Immigration Essentials
Most international students accepted to study at Fisher are admitted
to the U.S. on F-1 Visas.
Important documents
In order to be admitted to the U.S. as an F-1 student, you will need
to have three important documents which together verify your valid immigration
status. These documents are:
- Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for F-1 Student Status: This
document confirms that you have been accepted to the College and
can apply for the F-1 visa. The I-20 is issued by the Admissions
Office prior to your entry into the U.S. and is used to apply for
an F-1 visa at the U.S. Consulate/Embassy. This document is presented
to the Immigration Officer at the port of entry when you arrive in
the U.S. Your I-20 will be signed by the Vice President of Enrollment
Management when it is issued and must be endorsed at least once per
year. International Students must carry the original I-20 whenever
they leave the U.S.
- F-1 Visa: This document is a multicolored stamp placed in your
passport at a U.S. Consulate. The visa is the "key" necessary for
entering the U.S. It indicates your name, classification, the number
of times you may enter the U.S. on this visa (in most cases, multiple
entries are allowed), and the visa's expiration date. The expiration
date on the visa reflects the last date that you are permitted to
enter (or re-enter) the U.S. as an International Student.
- Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record: This document is a small,
white card stapled into your passport at the time of your arrival
into the U.S. The I-94 indicates your arrival date, the visa classification,
and the length of authorized stay in the U.S. For F-1 students, the
length of stay is noted as D/S which stands for "Duration of Stay." D/S
allows a student to stay in the U.S. as long as he or she carries
a valid I-20.