VISA APPLICATION
International students at SRJC must have a valid F-1 Student Visa to be able to study in the U.S. SRJC has issued you a Form I-20 Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Status for this purpose. You can apply for an F-1 visa up to 365 days before the report date listed on your Form I-20. New students can enter the U.S. up to 30 days before the Program Start Date on your Form I-20. Please consider this date carefully when making travel plans to the U.S. If you are unable to schedule a visa interview at least ten days before classes start, you must request to defer your SRJC admission to the next available semester.
Application Process
Once you receive admission to SRJC, you may begin the process to apply for your visa:
- Pay the $350 I-901 SEVIS Fee using your SRJC Form I-20 (see FAQs). Be sure to save the receipt for your visa interview!
- Submit a Form DS-160 and pay the $185 application fee (see instructions, sample form, and FAQs). Be sure to print the application confirmation page for your visa interview!
- Contact the nearest U.S. Embassy to schedule your visa interview (see wait times).
- Practice, practice, practice!
- Attend your visa interview at the Embassy.
Transfer Students
Already have an F-1 visa? You can provide your admissions email to your current school and request a transfer of your SEVIS record to School Code SFR214F00618000. After the release date, you will receive an updated Form I-20 for your Program of Study at SRJC. Please notify us if you plan to travel internationally between programs.
Change of Status
Changing your status? We recommend consulting an immigration lawyer before applying for a Change of Status with USCIS. Using your Form I-20, you must pay the I-901 fee then submit the I-539 application online and pay the $420 Filing Fee. You must upload copies of your Form I-20, your most recent I-94 record, and evidence of financial support.
Tips for the Visa Interview
When the visa is approved, you may pay a visa issuance fee if applicable to your nationality, and will be informed how and when your passport with visa will be returned to you.
Visa Denials
If your visa is denied, please review the travel.state.gov website for more information. Most visas are denied under section 214(b), or failure to sufficiently demonstrate nonimmigrant intent to the consular officer. I.e. not sufficiently demonstrating strong ties to your home country that will compel you to leave the United States at the end of your temporary stay.
Visa refusal under section 214(b) is not permanent - you may choose to reapply for an F-1 visa until you a successful. You will not need to re-pay the I-901 SEVIS fee if the Program Start Date on your Form I-20 has been deferred in a timely manner. You will need to file another DS-160 and repay the application fee and schedule another interview. You must be sure to present new information to the consular officer during your next attempt.
If you have a local sponsor in Northern California, they may be able to inquire with Congressman Mike Thompson's office to request a letter of support for your visa application.