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Pre-admission
Admission
Post-admission

III. Post-admission:

Q: I was accepted by NPU but I want to defer to the next semester. What should I do?

A: Please confirm in written form, such as an email to confirm which semester you want to defer to and pay a $30 re-admissions fee. We will process your request accordingly.

Q: I already received my I-20. What should I do to obtain my visa to the U.S.?

A: You need to contact your local US embassy to schedule an appointment for a visa interview. The information of US embassy can be found at http://usembassy.state.gov/

You also need to make a SEVIS I-901 payment before you attend the visa interview.

Q: What is the SEVIS fee?

A: In 1996, Congress passed legislation that required the Immigration Service to create an electronic data collection system to maintain and manage information on international students and scholars during their stay in the United States. This new computerized system, known as the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), became fully operational in January 2003. Congress mandated that SEVIS be a self-funded program, and on September 1, 2004 the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) began collecting a $100 SEVIS fee from new F-1 Students and J-1 Exchange Visitors. The SEVIS fee is separate from and in addition to the visa application fee.

Q: Who has to pay the SEVIS fee?

A: The fee ($100) is paid by new students and exchange visitors who use a Form I-20 or DS-2019 to gain initial F-1 or J-1 status, if that form was issued on or after September 1, 2004.

F-1 students who leave the U.S. for five months or more will have to pay the fee before they return to the U.S., unless the absence was on account of participation in an authorized study-abroad program.

F-1 students who file an application for reinstatement and have been out of status for more than five months must pay the fee.

Individuals who are in the U.S. and wish to change to F-1 student or J-1 exchange visitor status from another nonimmigrant status must pay the SEVIS fee.

Q: How do I pay the SEVIS fee?

A: The fee can be paid to the DHS (Department of Homeland Security) by mail or online. You must include the Form I-901 with the fee. The Form I-901 can be found at http://www.fmjfee.com. The fee can be paid by the student or by someone else (family member or friend) inside or outside the US.

Q: How Do I Pay SEVIS fee Online?

Find the Form I-901 at http://www.fmjfee.com
Complete the form online and supply the necessary Visa, MasterCard or American Express information. Be sure to write your name exactly how it appears on your I-20 form.
Print a copy of the online receipt.
Be sure to make copies of your receipt, and keep it with your other important immigration documents.

If you pay the SEVIS fee by Internet, you can print a receipt directly from your computer at the same time. This computer-generated receipt can be used to prove you have paid the fee at an embassy, consular post, or port-of-entry.

Q: How Do I Pay SEVIS fee By Mail?

Get a Form I-901 "Fee Remittance for Certain F, J, and M Nonimmigrants" by either
- Download the form from http://www.fmjfee.com or
- Ask for the form by phone at 1-800-870-3676 (inside the US)
Complete the Form I-901. Be sure to write your name exactly how it appears on your I-20 form.
Prepare a check, international money order or foreign draft (drawn on US banks only) in the amount of $100 USD, made payable to "The Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement."
Mail the completed I-901 and payment to the address listed on Form I-901.
A Form I-797 receipt confirmation notice should be mailed within 3 days of processing the fee. Be sure to make copies of this receipt notice, and keep it with your other important immigration documents.

If you mail the fee, then you must wait at least 3 business days after DHS receives your payment before trying to apply for your visa. DHS will mail you a paper receipt (called an I-797) to be used as evidence that you paid the fee, but there should also be an electronic record of your fee payment in the US Consulate's database. If there is an electronic record of fee payment in the database, you will not need to show your paper receipt (Form I-797) to apply for the visa or enter the US. However, due to potential technical problems, it is strongly recommended that you wait for a copy of the paper fee payment receipt before making a visa application.

The paper receipt (Form I-797) is mailed to the address you wrote on Form I-901. If you want to pay more, you can ask DHS to express mail your receipt. Or you can wait until the receipt is mailed to via regular postal service.

Q: I need NPU's SEVIS code when I pay SEVIS fee, what is that?

A: NPU's SEVIS code is SFR214F01556000 (institution code)

Q: What to bring with me when applying for the Visa?

Passport: The passport should be valid for at least six months beyond the visa application date. Any expired and/or other current passport(s) should also be presented. A record of previously issued nonimmigrant visa assists the consular officer in making a decision.
I-20 Form: The I-20 form (issued by the school in the U.S.) is mandatory for all student visa applicants. Please sign the I-20 form.
Evidence of Prior Education: Applicants should bring original transcripts of prior education. Applicants who are not applying immediately after completing their studies should also present evidence of their recent employment. Test score reports from any tests that have been taken, including TOEFL, GMAT, SAT, etc.
Financial Assets: Applicants should present full and complete financial documentation to show that they have sufficient funds to cover the cost of their educational fees and living expenses while in the U.S. Fixed deposit accounts, current accounts, savings accounts and/or promissory notes belonging to the applicant's financial sponsor may be presented. Original documents should be presented- most Embassies will not need to keep copies.
Evidence of Your Residence Outside the U.S.: When applying for a student visa, applicants are applying for a nonimmigrant visa. Before a nonimmigrant visa may be issued, an applicant must establish to the satisfaction of the Consular Officer that they are not intending immigrants. Applicants can do this by showing evidence of their family, economic and other social ties to a country outside the U.S. No relative, employer, or friend can "guarantee" an applicant's return in place of such evidence.

Regardless of who is sponsoring the trip, the consular officer must look at the individual situation and decide whether the applicant meets the requirements on his/her own merits.

Please note that consular officers adjudicate visas on the basis of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). This law states that" whenever any person makes application for a visa... the burden of proof shall be upon such person to establish that he is eligible." U.S. immigration law requires consular officers to deny an applicant's application if he/she fails to present convincing evidence that he/she is not an intending immigrant.

Q: How to get the Visa?

A: Every visa official has a list of requirements that he or she looks for a visa application. If they are met, then the visa will be granted. If not, the application will be rejected. It is how these requirements are met that makes a visa decision seem subjective. For instance, the requirement for a student will return to his or her home country after completing studies forces the student to give logical, thought-out evidence. On the other hand, if a student has nothing substantial to show, then the visa will not be issued.

Presenting proper documents alone does not determine the visa approval or denial. The visa officer knows that documents can be easily forged, so they can judge authenticity in less than a minute due to the large number of papers that they process every day. Therefore, presenting the individual case is the most important part in getting the visa. What the student says and how he or she says it matters a lot. Sometimes it can even make up for inadequate documentation. Success in obtaining a visa depends on both the proper documentation and giving a good presentation during the interview.

Key Factors

Academic Performance: U.S. universities have high standards and expectations of international students. Therefore, having a good academic record increases a student's chance of obtaining a visa.
Financial Capabilities: U.S. universities are more expensive than most of the countries in the world. The U.S. government needs assurances that the student will not drop out of school or take a job illegally. I-20 or DS-2019 forms will list the amount for tuition and other expenses. It is the student's responsibility to provide solid evidence for any scholarships, grants or loans that have been awarded. The student is also required to establish proof of his or her relationship with the sponsor, and to submit documentation of the sponsor's active and passive incomes.
Strong Ties to Home Country: Under U.S. law, all applicants for non-immigrant visas are viewed as intending immigrants until they can convince the consulate officer that they are not. It is the student's responsibility to justify the visa application and provide convincing evidence that his or her intention is only to study in the U.S. The law states that the student must demonstrate sufficient economic, family, and social ties to his or her home country to ensure that the stay in the U.S will be temporary.

Positive Points for Applicants

The student's proposed education or training would be very useful in the home country.
The student is going for a highly valuable research-oriented education, such as drug discovery, or next generation technology.
The student will learn international or U.S. business skills.
The student will bring cultural or ethnic values and experiences to the U.S.
The students has well-planned career goals with definite objectives.
The student has chosen a university that will help him or her to attain those career goals.
The student gives a good presentation of documents.
The student gives simple, straight-forward, clear and concise answers to the visa officer's questions.

Negative Points for Applications

The proposed education or training would not appear to be very useful in the home country.
The indented education is already available in the home country.
The student is not in very good academic standing.
The student's intention is most likely to get a job and settle in the U.S.
The student is financially incapable of studying in the U.S.
The student has a poor presentation of documents.
Financial support for education is completely based on university funding.

Visit http://travel.state.gov/visa/ for more information on all of the details about applying for a visa and ensuring that it is granted.

Q: Do I need to have a health check/immunizations before getting my visa or coming to the United States?

A: NPU does NOT require any immunizations or health check records. Also, the U.S. government does NOT require you to have immunizations or tests in order to obtain your F-1 or J-1 visa. However, we do recommend certain immunizations before you enter the U.S.

Q: How do I find housing?

A: NPU's Housing Service provides useful information about housing. You can request for housing service at http://www.npu.edu/housing/housing.aspx.

Should you have any questions, please check our housing website at http://www.npu.edu/housing/.

Q: Which international airport is the nearest one to NPU? Does NPU send anybody to pick me up when I land in the airport?

A: We can arrange airport pick-up upon students' request. Please request the service online at http://www.npu.edu/housing/pickup.aspx once your flight number is confirmed.

Q: Do I need to report to NPU upon my arrival to the U.S.?

A: Upon your arrival to the U.S. you are required to report to NPU and register as a full-time student. Failure to register in a timely fashion may result in your loss of legal status.

Q: What is Social Security number?

A: A Social Security number (SSN) is used to report your wages to the U.S. government and to determine eligibility for Social Security benefits at a later date. Social Security numbers can be assigned to foreigners who are authorized to work in the United States.

Q: Will I be required of SSN when I open bank accounts or apply for a driver's license?

A: No. You do not need a Social Security number to open a bank account or for most other financial transactions. If you are an F visa holder, the bank may ask you to fill out Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN to prove that you are exempt from the requirement of providing a Social Security number. Similarly, as a F-1 visa holder, you will not be required to provide SSN when you apply for driver's license.

Q: How do I get a driver's license?

A: State of California Driver's License and State of California Personal Identification Cards are issued by the DMV. In order to get a California driver's license, you must pass a written test, a road sign test, a vision test, and a driving test. Please check more information at http://www.dmv.ca.gov/.

Q: How do I invite family members to visit?

A: Family members who are NOT children (under 21) or spouse of the F-1 student should apply for a B-1/B-2 visitor visa, which allows foreigners to visit the United States temporarily for tourism or business purposes. Family members from certain countries may be eligible to travel to the U.S. for visits of up to 90 days without a B-1/B-2 visa through the U.S. Department of State Visa Waiver Program. It is recommended that you give your family members a letter of invitation to document the purpose of their visit.

Q: How does my spouse/child under 21 join me in the U.S. as my F-2/J-2 dependent?

A: To obtain F-2 documents for your spouse and/or minor children under 21 years, please provide the following documents to International Student Advisor:

Copy of passport for your spouse and/or minor children under 21 years Financial support documents indicating your financial ability to support their live when they come to the U.S.

Once you have submitted the necessary documents, we will issue I-20 forms for your spouse/children to obtain F-2 status. Then, your family member will need to apply for and obtain the appropriate visa to enter U.S. (except Canadians) as your dependent. Your family will need official proof of your family ties, such as birth/marriage certificate.

Q: What is the International Student full-time enrollment requirement?

A: International students in F status must maintain full time enrollment. Undergraduate students must take at least 12 credits per trimester; Graduate students must take at least 9 credits per trimester; ESL students must take at least 18 hours/week course load per trimester

Q: How can I renew my F or J visa?

A: The U.S. visa (stamp or sticker in your passport) is a travel document which allows entry to the United States with a valid I-20. You only need to have a valid F or J visa when you are re-entering the U.S.; you may remain in the U.S. with a valid I-20 and without a valid F1 visa. If you plan to travel and re-enter the U.S. from abroad after your visa has expired, you need to apply for a new visa before you re-enter. You can only apply for the visa outside the country at a U.S. Consulate.

Q: I'm planning on traveling outside the United States. What do I need to do to re-enter the United States? (for students who are in the U.S.)

A: For reentering the U.S., you must have the following documents valid and carried with you:

Passport: valid for at least six month from the date of your reentry,
F1 visa: If it has expired, you will need to either get a new visa or renew it with a U.S. Embassy before reentering the U.S.,
I-20: There must be a certification signature of a school official's signed within 5 months prior to your reentry to the U.S.

Q: I received a student visa last term, but had to defer admission due to personal reasons. I now wish to start my studies at NPU for which I received my visa. Do I need to apply for a new visa?

A: Any student with a valid visa who has chosen to defer admission to the next semester need not reapply for a new visa, provided he/she is going to NPU and has a valid I-20, even if the SEVIS number differs on the new I-20. If the student wishes to change to a different university from the one annotated on his/her visa, he/she needs to apply for a new visas.

Q:How do I prove that I can afford to attend school in the United states?

A: U.S. regulations are quite clear: the applicant/sponsor must be able to explain to the satisfaction of the Consular Officer that he/she has sufficient funds to cover the first year, plus a continuing source of funds to cover subsequent years. Part7 on the I-20 shows the amount of funding you must have available to cover each year's expenses. The total amount includes tuition and fees, living expenses, expenses of dependents(if applicable), and other expenses. You must prove that you have immediate funds available to cover the first year's expenses, and access to funds to cover the remaining years of study. For example, if you are a prospective Master's student for a two year program, and the total cost includes $5,000 for tuition and fees, $5,000 for living expenses, and %500 for other expenses(books and supplies, for instance), then you must prove that $10,500 is immediately available to you. Additionally, you must show that another $10,500 is or will likely be available to cover the second year.

Q:What documents should I show to prove that I could pay for my education in the U.S.?

A: There no specific documents that prove a student is able to pay for his/her education. However, Consular Officers oftern ask to see such documents as bank account statements, bank books, pay slips, income tax return statements, employment letters, and property documents to show that a student has sufficient resources to pay for his/her studies. However, these are only suggested documents. A visa is not assured if you have any or all of these documents.

Q:Can a foreign national on a visitor (B) visa change his status to student, if he/she has been admitted to a U.S. school after arrival in the U.S.?

A: No. Previously, U.S. law permitted persons entering on B-2 tourist visas to change to student status while in the U.S. This is no longer the case. A nonimmigrant wishing to study in the U.S. must apply from their country of origin or residence if they wish to study in the U.S. on an F-1 visa.


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