International Students Visas & Responsibilities

Mount St. Mary's University has the approval of the United States Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) to enroll foreign students into its degree programs. An international student wishing to study in the United States must have a non-immigrant F-1 Student Visa.

Step 1: Apply to the Mount

An international student wishing to study in the United States must have a non-immigrant F-1 Student Visa. Applicants must complete the following steps:

1. Apply to the Mount St. Mary's University degree program of your choice and submit all required materials;

2. Submit TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) scores or other evidence of English language proficiency with program application;

3. Get accepted – all academic documents and conditions must be reviewed and accepted by program - including language proficiency.

NOTE: An I-20 will not be issued for a conditional or provisional admission to an academic degree program.

Step 2: Obtain the I-20

Additional Mount Documentation

Upon acceptance to the degree program, the international student must submit the following documents to a DSO to obtain the I-20:

1. a photocopy of passport (personal information and visa pages): your passport must be valid for at least six months after your entry into the United States.
2. documentation of financial support: you will need to submit a certified bank statement and/or affidavit of support documenting that adequate funds are or will be available for each year of expected enrollment to pay the full educational and living expenses while in the United States.
3. Complete the International Student Information Form in the student admissions portal

NOTE: If transferring a SEVIS I-20 contact the primary DSO or DSO for your degree program.

Mount issues the I-20

After being accepted to the Mount, the DSO will issue a Form I-20: Certificate of Eligibility of Nonimmigrant Student Status. This will be mailed to the international student to be used for obtaining their international F-1 student visa.

accompanying family members

If you have immediate family members (spouse and/or children) who will accompany you, each must be included on your I-20 and must apply for their own F-2 visa. To request for immediate family member(s) to be included you must submit a photocopy of each person's passport, provide documentation certifying your relationship (marriage certificate or child's birth certificate), and provide additional financial support documentation to show you will have adequate funds available to you to support your family as well as your own living expenses and educational program.

Step 3: Get the International F-1 Student Visa Stamp

International students must work with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency in order to obtain the international F-1 Student Visa Stamp which is needed to gain entry into the United States.

1. Student (or delegate) will have to complete the electronic I-901 form and pay the $350 SEVIS fee with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. An electronic form I-797 is then issued as a receipt proving the fee was paid (note: no paper receipt will be issued).
2. Student completes the electronic DS-160 Non-Immigrant Visa Application and prints out the confirmation for submission to the U.S. embassy/consulate.(Canadian citizens do not need an F-1 visa in order to study in the USA, but must have a valid I-20 and proof of payment of the SEVIS fee.)
3. Student makes an appointment with closest US embassy or consulate office for visa interview.
4. After the embassy grants the visa stamp (it may take four or more days for processing), the student can make travel arrangements for arrival in the U.S. (no sooner than 30 days before the I-20 “beginning” date, and no later than that date).

I-20 Transfers

International students with a previous I-20 record that is being transferred to the Mount do not need a new F-1 Visa stamp in order to attend Mount St. Mary's; the old F-1 Visa stamp in the passport is still valid for travel into the USA (even though a different school is listed) as long as the date has not expired and the international student has maintained status with a current I-20.