Current Online & Returning Student F1 Visa Process

An F1 student visa is issued by a US Embassy or Consulate in the student's home country. The primary purpose of the student's visit to the United States is to study. As a result, there are many rules and regulations that students must follow while in the U.S.

Per federal Department of Homeland Security regulations, programs must be approved and meet certain requirements for WT to be able to issue an I-20. The following programs do not meet F1 student visa regulation requirements. Therefore we cannot issue an I-20 for the following programs:

• Accounting (MACC)
• Agriculture (MAg) - we can issue I-20s for the MS and PhD Agriculture programs
• Communication - Media Management specialization (MA)
• Counseling (MA)
• Educational Diagnostician (MEd)
• Educational Leadership (EDd and MEd)
• English (MA)
• Instructional Design and Technology (MEd)
• Leadership in Curriculum and Instruction (MEd)
• Nursing - FNP, Comprehensive, and Psychiatric Mental Health (MSN)
• Public Administration (MPA)
• School Counseling (MEd)
• Social Work (MSSW)
• Teaching (MAT)
• All BAAS (Bachelor of Applied Sciences) programs

There are two mandatory orientations that you are required to complete. Federal US Department of Homeland Security regulations require completion of both orientations.

1. Online Orientation - while this may include information that you are already familiar with as a current student, it also includes important immigration information, as well as information such as travel information and tips
2. In-Person Orientation - Please keep an eye out in your email for information on this orientation. This orientation occurs after the start of classes.

For more information about orientation, please visit our International Orientation page.

Per federal Department of Homeland Security regulations, all F1 student visa holders are required to check-in with the Office of Admissions - International immediately upon arrival into the US.

Please review the Arrival and Travel Information

If the semester for which you will enter the US is your final semester, please be aware of the following:

• You must take a full courseload and meet face-to-face course requirements, as mandated by the federal Department of Homeland Security
  • Graduates: 9 credit hours, with 6 face-to-face
  • Undergraduates: 12 credit hours, with 9 face-to-face
• You are not eligible for OPT (post-completion work authorization) or CPT (internships)
  • Per federal Department of Homeland Security regulations, students must be in valid F1 visa status for at least 2 long semesters (Fall and Spring) to be eligible for OPT or CPT

Per federal Department of Homeland Security regulations, F1 student visa holders must be enrolled full-time for the Fall and Spring semesters:

Undergraduates (includes Second Bachelor students) must be enrolled in at least 12 credit hours. At least 9 of those hours must be face-to-face

Graduates must be enrolled in at least 9 credit hours. At least 6 of those hours must be face-to-face

Per federal Department of Homeland Security regulations, students must be in valid F1 visa status for two long semesters (Fall and Spring) to be eligible for CPT (internships).

For more information on CPT, please visit our Internships - Curricular Practical Training (CPT) website

Per federal Department of Homeland Security regulations, students must be in valid F1 visa status for two long semesters (Fall and Spring) to be eligible for OPT (post-completion work authorization).

For more information on OPT, please visit our Optional Practical Training (OPT) website.

Per federal Department of Homeland Security regulations, F1 visa holders may work on-campus up to 20 hours per week during the Fall and Spring semesters. During official university breaks, students may work on-campus up to 40 hours per week.

Off-campus work is strictly prohibited at any time during a student's program of study.

For more information about employment while on the F1 student visa, please visit our F1 Visa Employment Regulations page.

Before we can issue an I-20, we require two forms to be submitted:

1. Current Online Student I-20 Request Form - Academic Advisor Form
   1. Must be completed and submitted by your academic advisor
2. Current Online Student I-20 Request Form - Student Form

Per the US Department of Homeland Security federal regulations, to obtain an I-20, a student must submit the following documents:

• Financial Verification
  • For the amount that you will need to show, please visit our Costs page
  • For details on acceptable documents, please visit here
• Affidavit of Support
  • This is needed if your name is not on the financial verification document, or is not the only name on the document. Please visit here for more information on this and for the link to the form
  • This is not needed for:
    • WT funds (scholarships, graduate assistantships, etc.)
• Passport Biographic Page

Please email these documents to internationaladmissions@wtamu.edu