Getting Your I-20 and Obtaining a Visa
An I-20 is the form that EMU is required by Federal Law to produce which allows the student to apply for a visa at the U.S. Embassy. Before EMU can issue the I-20, the student must take the following steps:
- Complete the admissions application and receive an admission decision from the university. See our application checklist for more details on required documents and information.
- Receive Financial Aid Notification (FAN) after admittance.
- Complete the International Student Affidavit and provide supporting documents such as bank statements and letters of sponsorship, if applicable.
- Pay the $200 tuition deposit.
- See Next Steps page for billing, housing, and other
*Deadlines for visa approvals are always 1 month before the start of International Student Orientation.
What to bring to your visa interview
The student should bring the following documents to the visa interview:
- Form I-20
- Receipt of SEVIS payment
- $350 payment (also known as the I-901 fee for a SEVIS ID)
- Acceptance letter
- Financial Aid Notification (financial award letter)
- Financial documents which prove the student’s ability to support themself while in the U.S.
- Evidence that the student intends to return to their home country upon completion of their studies (information about family members who live in the home country, property owned, etc.)
- Academic transcripts and test scores
The student should also be prepared to describe their career goals and why they chose EMU. Please refer to our Visa Interview Tips document for more details about how to prepare for the visa interview.
