Acquiring F-1/J-1 Status
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Steps for Acquiring F-1/J-1 Status
Now that you have received your I-20 or DS-2019, you can begin the process of acquiring your F-1 or J-1 immigration status. Click on the boxes below to learn more about the process.
NOTE: Citizens of Canada and Bermuda are exempt from the U.S. entry visa requirement but still must pay the SEVIS fee and present form I-20 or DS-2019 when entering as an F-1 or J-1 student.
1. Pay the SEVIS Fee
Before you can apply for a visa to enter the United States as a student or exchange visitor, you need to pay the I-901 Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee. To pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, visit FMJfee.com. This is required for all initial F-1 and J-1 students, including citizens of Canada and Bermuda.
2. Obtain a U.S. Visa
Apply for an F-1 or J-1 US entry visa at a US embassy or consulate in your home country. Once approved, the consulate will place a F-1 or J-1 US entry visa sticker in your passport.
For additional information on the visa process and potential issues, see the US Entry Visa section of our site. If your visa application is delayed or denied, please contact us us with any other relevant details.
3. Enter the United States
Enter the United States within 30 days of the program start date on Form I-20 or DS-2019.
Entry to the US is granted by Customs and Border Protection (CPB), which is part of the Department of Homeland Security. A CBP officer will inspect your travel documents at or soon before reaching a US Port of Entry (POE). S/he will determine which immigration status and for how long you should be admitted to the US. This information will then be noted on an I-94 Arrival-Departure Record. Please read more on our I-94 process page.
For additional travel information and documents requirements, see our travel page.
1. Pay the SEVIS Fee
Before you can apply for a visa to enter the United States as a student or exchange visitor, you need to pay the I-901 Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee. To pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, visit FMJfee.com. This is required for all initial F-1 and J-1 students, including citizens of Canada and Bermuda.
2. Obtain a U.S. Visa
Apply for an F-1 or J-1 US entry visa at a US embassy or consulate in your home country. Once approved, the consulate will place a F-1 or J-1 US entry visa sticker in your passport.
For additional information on the visa process and potential issues, see the US Entry Visa section of our site. If your visa application is delayed or denied, please contact us us with any other relevant details.
3. Enter the United States
Enter the United States within 30 days of the program start date on Form I-20 or DS-2019.
Entry to the US is granted by Customs and Border Protection (CPB), which is part of the Department of Homeland Security. A CBP officer will inspect your travel documents at or soon before reaching a US Port of Entry (POE). S/he will determine which immigration status and for how long you should be admitted to the US. This information will then be noted on an I-94 Arrival-Departure Record. Please read more on our I-94 process page.
For additional travel information and documents requirements, see our travel page.
Other Options For Acquiring or Continuing F-1/J-1 Status
The process described in the previous section applies to the majority of students who will travel from abroad and enter the U.S. to gain F-1 or J-1 status.
However, certain new students may be eligible to acquire or continue F-1 or J-1 status under the following scenarios.
Change of Status
For eligible students who:
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Currently hold a valid non-immigrant status in the US
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Will not travel internationally before the start of their F-1 or J-1 program
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Will apply for a change of status with USCIS to gain F-1 or J-1 status
Note: Students will need to update ISSS on the progress of their change status application. In particular, if not approved before the I-20/DS-2019 start date and/or once it is approved by USCIS.
Transfer Students
For students who currently hold a valid SEVIS record at another institution in F-1 or J-1 Student status and will request their current F-1 or J-1 SEVIS record to be transferred to Penn.
To determine transfer eligibility, students should consult with their current F-1 or J-1 program sponsor.
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F-1 students must:
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Report to ISSS within 15 days of program start date on the I-20.
F-1 transfer students who still have an unexpired F-1 entry visa from their previous program may continue to use that visa for travel.
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J-1 students must:
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Obtain approval from the current J-1 sponsor and Penn, in which both parties confirm that there is no major change in the J-1 visitor's program objective.
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Report to ISSS within 20 days from program start date on the DS-2019
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To complete the SEVIS transfer procedure:
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After you log into iPenn and choose "Yes" to the question about SEVIS Transfer, you will see the Transfer In Request Form.
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Follow the instructions on that form in order to have it completed by the International Student Advisor at your current US institution.
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The I-20/DS-2019 will be created for you once:
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ISSS has received your I-20/DS-2019 Application
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The Transfer In Request Form has been completed and
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After the SEVIS record is released to Penn by your current institution.
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Within 15 days of the program start date listed on your I-20/DS-2019, please complete the arrival form in iPenn.
Please Note:
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In SEVIS, our school name appears as “University of Pennsylvania”.
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Our J-1 program number is P-1-00183
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The University of Pennsylvania does not issue F-1 I-20s/J-1 DS-2019s for all programs. Please review the list of programs here.
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For F-1 transfer, your program at Penn must begin within 5 months of the end of your previous program. For J-1 transfer, consult ISSS.
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If you still have an unexpired F-1 entry visa from your previous program, you may continue to use that visa for travel after you are transferred to Penn.
Change of Education Level
For F-1 students changing from one degree program to another within Penn may apply for a new I-20 for their new program in iPenn. The online request must be submitted to ISSS at least 3 weeks before the current program expires. Please consult with your ISSS Advisor with any questions.
For J-1 students, please consult with your ISSS Advisor.
Returning from Leave of Absence
A student returning from a leave of absence should apply for a new I-20 or DS-2019 in iPenn after their academic school has confirmed their return to Penn and updated their student record. Contact ISSS with questions.
Change of Status
For eligible students who:
-
Currently hold a valid non-immigrant status in the US
-
Will not travel internationally before the start of their F-1 or J-1 program
-
Will apply for a change of status with USCIS to gain F-1 or J-1 status
Note: Students will need to update ISSS on the progress of their change status application. In particular, if not approved before the I-20/DS-2019 start date and/or once it is approved by USCIS.
Transfer Students
For students who currently hold a valid SEVIS record at another institution in F-1 or J-1 Student status and will request their current F-1 or J-1 SEVIS record to be transferred to Penn.
To determine transfer eligibility, students should consult with their current F-1 or J-1 program sponsor.
-
F-1 students must:
-
Report to ISSS within 15 days of program start date on the I-20.
F-1 transfer students who still have an unexpired F-1 entry visa from their previous program may continue to use that visa for travel.
-
-
J-1 students must:
-
Obtain approval from the current J-1 sponsor and Penn, in which both parties confirm that there is no major change in the J-1 visitor's program objective.
-
Report to ISSS within 20 days from program start date on the DS-2019
-
To complete the SEVIS transfer procedure:
-
After you log into iPenn and choose "Yes" to the question about SEVIS Transfer, you will see the Transfer In Request Form.
-
Follow the instructions on that form in order to have it completed by the International Student Advisor at your current US institution.
-
The I-20/DS-2019 will be created for you once:
-
ISSS has received your I-20/DS-2019 Application
-
The Transfer In Request Form has been completed and
-
After the SEVIS record is released to Penn by your current institution.
-
-
Within 15 days of the program start date listed on your I-20/DS-2019, please complete the arrival form in iPenn.
Please Note:
-
In SEVIS, our school name appears as “University of Pennsylvania”.
-
Our J-1 program number is P-1-00183
-
The University of Pennsylvania does not issue F-1 I-20s/J-1 DS-2019s for all programs. Please review the list of programs here.
-
For F-1 transfer, your program at Penn must begin within 5 months of the end of your previous program. For J-1 transfer, consult ISSS.
-
If you still have an unexpired F-1 entry visa from your previous program, you may continue to use that visa for travel after you are transferred to Penn.
Change of Education Level
For F-1 students changing from one degree program to another within Penn may apply for a new I-20 for their new program in iPenn. The online request must be submitted to ISSS at least 3 weeks before the current program expires. Please consult with your ISSS Advisor with any questions.
For J-1 students, please consult with your ISSS Advisor.
Returning from Leave of Absence
A student returning from a leave of absence should apply for a new I-20 or DS-2019 in iPenn after their academic school has confirmed their return to Penn and updated their student record. Contact ISSS with questions.
