Frequently Asked Questions about Visas, SEVIS and I-20s
A passport is an official travel document issued by your home country's government to its citizens.
A passport
- verifies your identity and nationality
- allows you to travel internationally (other documents, for example a visa, may also be required).*
- Temple University will not issue an I-20 without a passport
* An F-1 visa is needed for you to study full-time at Temple University.
Your Form I-20 Certificate of Eligibility is a document issued by the Temple University to show that you have been admitted to a full-time program of study at TCALC FOR LANGUAGE TRAINING.
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You need your Form I-20 Certificate of Eligibility (I-20) to apply for your F-1 visa.
- Your I-20 is a document issued by the Temple University to show that you have:
- been admitted to a full-time program of study
- sufficient financial resources to cover your study and living expenses
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Your I-20 number (SEVIS ID number) is a unique number linked to your SEVIS record.
- You will keep the same SEVIS ID number throughout your program, even if you transfer your F-1 status to another school.
- Your SEVIS ID number can be found at the top of the form and starts with the letter "N."
A U.S. visa is an approval from the U.S. that allows you to enter the country for a specific reason.
- An F-1 visa allows you to enter the U.S.A. to study full-time for a certain period of time.
- Some programs accept a B-Visa or ESTA Waiver Program
- The visa document is put inside your passport.
SEVIS is a U.S. government database that tracks all non-immigrant students and exchange visitors studying in the U.S.
- When we receive your application and documents, Temple University creates a SEVIS record for you. Your record is stored on the SEVIS government database.
- SEVIS = Student and Exchange Visitor Information System
Your SEVIS ID number (I-20 number) is a unique number linked to your SEVIS record.
- You will keep the same SEVIS ID number throughout your program, even if you transfer your F-1 status to another school.
- Your SEVIS ID number can be found at the top of the form and starts with the letter "N."
A I-901 SEVIS fee is required by the U.S. government to support the program office.
- You will need to pay the I-901 SEVIS fee to get your visa.
- The fee should be paid before scheduling your visa interview appointment.
- As of June 2022, the I-901 SEVIS fee is $350 for F-1 students.
- The fee is non-refundable.
You will needa visa interview if applying for any visa. The visa interview is used is to verify all information (documents) given in the application and to make sure that you qualify for the F-1 visa.
- The interview is given at the U.S consulate by a U.S. consular officer.
Prepare your visa application materials, including:
- Your passport, which should be valid at least six months into the future
- Your visa certificate (I-20)
- Extra passport photos
- Your I-901 SEVIS fee payment receipt
- Financial documents, such as your scholarship letter/bank statements
- Your Temple University/TCALC admission letter
- Passports and proof of family relationship for any dependent family members coming with you to the US
- Other supporting materials as instructed by the International Center or the U.S. consulate
Full-time refers to the amount of time spent studying in a program each week.
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Full-time students are required to have an F-1 visa to legally study in the U.S.
At TCALC, studying full-time means you will:
- Study for at least 18 hours per week
- Enroll in four (4) classes: Integrated English: Listening and Speaking, Intensive Reading, Intensive Writing and an Enrichment course
To find out what documents are required, visit the Requirements page.
Yes! If you are on a B-visa, you can study part-time at TCALC
- part-time = 1 - 3 classes or less than 15 hours per week
For those on a different type of visa (L, R, O, etc.), please contact our team at tcalcapps@temple.edu
Part-time refers to the amount of time spent studying in a program each week.
At TCALC, studying part-time means you will:
- Study for less than 21 hours per week
- Enroll in one (1) to three (3) classes: Integrated English: Listening and Speaking, Intensive Reading, Intensive Writing or an Enrichment course
You cannot take four (4) classes as a part-time TCALC student.
10 Tips For Your Visa Interview
Under United States law, all applicants for non-immigrant visas are viewed as intending immigrants until they can convince the consular officer that they are not. You must therefore be able to show that you have reasons for returning to your home country that are stronger than those for remaining in the United States.
"Ties" to your home country are the things that bind you to your hometown, homeland, or current place of residence (i.e., job, family, financial prospects that you own or will inherit, investments, etc).
If you are a prospective student, the interviewing officer may ask about your specific intentions or promise of future employment, family or other relationships, educational objectives, grades, long-long range plans, and career prospects in your home country. Each person's situation is different, of course, and there is no magic explanation or single document, certificate, or letter, which can guarantee visa issuance.
Anticipate that the interview will be conducted in English and not in your native language. One suggestion is to practice English conversation with a native speaker before the interview. If you are coming to the United States solely to study intensive English, be prepared to explain how English will be useful for you in your home country.
Do not bring parents or family members with you to your interview. The consular officer wants to interview you, not your family. A negative impression is created if you are not prepared to speak on your own behalf. If you are a minor applying for a high school program and need your parents there in case there are questions, for example, about funding, they should wait in the waiting room.
If you are not able to articulate the reasons you will study in a particular program in the United States, you may not succeed in convincing the consular officer that you are indeed planning to study, rather than to immigrate. You should also be able to explain how studying in the United States relates to your future professional career in your home country.
Because of the volume of applications that are received, all consular officers are under considerable time pressure to conduct a quick and efficient interview. They must make a decision, for the most part, on the impressions they form during the first minute or two of the interview. Consequently, what you say first and the initial impression you create are critical to your success. Keep your answers to the officer's questions short and to the point.
It should be clear at a glance to the consular officer what written documents you are presenting and what they signify. Lengthy written explanations cannot be quickly read or evaluated. Remember that you will have 2-3 minutes of interview time, if you're lucky.
Applicants from countries suffering economic problems or from countries where many students have remained in the United States as immigrants will have more difficulty getting visas. Statistically, applicants from those countries are more likely to be asked about job opportunities at home after their study in the United States.
Your main purpose of coming to the United States should be to study, not for the chance to work before or after graduation. While many students do work off-campus during their studies, such employment is incidental to their main purpose of completing their US education.
You must be able to clearly articulate your plan to return home at the end of your program. If your spouse is also applying for an accompanying F-2 visa, be aware that F-2 dependents cannot, under any circumstances, be employed in the United States. If asked, be prepared to address what your spouse intends to do with his or her time while in the United States. Volunteer work and attending school part-time are permitted activities.
If your spouse and children are remaining behind in your country, be prepared to address how they will support themselves in your absence. This can be an especially tricky area if you are the primary source of income for your family. If the consular officer gains the impression that your family members will need you to remit money from the United States in order to support themselves, your student visa application will almost certainly be denied. If your family does decide to join you at a later time, it is helpful to have them apply at the same post where you applied for your visa.
Do not engage the consular officer in an argument. If you are denied a student visa, ask the officer for a list of documents he or she would suggest you bring in order to overcome the refusal, and try to get the reason you were denied in writing.
This list was compiled by NAFSA: Association of International Educators.