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¶·Å£ÆåÅÆ University students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents will likely need a student visa to study on the Berrien Springs campus. In most cases, this will mean an F-1 visa, and to obtain an F-1 visa, you must first receive a Form I-20 from a designated school official (DSO) in the Office of International Student Services and Programs.
You can follow these steps to receive your I-20 and and F-1 visa. | I-20 and F-1 Visa Steps |
Although related, the F-1 visa and I-20 are not the same document. The F-1 visa is what allows you to enter the United States, while the I-20 is what allows you to study in the United States. You will need both to study on the Berrien Springs campus: the F-1 visa will allow you to enter the United States at an airport or border crossing, and the I-20 will allow you to study at ¶·Å£ÆåÅÆ.
After you are on the Berrien Springs campus, it is OK if your F-1 visa expires as long as your I-20 remains valid. If you leave the United States during a school break, however, you will need to make sure you have both a valid F-1 visa and a valid I-20 before you can return.
(Note for students from Canada and Bermuda: you do not need an F-1 visa but you do need an I-20, so please follow these steps to receive your I-20.)
If you already have an F-1 visa, or you already have a visa other than F-1, you may or may not need an I-20. If you already have an I-20 from another school, you may be able to transfer it to ¶·Å£ÆåÅÆ. For more information and to confirm your options, please email or call us.
Finally, please note that visitor visas (B-1 or B-2) will not allow you to study in the United States.