Visa Process

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If you are a citizen of a foreign country and would like to study as a non-immigrant student in the U.S., you will need a student (F-1) visa.

Applying for an F-1 Visa

  1. Apply to the Center for English Language and American Culture at the University of New Mexico. If you are accepted to the program, you will receive your official acceptance letter and I-20 Certificate of Eligibility form.

     

  2. Once you receive your CELAC I-20 form and acceptance letter, pay the $350 mandatory SEVIS fee (Form I-901).

    • The SEVIS fee is a U.S. government fee that pays for the Student Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and is in addition to any visa fee. Beginning June 24, 2019, all students applying for a visa must pay a mandatory U.S. $350 SEVIS fee. Please note that this is not a university fee. This payment will be recorded in the SEVIS system and must be fully processed before you have your visa interview. Therefore, you must pay it at least 3 business days prior to the visa interview, and you must bring proof of payment to the interview.

    • Paying the SEVIS fee:

      • Preferred payment is through the Internet at www.FMJfee.com by using a credit card and completing the online Form I-901. You must print the computer-generated receipt to bring to the visa interview. This will be your proof of payment.

    • For more detailed information on the fee payment process, please go to the SEVIS website.

     

  3. After you pay the SEVIS fee, you will need to make a visa interview appointment.

     

  4. On the day of your visa interview, you will need to bring the following documents with you:

    • Valid passport

    • I-20 Certificate of Eligibility form

    • Acceptance letter to the program on your I-20 form

    • Proof of payment of the $350 SEVIS fee

    • Proof of financial guarantee and, if applicable, letter of sponsorship

    • Evidence that you will return to your home country when you complete your studies. For example, demonstrate proof of property, family, future employment, or continued education in your home country.

     

IN CASE OF DENIAL, ASK THAT THE REASON BE GIVEN TO YOU IN WRITING BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE CONSULATE. ONLY IN THIS WAY CAN YOU ADDRESS THE U.S. CONSULATE’S CONCERN IF AND WHEN YOU RETURN FOR A SECOND INTERVIEW.

If you have already applied for a visa using another school’s I-20, and you want to attend CELAC, you will need to return to the consulate and apply for a new visa that has the University of New Mexico listed as the school you will attend. Otherwise, you will need to attend the school whose name appears on the visa.

Other Visa Types

  • If you are a citizen of the U.S. or a permanent resident of the U.S., you do not need to apply for a student F-1 visa.

  • If you are a B-1/2, E-2, F-2, H-1B/2A/2B/3/, J-2, K-1, R-1 or another visa holder, and you do not plan to change your visa type to F-1, please mark your correct visa type in your CELAC application.

  • Other visa holders follow the same admission requirements and should submit all documents for the CELAC application except for the financial guarantee.