Immigration and Visa Information
Since the privileges and responsibilities of a foreign
national in the United States of America depend on the type of visa held, it is
important to ensure that you obtain the appropriate visa.
Obtaining a Visa
To obtain a visa, you
should present to the nearest United States Consulate in your country the
following items:
- A Form I-20 (F-1) or a Form DS-2019 (J-1) issued
by Northern Arizona University and your admission letter,
- A valid passport,
- Receipt of the SEVIS fee Form I-901 payment, AND
- Proof of financial support, as stated on the
Certificate of Eligibility.
It is also not advisable to enter the United States on a visitor's visa and then later request to change this to a student visa. Please note that these requests are usually denied.
Visas for Your Spouse and Children
Your spouse and children may be issued F-2 or J-2 visas at
this time, provided you are able to provide evidence of your ability to support
dependents. Please be aware that it is illegal for spouses on F-2 visas to work
while in the United States. Spouses with J-2 visas may only work with
permission from the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service.
Maintaining Your Visa
United States immigration regulations require that, as the
holder of a student visa, you maintain student status by enrolling in an
academic program on a full-time basis; this means you must complete a minimum
of nine semester hours of credit each semester.