Student Visas – Western International University

Student Visas  

Western International University is authorized to issue the Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant F-1 Student Status (I-20 form) by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). The I-20 is issued to international students after admission and receipt of a tuition deposit.  

If You Reside Outside The U.S.  

If you are residing abroad, you will receive the I-20 via express courier. Once you receive the certificate, visit the U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate for your visa. Each embassy or consulate has a different procedure. For details about visa procedures in your area, visit the homepage of the U.S. Embassy near you at http://usembassy.gov/.

Report for the interview, bringing your I-20, admission letter, financial guarantee, and passport, along with any other items expressed on the U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate website. The visa officer will ask you some questions about your plans for your education and want you to prove that you will return to your country after you graduate.

If everything is in good order, your visa will be issued. Depending on the procedure, you may have your visa that day or be required to wait several days. Some embassies will mail it to your local address. Be certain that all I-20 copies (three pages) are returned to you. Bring all of the above documents with you to the U.S. When you arrive, the Customs and Border Patrol officers will check your papers and stamp the arrival date on page 1 of the I-20.

You will have an I-94 Arrival and Departure Record date stamped and attached to your passport. This form is valid until the first time you exit the U.S.

IMPORTANT: You cannot arrive in the U.S. more than 30 days before your report date on your I-20.  

If You Reside In The U.S.  

If you are a new international student living in the U.S., you must pick up your I-20 in person from the designated school official. You must report on your I-20 program start date to WIU's Main Campus for a mandatory orientation session. Please arrive promptly at 12 noon. Students who fail to complete this orientation session will not be allowed to begin class and will be reported as out of attendance through the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) to the Department of Homeland Security.

F-1 Status And Employment

F-1 students studying at Western International University have been allowed to enter the United States for academic studies. Students are required to show that they will be able to afford the costs of school and living expenses prior to entry and should not plan on being allowed to work. However, USCIS permits F-1 students who have met eligibility requirements to seek employment under certain limitations. USCIS permits the following types of employment:

  • On-campus employment (not available to WIU students)
  • Curricular Practical Training (CPT internship) (not available to WIU students)
  • Emergent circumstances (available to WIU students)
  • Off-campus international intern (available to WIU students)
  • Optional Practical Training (OPT) (available to WIU students)
  • Economic hardship (available to WIU students)

You will receive additional information during your orientation session.