After gaining admission to one of the Claremont Colleges and receiving your I-20 or DS-2019 from your international student advisor or sponsor, you will need to apply for a Visa in order to enter the United States.

Where to apply for a nonimmigrant visa:

Nonimmigrant visas must generally be applied for at a U.S. Consular office abroad. Visit http://usembassy.state.gov/ for more information of U.S. Embassies and consulates.

Applying from the country of home residence:

Department of State regulations first direct any alien to apply for a visa "at a consular office having jurisdiction over the alien's place of residence." This means that, generally, you must apply for your student visa in your home country, at the U.S. Embassy or consulate nearest your home.

Every consulate has the right to set their own procedures, and they can vary greatly in terms of hours of operation, documents required, waiting periods, etc. If the visa issuing post has a website, it is a good idea to visit it prior to submitting a visa application, as local procedures do not only differ, but can frequently change.

All applicants for a student visa must provide (in addition to the following, make sure you visit the website of the embassy or consulate nearest your home for any additional requirements):

1. Form I-20 or DS-2019: These are the forms which your college or sponsor has generated in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).

2. Proof of payment of the SEVIS-901 fee. This fee is mandated by the federal government to support and maintain the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). You may find instructions, download the form, or pay on-line by going to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement website: https://www.fmjfee.com/index.jhtml or www.ice.gov/sevis.  Note: Continuing students and students transferring their F-1 status from one school to another do not need to pay this fee - see Who needs to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee?

3. Completed DS-156 (Nonimmigrant Visa Application) and DS-158 (Contact Information and Work History) and a fee receipt to show that you have paid the visa application fee and the additional fee required for some countries (See Visa Reciprocity Table to determine if you have to pay an additional fee). See http://travel.state.gov and click on "Forms".

4. A passport from your country of citizenship valid for at least six months after your proposed date of entry into the United States.

5. One photograph: (See the U.S. Department of State information about required photo format)

6. Transcripts and diplomas from previous institutions attended as well as scores from TOEFL, SAT, GRE, GMAT, etc... if you have taken those tests.

7. Financial evidence showing that you or your parents have sufficient funds to cover your tuition and living expenses during the period of your intended study.

8. You may also be asked to assure the consulate that you will be returning home after completing your studies.

When you enter the United States on a student visa, you will usually be admitted for the duration of your student status. D/S will probably be initialed in your passport or on the I-94 card which is given to you as you enter the United States. Even if your visa expires while you are in the U.S., you will still be in legal students status. However, if you depart from the U.S. with an expired visa, you will need to obtain a new one before being able to return.

Websites with Student Visa Information:

Travel.State.Gov
UnitedStatesVisas.gov
EducationUSA

For more information, you may contact I-Place or the international student advisor at your college.