Applying for your U.S. visa

1. Complete the DS-160 Visa Application

You are required to submit the DS-160.
Review frequently asked questions about the DS-160.
Answer truthfully to the best of your knowledge. The ISSO cannot provide advice on completing the DS-160.
Contact your local embassy or consulate with any questions.

Follow the instructions provided by the U.S. embassy or consulate in your country of nationality or residence, or at your designated visa processing location.
The earliest you can apply for an F-1 visa is 365 days before the program start date on your I-20, but you cannot enter the U.S. more than 30 days before your start date.
Each embassy and consulate has its own visa processing times. Check directly for current processing times.
As of June 18, 2025, the visa application process requires that social media profiles be set to ‘public’ for vetting purposes.


1.	Passport (valid for at least six months beyond the date of travel to the U.S.)
2.	DS-160 confirmation page
3.	Valid I-20/DS-2019
4.	Copy of BYU admission letter/email
5.	SEVIS Fee Receipt
6.	Financial documents (issued within the previous 3 months)
7.	Any other documents listed on embassy/consulate website


1.	Passport (valid for at least six months beyond the date of travel to the U.S.)
2.	DS-160 confirmation page
3.	Dependent I-20/DS-2019 (original, not a copy)
4.	Copy of student’s I-20/DS-2019
5.	Copy of student’s BYU admission letter/email
6.	Financial documents
7.	Proof of relationship to student (marriage or birth certificate)
8.	Copy of student’s visa page and copy of student’s I-94 Arrival Record (only if the student is already in the U.S. and dependent(s) will follow later)

Review 10 points to remember when applying for a non-immigrant visa from NAFSA: Association of International Educators, the leading organization committed to international education and exchange.

Ties to Your Home Country and Residence Abroad
The first point on this helpful list of what to keep in mind when applying for a visa addresses "Ties to Your Home Country and Residence Abroad." U.S. law considers applicants for non-immigrant visas to be "intending immigrants" which means that the visa applicant intends to stay in the U.S. after the reason for their visit to the U.S. has been completed. A visa applicant has had to show strong ties to their home country to convince the consular officer that reasons to return home are stronger than reasons to remain in the U.S.
On December 20, 2021 the Department of State updated its guidance to consular officers advising that they should evaluate the "residence abroad requirement" for student visa applicants differently than for B visitor visas or other short-term visas. It instructs consular officers to look only at a student visa applicant's “present” intent rather than future intent to depart the United States following the conclusion of their visa because a student is "...often single, unemployed, without property, and is at the stage in life of deciding and developing their plans for the future" and would not possess ties of employment and property that would be typical of an older B visitor visa applicant. (The instructions for consular officers are in the Foreign Affairs Manual under 402.5-5(E)(1) (U) Residence Abroad Required.)

Check the visa in your passport to make sure that all the information on it is correct.
Your I-20/DS-2019 should be returned to you. You will need it to enter the U.S.