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: 

  1. 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!
  2. 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!
  3. Contact the nearest U.S. Embassy to schedule your visa interview (see wait times). 
  4. Practice, practice, practice!
  5. 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

  • 1) COMMUNICATION: The interview may only last 1-3 minutes! The officer will try to judge you quickly. Be conversational, but make eye contact and be direct. Speak in English. Be honest.

  • 2) BE PROACTIVE: The officer might only ask you 1 question. Do not give them a one-word answer. Provide a thoughtful response that answers 10 of their questions.

  • 3) RETURNING HOME: What will bring you home after graduation? Do you have family members you care for? A job lined up? A home you will return to? Remember, it’s a nonimmigrant visa.

  • 4) FINANCIAL SPONSOR: If they are not an immediate family member, explain why they would pay so much for your education. How close is your relationship?

  • 5) PROGRAM OF STUDY: Understand your program of study and explain how it will help you reach your goals. Focus on the transfer pathway from Santa Rosa Junior College to a four-year university. Explain your situation if you're an older student. 

  • 6) SCHOOL CHOICE: Explain why you chose SRJC. Do you have friends or family who are alumni? Is it more affordable? Were you ineligible for direct admission to a university?

  • 7) WAIT TIMES: If the wait times at the nearest U.S. Embassy are too long, you might consider traveling to a third country. Be sure to explain this at the beginning of your interview. Shopping around for approval at different consular posts is highly discouraged and will result in a denial. 

  • 8) TAKE IT SERIOUSLY: Visa application records last forever. The first interview is the most important. If denied, it's unlikely that you will be able to succeed on another attempt. Be prepared and take it seriously!

 
Each embassy and consulate sets its own interview policies and procedures regarding student visas. Wait times for interview appointments vary by Embassy location, season, and visa category, so you should apply for your visa as early as possible. June, July and August are the busiest months and interview appointments are the most difficult to get during that period.
 
Ink-free, digital fingerprint scans will be taken as part of your application process. They are usually taken during your interview, but this may vary based on location.
 
After your visa interview, your application may require further administrative processing. You will be informed by the consular officer if further processing is necessary for your application. Administrative processing may take several months to complete, so it is important to start the application process as early as possible.

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. 

Helpful Resources