contact [email protected] if you have any questions about what is or is not an approved on-campus employer.
2. Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
   • CPT is an authorization available to students who have maintained active F-1 status for at least one consecutive academic year and have corresponding internship credit(s) to take as part of their program.
   • Eligible students must first get an internship offer, then receive approval to register for the corresponding internship credit(s), and finally apply for CPT authorization on their I-20.
   • Click here for more detailed information about CPT; in addition, several CPT workshops will be available each semester for interested students to attend.
3. Optional Practical Training (OPT)
   • Post-completion OPT is an authorization given by USCIS after a student completes their degree for the purpose of getting experience in their major field of study.
   • Eligible students must apply for an “OPT Requested” I-20 from the BJU International Team, and after receiving that, must use it to apply to USCIS for post-completion OPT.
   • Click here for more detailed information about OPT; in addition, several OPT workshops will be available each semester for interested students to attend.
4. Paying Taxes
   • All students on F-1 immigration status are required by law to submit at least a basic tax filing each year. If they did not work in the U.S. the previous year, they will not be required to pay any taxes.
   • The International Team will send out detailed tax filing instructions to students on F-1 status in January or February of each year, and tax filings are generally due by April 15.

While on F-1 immigration status at BJU, international students may wish to travel outside the U.S. The points below outline some important considerations for international travel on F-1 status.

1. Travel Signature on I-20
   • Page 2 of the I-20 has a section for travel endorsements. If they are traveling outside of the U.S., F-1 status students must obtain a travel signature in this section within the year prior to their return to the U.S.
   • Students may request this travel signature at any time, but at a minimum, they should do so at least 1 month before they travel.
2. Documents to Carry
   • Valid I-20 signed for travel on page 2
   • Passport valid for at least 6 months after date of re-entering U.S.
   • F-1 visa which will be valid at the time of re-entry
   • Optional (but recommended) documents
     • Copy of I-901 SEVIS fee payment receipt
     • Letter of enrollment showing academic registration for current or upcoming semester
     • Proof of ability to pay for the costs of attending university in the U.S.
3. Social Media Recommendations
   • At the point of re-entry into the U.S., students may be asked to allow border officials to view their social media accounts.
   • Make sure to turn social media settings to “public” before re-entering the U.S. Otherwise, you may face extended questioning at the point of re-entry.