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VISA Information
►Obtaining
a VISA in your home country
►Applying
for a VISA if you are in the United States already
(changing status)
►Arrival
at Quincy College
 Obtaining
a VISA in your home country
You will need to obtain a passport from your government and then apply for
an F-1 student visa from the American Embassy or Consulate in your home country.
Find out how to make an appointment at the US Embassy at
http://usembassy.state.gov.
Once your appointment has been made you will need to bring the following with
you:
- The original I-20 issued by Quincy College
- Proof
of payment of the $100 SEVIS fee
- Form DS-156 and
DS-158 (may need additional forms)
- Valid passport
(passport must be valid beyond the intended period
of stay in the U.S.)
- Copy of the financial documents
you gave to Quincy College admissions
- One passport
size photograph
- Fee
Click
here to view a video from the State Department about
new VISA policies
All applicants should be prepared to
provide:
- Transcripts and diplomas from previous institutions
attended;
- Scores from standardized tests required
by the educational institution such as the TOEFL,
SAT,
GRE, GMAT, etc.;
- Financial evidence showing
you (or your parents who are sponsoring you) have
sufficient
funds
to cover your tuition and living expenses
during the
period
of your intended study. For example, if you or your sponsor is
a salaried employee, please being income
tax documents and original bank books
and/or statements.
If you or your sponsor own a business, please bring business
registration, licenses, etc., and tax documents,
as well as original bank books
and/or statements.
To pay the SEVIS fee, use the website at
www.fmjfee.com.
This site contains a description of the fee and how to pay it online
or via post. If you have questions, please
contact the International Student Service
Office at 617-984-1663. Remember, the SEVIS fee is not the same as
a visa application fee or college admission fee.
Follow
your local U.S. Embassy's instructions
regarding the payment of the visa application fee.
What will the consular officer ask?
The consular officer will examine all of your
documents and the I-20 to make sure you have been admitted
to the college and that you have the funds necessary
to pay the tuition and living expenses. The tuition
for 2005-2006 varies depending on which program of
study you have applied for - please see the
Tuition
and Fees page for current figures. The consular
officer may also ask you about your academic background
and that you intend to return home after your studies
are completed. You must show that you have a permanent
residence in your home country and other ties that
will ensure you leave the U.S. at the end of your studies.
If the consular officer judges that everything is in
order, you will receive an F-1 visa and you may begin
your plans to come to the United States no earlier
than 30 days before the program start date on your
I-20.
When should I apply?
You should apply for your visa as soon as
possible. Once you receive the I-20 from Quincy College
and acceptance letter along with the pertinent applications
and financial documents you are ready for your appointment
at the Embassy. Remember, January and August are particularly
busy times at your Embassy so prepare well in advance
for your appointment.
Arrival in the United States
On your flight to the United States, a flight attendant will give you two government
forms to fill out. One form is for customs (this is regarding the items you
are bringing into the U.S. with you) and another form for immigration (I-94
Arrival/Departure Record). Be sure to fill out both forms completely before
landing. When you arrive in the U.S., an Immigration Officer will review
your documents (passport,
I-20, customs declaration, and I-94 form). Once everything has been reviewed,
the Immigration Officer should:
- Stamp your passport with your date of arrival
- Stamp "F-1
D/S" on the I-94 card and
staple it to the visa page of your passport
- Stamp
page 1 of your I-20 form, write "F-1
D/S" on the I-20,
and return all of the forms to you. The number on the I-94 will be
your (Immigration)
Admission Number.
The I-94 card is generally marked "D/S" (duration
of status) by the Immigration Officer. The "D/S" means
that you will be in legal status as long as you are
a student registered full-time pursuing the degree
specified on your I-20. Make sure before you leave
the immigration officer you have ALL of your documents
with you.
If you are a Canadian citizen, you do not need a passport
or a visa from the American Consulate, but you must
present your Form I-20 when you enter the U.S.
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Applying
for a VISA if you are in the United States already
(changing status)
If you are currently in the United States
on a visa other than an F-1 and wish to apply
to Quincy College, you must complete the following:
- Quincy
College application
- Provide all necessary documents
listed on the document checklist
- Receive an I-20
from the College upon acceptance
- Request change-of-status
through a formal petition with fee submitted to
the Vermont
Service Center of the USCIS. This information
can be
obtained in
the International Student Services Office at Quincy College.
Remember, having an I-20 from Quincy
College DOES NOT mean you are in F-1
status. Also, it can
take up to 4 months to process the change
of status request. Please visit the International
Student
Service Office for more information.
Transfer Students
If
you
wish
to transfer to Quincy
College from another
institution in the
United States
you must complete the following:
- Quincy
College application
- Complete a transfer form and
make sure your current institution completes
the
necessary information
to ensure the transfer of your
I-20 and SEVIS record.
- Provide all necessary documents
for transfer students (all
information on
the document
checklist)
There are time limits on
transferring from one institution to another, so
make sure you communicate with either
your current advisor or a staff member in the International
Student Service Office at Quincy College to ensure
you do not miss any deadlines.
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Arrival at Quincy College
All new international
students and transfer students are required to attend
the International Student
Orientation when they arrive at Quincy College.
This mandatory orientation will take place at the beginning of the semester. Lunch is included. This orientation
will cover the following topics:
- Scheduling placement exams
- Registering for classes
- Health insurance matters
- Learning about U.S. culture
- Information on the City
of Quincy
- Immigration process and maintaining F-1
status
Please make sure you
bring the following items to the orientation as it
is imperative we complete the
immigration procedures to avoid serious immigration
and academic problems in the future:
- Passport
- I-20 form
- I-94 card (the stamped arrival/departure
record from immigration)
- Your local address in
the United States
Please email us when you receive your visa
from the U.S. Embassy, this will let us know of your
plans to attend Quincy College as we prepare for
your arrival and orientation. If you miss the orientation,
it is IMPERATIVE that you visit the International
Student Services Office as soon as you arrive at
Quincy College so we can complete your registration
in SEVIS. If you do not visit us, your student visa
and SEVIS record will be CANCELLED by the immigration
service.
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