ISSS

• Obtain your document I-20 Certificate of Eligibility

  The I-20 is required to apply for an F-1 student visa and for entry to the U.S. To obtain your document I-20, you will need to complete the following steps and submit required documents to SEVIS@cwu.edu.

  First-year freshman:

  • If you are a first-year student, pay the $400 non-refundable International Enrollment Deposit using this link. Students who attend CWU will have the deposit dispersed to their student account after their first quarter of attendance. If you are unable to secure an F-1 visa by your desired start term, please contact intladm@cwu.edu to discuss deferral or refund options.

  All international students must submit:

  • A copy of your passport (Passport must be valid 6 months beyond the expected stay in the U.S.)
  • A completed Confidential Financial Statement (CFS) (Ellensburg/Centers).
    • If you have funding from personal sources other than yourself, such as family or friends, each person must sign the CFS.
  • Proof of liquid funds, provided in an amount to cover at least one academic year. This proof must be issued no more than 90 days prior to submission.

  Acceptable financial documentation for proof of funds:

  • Bank statements
  • Cash deposits, certificates of deposit, savings accounts
  • Business bank statements
    • Must be accompanied by a letter on letterhead stating the financial guarantor has signatory authority on the referenced account
  • Scholarship letters
  • Government funding

  Once your I-20 is ready, it will be sent to you via email. You will need to print the I-20, sign it, and date it. It is essential to keep the signed I-20 with you for your visa interview and when you arrive to the U.S. If you are under 18 years, your parent or guardian will also need to sign the I-20.

• Review Your I-20

  • Review your I-20 for accuracy. Your name and birthdate should match your passport. If corrections are necessary, email SEVIS@cwu.edu.
  • The I-20 Program State Date coincides with the start of classes. You must enter the U.S. before the I-20 program start date but not earlier than 30 days before the program state date. If your arrival is delayed, please contact SEVIS@cwu.edu.
  • The I-20 Program End Date is an estimate and may not reflect the actual completion date of your degree program.
  • The I-20 Estimated Average Costs are based on non-resident tuition and fees, and estimated living and school expenses. Actual costs may be higher or lower depending on specific program costs and individual needs.

• Pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee

  After you receive your I-20, you must pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee ($350) to the U.S. government based on your I-20 SEVIS ID number. You are required to pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee before you apply for your F-1 visa. Please print a copy of your payment confirmation and keep it with your I-20.

• Complete the visa application for (DS-160) and schedule your visa interview

  After you have paid the SEVIS fee and completed the DS-160, you can schedule your visa appointment at the nearest US embassy or consulate in your home country. You can schedule the appointment within 365 days before your program start date listed on your I-20. You will use the SEVIS ID to schedule the interview and you must present the printed, signed & dated I-20 to the consular officer when you attend your visa interview.

  Learn how to schedule your visa interview and apply for your visa via student visas page on travel.state.gov as well as the instructions at the website of the embassy or consulate where you will apply for a visa.

  Canadian Citizens: You do not have to apply for an F-1 visa in advance of your arrival to the U.S., but you are required to pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee (see above).

• Prepare for your Visa Interview

  DOCUMENTS NEEDED FOR VISA INTERVIEW (BUT NOT LIMITED TO):

  • Document I-20, issued by CWU
  • Confirmation Page of Form DS-160
  • Valid Passport
  • 2” x 2” photo of yourself (see requirements)
  • Visa application fee payment receipt
  • SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt (fmjfee.com)
  • Financial evidence proving you and/or your sponsor have sufficient funds to cover your studies. Evidence should match the 'Financials' section on your I-20
  • Academic records, transcripts and/or diplomas from previous schools attended
  • Standardized test scores such as Duolingo, TOEFL, or IELTS (if available)

  Meet with us before your visa interview to help prepare. Schedule an appointment

• After your Visa Interview

  Upon approval or denial of your F-1 student visa, please notify SEVIS@cwu.edu.

  After you receive your visa, check to see that you received the right type of visa and that your name and date of birth are correct and match the information in your passport.

Transfer F-1 Students

• Get a "Transfer Pending" I-20

  To initiate your SEVIS transfer and receive a “Transfer Pending” I-20 from CWU, you will need to complete the following:

  1. Contact the international student advising office at your current institution and inform them of your intent to transfer and provide them a copy of your CWU acceptance letter.
  2. Ask your advisor to complete the transfer release form (Ellensburg, Des Moines, Lynnwood, Pierce, Sammamish). Please make sure that you provide them with the correct CWU campus form. Remit the completed form to SEVIS@cwu.edu.
  3. Work with your current advisor to determine the best SEVIS transfer release date and they will schedule your SEVIS record to be transferred to CWU on that date.
  4. You will be issued a CWU "Transfer Pending" I-20 once you have completed the steps above and your Transfer Release Date has passed.
• Complete Your SEVIS Transfer

  To complete your SEVIS transfer, complete the following steps after arriving at CWU:

  1. Submit copies of all I-20 documents requested:
     1. Passport
     2. F-1 Visa
     3. Financial documents and Confidential Financial Statement
     4. I94 record
     5. Transfer release form
  2. Update your mailing address in MyCWU
  3. Register full-time for courses
  4. You will be issued a “Transfer Completed” I-20 once you have completed these steps. The "Transfer Completed" I-20 will be issued within 15 days after the start of the quarter. Your Transfer Completed I-20 is your official CWU I-20.
• Travel During the Transfer Process

  If you are currently on a F-1 visa and plan to travel outside the U.S. after your SEVIS record has been transferred to CWU, it is important to obtain your CWU I-20 before re-entering. It is not permissible to use the documents from your previous institution to re-enter the U.S. once your SEVIS record has been transferred to CWU.

  Additionally, you must have a valid F-1 visa to re-enter. If your F-1 visa is still valid, you will use along with your CWU I-20 to re-enter the U.S. However, if your current F-1 visa is or will expire before your return to the U.S., you will need to obtain a new visa.