Immigration Documents

 
Shipping Options

For new and transfer students, express mail shipment of your admission letter and initial or transfer I-20s/DS-2019s will be provided by one of the following offices at Syracuse University - Enrollment Management, Undergraduate Admissions, or your academic department.

If you have already arrived at Syracuse University and need to request a document, please visit the Slutzker Center for International Services or click here to review the Slutzker Center's shipment options.

Immigration Documents Required for Visa Application and Entry to the U.S. Prior to travel, please review your immigration documents to ensure that all information is accurate. If any of the information on your I-20 or DS-2019 appears to incorrect or missing, please contact the Slutzker Center immediately. If you decide not to attend Syracuse University or SUNY - ESF, please contact the Slutzker Center prior to your program start date and mail back your I-20 or DS-2019 as we will have to update your SEVIS record and advise you accordingly.
  

• SEVIS I-20 or DS-2019
• Your Name
• Program Dates
• International Student or Scholar Advisor Signature
• Your Signature
• Travel Signature
• Port of Entry Information
• SEVIS Fee Payment (I-901) and Receipt (Form I-797): Must be paid prior to visa interview
• Valid Passport: Required for visa application and entry to the U.S.
• Visa (if required): Must be valid for initial entry
• Additional F-1 Application Materials
• Additional J-1 Application Materials
• Visa Application Process
• Visa Interview
• Travel and Port of Entry Procedures 

• SEVIS I-20 or DS-2019

Your I-20 or DS-2019 is required to apply for an F-1 or J-1 nonimmigrant student visa and for entry to the U.S. Please review your document for any errors prior to applying for a visa.

• Your Name

(I-20 & DS-2019:Item 1)
The name indicated on your document should match your name as it appears on your
passport exactly. To request a new document with a name change, please submit a copy of your passport to the Slutzker Center.

• Program Dates

(I-20:Item 5 / DS-2019:Item 3)
With an "initial attendance" I-20 (indicated in item 3) or "Begin new program" DS-2019 (indicated above item 3), you may enter the U.S. up to 30 days prior to the program reporting date. You are expected to enter the U.S. prior to this date in order to attend the mandatory Slutzker Center orientation. If there is a situation that necessitates entering the U.S. after the program start date indicated on your document, please contact the Slutzker Center as you may require a new document to enter the U.S.

• International Student or Scholar Advisor Signature

On an I-20 (Item 10), should contain the signature of a (Primary) Designated School Official. On a DS-2019 (Item 7), should contain signature of the (Alternate) Responsible Officer.

• Your Signature

On an I-20 (Item 11), if all of the information is accurate, please print your name, sign, and date the document.
On a DS-2019 (last line of the document), if all of the information is accurate, please sign, indicate your present location city and country or state, and date the document.

• Travel Signature

(I-20: bottom of page 3 / DS-2019: lower right-hand corner)
A valid travel signature is only necessary to re-enter the U.S. after your initial entry. Your initial document will not have a travel signature.

• Port of Entry Information

This space should be blank. It will be filled in by and Immigration Official upon entrance to the U.S.

• SEVIS Fee Payment (I-901) and Receipt (Form I-797): Must be paid prior to visa interview.

A one-time fee (Click here for exceptions) of $200 is required of all individuals applying for an F-1 or J-1 visa based on an I-20 issued for "initial attendance" or a DS-2019 issued to "begin a new program." The SEVIS fee must be paid at least three days prior to your visa appointment and proof of fee payment (Form I-797 receipt) must be presented to the consular official at your visa interview.

The SEVIS fee can be paid online, Click here. An electronic receipt notice will be issued at the time of the transaction. A SEVIS fee payment is not required for F-2 or J-2 dependents.

• Valid Passport: Required for visa application and entry to the U.S.

Must remain valid at all times while in the U.S.; your passport should be valid for at least six months beyond the date of your expected stay. Please monitor its expiration date and act in a timely manner to get it renewed when necessary.

• Visa (if required): Must be valid for initial entry.

Your visa may expire while you are in the U.S. as long as you are pursuing the same objectives and all of your other immigration documents are valid and accurate. A renewed visa would be necessary for travel if
you are not eligible for automatic visa revalidation (Visa Revalidation FAQ) or travel beyond Canada, Mexico, and the Adjacent Islands. Please note whether you received a multiple entry visa (M) as it may limit your ability to travel outside the U.S. and re-enter after your initial entry. Do not enter the U.S. on a B-2 visa if you intend to pursue engage in an academic degree program.

• Additional F-1 Application Materials: Click here

• Additional J-1 Application Materials: Click here

You should also consult your U.S. embassy or consulate (U.S embassy website) to see if there are any additional country-specific visa application requirements.

• Visa Application Process

You may apply for a visa up to 120 days prior to your program start date. You should apply at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate with jurisdiction over your place of permanent residence. Although visa applicants may apply at any U.S. consular office abroad, it may be more difficult to qualify for the visa outside the country of permanent residence. Prior to scheduling your interview, you can check visa appointment waiting times online (Click here, to check Visa Waiting times).
Please note that depending on your country of residence and field of study, visa processing times can exceed one month so apply early.

• Visa Interview

F-1 and J-1 visas are considered non-immigrant visas. Accordingly, you must prove binding ties to your home country. Please review the interview tips provided online prior to your interview.

Click here, for 10 Points to Remember When Applying for a Nonimmigrant Visa

• Travel and Port of entry procedures 

Do not check the following documents in your luggage as you will need them at the U.S. port of entry: SEVIS I-20 or DS-2019, passport (valid for at least six months beyond the date of your expected stay); visa (if applicable); $6.00 U.S. currency for the U.S. I-94 Entry fee. You may also be asked to present the following documents at the port of entry: SEVIS fee receipt (Form I-797); proof of funding for 1 year (e.g., scholarship or sponsorship letter, bank statements); and proof of student status (e.g., admission letter, tuition receipt).

You should also carry the Slutzker Center contact information: (315) 443-2457. In the event that the office is closed, contact the Department of Public Safety: (315) 443-2224 and they will contact a Slutzker Center advisor.

On the plane, flight attendants will distribute Customs Declaration Forms (CF-6059) and Arrival Departure Record Forms (I-94). These must be completed prior to landing. On the From I-94, you should provide the address where you will reside in the U.S., not the address of the school or program.

After entering the U.S. at the airport, you will pass through a U.S. Immigration Port of Entry inspection. Your passport, visa, I-20 or DS-2019, and other documents will be officially reviewed. A digital photograph and a biometric scan of your index finger will be taken. You will likely have to answer a few questions and indicate your reason for entering the U.S. (to be a student); you may have to provide proof of admission. Please be aware that a visa does not guarantee entry into the United States. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection official has authority to deny admission.

Once your inspection is successfully completed, the inspecting officer should stamp I-20 or DS-2019 and your Form I-94 (the index-sized card you received on the plane) with your date of arrival. The official should also note your non-immigrant status (F-1 or J-1) and D/S (duration of status— how long you are eligible to remain in the US). Please be sure that both documents are marked in this manner. If not, please bring this to the attention of a Slutzker Center advisor when you arrive on-campus and check-in with the office.

Additional information regarding Port of Entry procedures for F-1 students: Click here

Additional information regarding Port of Entry procedures for J-1 students: Click Here