All non-immigrants traveling to the U.S. must request a visa, which reflects their planned activities in the U.S. Visa process steps are specific to each visa category.
Undergraduate and graduate students accepted to Elon who are not on a dependent visa status will receive either a form I-20 (for F-1 visa holders) or DS-2019 (for J-1 visa holders) and can then proceed to apply for a visa.
If you are joining Elon as a Visiting Scholar or in a status other than F-1 or J-1, we look forward to providing any relevant documentation to support your process.
To enter the U.S., most foreign nationals need a passport from their home country and a U.S. visa in their passport. Please find your visa status below for additional details.
Note: Canadian and Bermudian students require a valid passport and an I-20 or DS-2019 but are not required to get a visa.
F-1 Visa
The F-1 Visa is a non-immigrant student visa designed for students pursuing a degree program.
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J-1 Visa
The J-1 Visa category is a non-immigrant visa for individuals engaging temporarily in both work and study exchange visitor programs.
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Dependent Visas (H-4, L-2, A-2, F-2, J-2 and others)
Some Elon students and community members are dependents of a spouse or parents already in the U.S. on a visa.
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B-1 Visa
The B-1/B-2 Visitor Visa is a non-immigrant visa intended for temporary business and/or tourism.
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H-1B Visa
The H-1B Visa is a specialty occupations visa intended for employment. Faculty and staff with questions regarding an H-1B visa should consult Elon’s Human Resources site for more information.
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TN Visa
The TN Visa is a non-immigrant visa permitting qualified Canadian and Mexican citizens to pursue business activities. Faculty and staff with questions regarding a TN visa should consult Elon’s Human Resources site for more information.
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Certification of Eligibility
Upon your acceptance to Elon, you will be issued either an I-20 (F-1 students) or a DS-2019 (J-1). These documents certify your eligibility to apply for a visa and also certify you are maintaining status while in the U.S. You should keep all I-20’s or DS-2019’s issued to you during your time in the U.S. as they will be necessary in applying for practical training, re-instatement, or change of status. These documents will also be used to verify that you are eligible to reenter the U.S. after a trip abroad.
The U.S. Customs and Immigration Service (USCIS) requires students to have a recent signature of a Designated School Official on their most recent I-20 or DS-2019 in order to be re-admitted to the U.S. after travel. You should come to the GEC to have your I-20 signed before travel if the previous signature is more than six months old, or will be more than six months old when the you return to the U.S.
Maintaining Student Status
Your eligibility for employment, school transfers, and program changes depends on maintaining lawful status. Your signature on the I-20 signifies your agreement to abide by the conditions of F-1 status while in the U.S.
To maintain lawful status, you must:
- Register with the school at the beginning of each term.
- Attend the school listed on the I-20.
- Be enrolled during each regular term (i.e. students must be enrolled for fall and spring terms but are not required to be enrolled summer or winter terms).
- Attend school full-time during regular terms:
- 12 semester hours for undergraduate students
- 6 semester hours for graduate students
- Hold a valid, current I-20 form.
- Maintain a passport that is valid for at least 6 months into the future.
- Not work off-campus without prior authorization.
- Not work more than 20 hours per week during a regular term.
- Report change of your physical address within 10 days.
- Follow proper procedures to transfer schools.
Transferring Schools
When should I request a transfer of schools?
You should initiate transfer procedures during the term prior to the semester you intend to enroll in the new school. It is imperative to follow the established transfer procedures in order to maintain valid immigration status.
A student who transfers schools must enroll in the new school during the first available regular term after leaving the previous institution.
Transferring to Elon
To transfer to Elon, you must:
- Apply to and be accepted by the university. Refer to the Office of Admissions website for more information.
- Inform the school from which you are transferring and complete any applicable forms.
- Report to the GEC and enroll in classes within 15 days of the beginning of the next regular term.
Transferring from Elon
To transfer from Elon, you must:
- Apply to and be accepted by the new institution.
- Notify the GEC and the Registrar’s Office of your intention to transfer.
- Submit an University Withdrawal form.
- Report to the new institution’s international office and enroll in classes within 15 days of the beginning of the next regular term.
What the international student advisor at the transfer-in school will do:
- Verify your enrollment.
- Update your SEVIS record to show that you reported to the new school and completed the transfer within the 15-day deadline.
- Issue you a new I-20 reflecting these updates.
Renewing Your Visa
If your visa expires while you are in the U.S., you do not need to depart for the express purpose of renewing it as long as you are in valid immigration status. However, if your visa expires and you depart the U.S., you must renew your visa before you can return.
The process for renewing a visa is identical to the process for applying for a visa except that you should not have to pay the SEVIS fee a second time.
It is not possible to apply for an F-1 visa while in the U.S. It is possible to apply for one as a third-country national (i.e. in a country other than your home country), but you should be aware that third-country nationals often face more stringent requirements than residents of the country where they apply.
