International Student FAQ & Information Page

Visa Information
I-20 Information
Consluate Interview
I-94 Information

Visa Information

What type of visa do I need to study at Westwood College?
Westwood College typically enrolls students who have an F-1 visa.

What other kinds of visas can I use to study at Westwood College?
If you are not in the United States on an F-1 visa, you may still be able to study at an American institution. However, there are specific restrictions on each visa type with regard to engaging in a course of study. If you would like to study at Westwood College, or Westwood College of Aviation Technology, please contact an International Admissions Representative for more information on studying on your current visa.

What is an F-1 student?
An F-1 student is a nonimmigrant that is pursuing a full course of study towards a specific educational goal at an academic institution that has been approved by the INS to offer courses of study to such students. An F-1 student must be enrolled in SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) and must return to his or her residence abroad after completion of study.

Who issues an F-1 visa?
The consular office that has jurisdiction over your place of residence accepts applications for and issues F-1 visas. It is now a requirement of the United States government for every student visa applicant to appear for an in-person interview with his or her local U.S. consulate. The consulate will ask you questions, which we will attempt to prepare you for, as well as request certain documentation. This documentation will include, but is not limited to, your I-20, bank statements, and proof of residence in your home country. This documentation is discussed in the Consulate Interview portion of our website. The consulate will either approve or deny your visa based on your answers to their questions and the documentation you provide.

What are the requirements to apply for an F-1 visa?

You must include the following items in your application for an F-1 visa:

  • Properly completed I-20 from the DSO of the American university you plan to attend.
  • Evidence of financial ability to meet expenses.
  • Evidence of English ability sufficient for your course of study.
  • Passport valid for at least 6 months.
  • Form DS-156 "Nonimmigrant Visa Application"
  • Form DS-157, if applicable.
  • Form DS-158 "Contact Information and Work History for Nonimmigrant Visa Applicant"
  • Photograph (Please contact the United States Embassy in your country of residence for visa photograph requirements)
  • Machine Readable Visa surcharge fee (currently $100 but please check http://travel.state.gov for fee changes).
  • Visa reciprocity fee, if applicable.
  • Visa forms can be downloaded from the United States Department of State Web site at www.state.gov.

How do I maintain my F-1 status?
To maintain F-1 status:

  • You are required to report to the DSO of your school for Initial Registration in SEVIS upon arriving at school.
  • The school listed on your visa and I-20 must be the same and you must attend the school that is listed on these documents.
  • You are required to pursue a "full course of study," typically 12 credit hours per term, at the school listed on your currently valid I-20 during every academic term except during official school breaks or unless approved under a specific exception in advance by the DSO.
  • You are also required to progress towards completing a course of study and you must complete these studies on or before the program completion date on your I-20.
  • If you are unable to complete your course of study by the program completion date, you must notify your DSO before the end date and follow the proper procedures for an extension of stay.
  • If you decide to pursue a higher-level education after graduation or you decide to change programs before your completion date, you must also notify your DSO and follow the proper procedures for changing levels or programs of study.
  • If you decide to transfer to a different school during your course of study, you must notify the DSO of both the school you are currently enrolled in and the DSO of the school you wish to transfer to and follow the proper procedures for transfer of schools.
  • You must also abide by the grace period rules that apply to your F-1 visa. There are three grace periods that are allowed on an F-1:
    • You are allowed to enter the United States no sooner than 30 days prior to your program start date.
    • You are granted a 60-day grace period at the end of your course of study in which to gather your belongings and prepare to leave the United States. The only exception to this rule is if you have followed the proper procedures for applying for practical training, moving education levels, or school transfer prior to completing your course of study.
    • If your DSO grants you an authorized withdrawal, you may remain in the United States for up to 15 days following the withdrawal date noted in SEVIS. This grace period can only be used to prepare for your departure from the United States. You are not allowed to use this grace period for employment or preparation to transfer.
  • You are required to report any change of address to the DSO within 10 days of the change so that your SEVIS record may be updated.
  • Students on F-1 visas are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week during the school term on-campus only. F-1 students are not allowed to be employed off-campus unless they qualify under specific circumstances. Although you may be allowed to work on-campus, there is no guarantee that an on-campus position will be available.
  • You must abide by rules requiring disclosure of information and prohibition on criminal activity. You must abide by any special requirements of the BCIS or DHS, such as Special Registration requirements.

Can my F-1 be revoked?
Your F-1 visa cannot be revoked. However, you will be considered "out of status" if you violate any of the F-1 visa requirements. If you fail to maintain your visa status, you will be eligible for deportation from the United States and may not be able to re-enter the United States if you decide to apply for another visa in the future. You are only eligible for reinstatement of your visa status under specific conditions and then only if the circumstances were beyond your control. Therefore, it is very important that you maintain your visa status at all times while you are studying in the United States.

How much does it cost to get my F-1 visa?
There is currently a $100 surcharge fee for a Machine Readable Visa. This must be paid at the time you file your visa application. Please check the United States Department of State Web site, http://travel.state.gov for changes to this fee.

When should I apply for my visa?
You can apply for your visa as early as 90 days before the start of your classes as stated on your I-20. You may not apply for your visa any earlier than this 90-day period.

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I-20 INFORMATION

What is an I-20?
An I-20 is a 3-page document produced from a student's SEVIS (Student Exchange and Visitor Information System) record. The first page contains program and biographical information; the second page consists of pre-printed instructions; the third page contains employment authorization data and spaces for travel authorizations. The I-20 also contains a bar code on the right side of the form, the word "SEVIS," and your unique student ID number printed above the bar code. This form is printed and sent to you by the DSO at the school where you will study and then presented to your local consular office during the F-1 application process.

Why do I need an I-20?
You must present your I-20 to the consular office as proof that you have met certain academic and financial requirements and been admitted to a United States institution. You will not be able to receive an F-1 visa without an I-20 from the DSO at your chosen institution. You will also need your I-20 if you decide to travel during your course of study and to apply for Optional Practical Training prior to your graduation.

Who issues the I-20?
The DSO of the United States school that you will be attending will issue your I-20.

What do I need to provide in order to receive my I-20?
In order to receive an I-20 you must meet the following conditions:

  • A written application must be submitted to the school you wish to attend. Your application, school transcripts, and any other supporting documents must be received, reviewed, and evaluated at the school's location in the United States in order to determine your academic eligibility. The appropriate school authority must determine that your qualifications meet all standards for admission. Admissions decisions cannot be made on the spot overseas.
  • Your English proficiency must also be listed on your I-20. The DSO of the school you plan to attend must indicate whether the school requires English language proficiency and if so, whether you meet that required proficiency. Westwood College requires English proficiency and you must prove this proficiency through your TOEFL test score. English proficiency or proof that you plan to obtain English proficiency to pursue your course of study is also required for approval of your F-1 visa. If you do not meet the minimum requirements in this area, we will refer you to an ESL school, which you may be able to attend before coming to Westwood.
  • You must provide reliable documentation that you have adequate financial resources to meet expenses while studying at school. Westwood College, Westwood College of Aviation Technology, and Westwood Aviation Institute require this documentation in the form of a notarized Letter of Support from your sponsor accompanied by official bank statements reflecting an adequate amount of money in the sponsor's bank account. If you are independent and do not have a sponsor, you must provide us with your own official bank statements reflecting the adequate amount in your own bank account. We will not accept another person's bank statement without an accompanying signed and notarized Letter of Support from the account holder.
  • The academic program you wish to study must qualify as a "full course of study." This means that you must be able to participate in 12 credit hours of study per term.

Where do I go to get my I-20?
Your initial I-20 will be mailed to you by the DSO after you have satisfied the financial and academic requirements of the institution and been granted admission. If you happen to lose your I-20 or it is damaged while you are in the United States, your DSO can print you a new, current copy of your I-20.

Can my I-20 be revoked?
Your I-20 cannot be revoked. However, your I-20 is only valid until the program end date that is listed on the first page and then only as long as you maintain the requirements of your visa status.

How much does it cost to get an I-20?
There is no fee for obtaining your I-20. However, you must satisfy certain financial requirements for admission to a United States institution and your I-20 will only be issued after you have met those requirements and been admitted to the school.

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Consulate Interview

What is a consulate interview?
You will be required to meet with a United States consulate for a visa interview before coming to the United States. The consulate will determine through the interview and the documentation you present whether you are an acceptable candidate for an F-1 visa.

What will happen at the interview?
Please check with your local United States consular office to find out their procedures for reviewing applications. You may need to make an appointment or you may be able to arrive during business hours and wait in line. Either way, you will most likely meet with a clerk before going in for the consulate interview. The clerk's job is to look over your paperwork and make sure that it is all in order so it is in your best interest to have a well-organized paperwork file. After you meet with the clerk, it will be time for your interview. You will be placed under oath and then the consulate will review the contents of your entire application. The consulate will then ask you any questions that he or she feels will help them make a decision on your case. The interview itself will be very formal and professional and you should not expect much privacy. Many consulate offices now have bulletproof glass that you will have to speak through and/or microphones that will broadcast your answers to everyone within hearing distance.

How can I prepare for my interview?
There are several ways that you can prepare for your interview. The first way is to have all of your documentation properly filled out and organized. You will not have much time to prove yourself in the interview, so you must be able to produce required documents quickly and efficiently. You can also prepare by role-playing with yourself. Pretend that you are the consulate and keep in mind that there will be a bias against you from the start. Be sure to carefully review your paperwork and then think of any reasons that he or she may have to conclude that you may not return to your home country after you have completed your studies and be sure to have convincing answers before you go to your interview. You should also have a friend look over your paperwork and ask him or her if they are truly convinced that you will be able to pay your expenses while in the United States and that you are going to return to your country after your visit. If he or she is not convinced, the consulate probably won't be either.

It would also be a good idea to practice your English-speaking skills so that the interview goes as smoothly as possible in that aspect. This way, the consulate will have no reason to hold up your application on the grounds that your English speaking skills are not good enough for you to study in the United States. The exception to this would be if you were going to the United States solely for the purpose of attending an English language program.

What kinds of questions will the consulate ask me?
Although we can tell you what a consulate is most likely to ask, there is no way to know exactly what he or she will ask you. You may get different questions than these and you'll probably get far fewer questions. In most cases, the consulate interview does not last more than a few minutes. It is important to listen carefully to the question that is asked and answer accordingly. Do not go in to your interview with a memorized speech, listen to the questions and be honest about all of your answers.

The first thing that the consulate officer will probably do is review your documents and then ask you questions that are identical to the ones on your paperwork. It is very important for you to have reviewed your paperwork so that you are able to answer these questions with ease. If you can't remember something, it is much better to tell the officer that you can't remember rather than trying to guess. A large portion of your interview will be questions about your intent to return to your home country after you have completed your studies. The officer will want to know if you have a job that you will come back to, if you own a home, where your family lives, and whether you have family in the United States. If you have close family who are United States citizens, the consulate may assume that you intend to have them apply for a green card for you once you arrive in the United States. You will need to provide a good reason as to why you will not take advantage of that possibility. Your answers to all of these questions should be focused on convincing the consulate that you intend to return home after your visit to the United States since that is a major basis upon which your visa will be approved or denied. In addition to these questions, there is a possibility that you will be asked to read from a book or newspaper in order to prove your English language skills. Even if you have passed the TOEFL, the officer may want to verify that you actually took the test and passed it yourself.

The most important thing to remember about the interview is that you must convince the consulate that your only intention is to go to the United States to study or visit, depending on which visa you are applying for, and that you have good reason to return to your home country when you are finished. If you feel that these reasons are not getting across to the consulate, make sure to speak up and explain anything that you feel has been overlooked. Give the consulate specific examples of the things that bind you to your home country. If necessary, ask the consulate what further documentation would convince him or her of your intent to leave the United States after your visit, then ask to be allowed to return with that documentation if you do not have it with you. As we stated, you may be asked other questions, but always make sure to answer honestly and be prepared to present any documentation the consulate may require to make a decision on your case.

What do I wear for the interview?
The consulate officer is going to base his or her decision on whether he or she believes that you are telling the truth. You will appear more sincere to the officer if you are dressed professionally and conservatively. We have heard that the best way to describe how you should dress is that you should dress as it you were going to visit your grandmother. Avoid T-shirts or jewelry with slogans or symbols so that the officer does not take offense to anything that you are wearing and question your lifestyle or morals. You should be neat and clean so be sure to plan your outfit in advance so that you have time to wash and iron your clothes by the time you go to your interview.

What do I need to take with me?
The consulate will need to review the following documents:

  • Properly completed I-20 from the DSO of the American university you plan to attend.
  • Evidence of financial ability to meet expenses.
  • Evidence of English ability sufficient for your course of study.
  • Passport valid for at least 6 months.
  • Form DS-156 "Nonimmigrant Visa Application"
  • Form DS-157, if applicable.
  • Form DS-158 "Contact Information and Work History for Nonimmigrant Visa Applicant"
  • Photograph - Please contact the United States Embassy in your country of residence for visa photograph requirements.
  • Machine Readable Visa surcharge fee (currently $100 but please check http://travel.state.gov for fee changes).
  • Visa reciprocity fee, if applicable.
  • Visa forms can be downloaded from the United States Department of State Web site, www.state.gov.

What paperwork will the consulate ask me for?
The consulate will need all of the paperwork that is required for the visa application process. You will also want to make sure that you have all of your financial records available, including your bank statements showing that you have adequate funds to cover your expenses in the United States. If you will not be paying your own expenses, you will need to provide a signed and notarized Letter of Support and the bank statements of your sponsor showing adequate funds. You will also want to provide any documentation that shows your intention to return to your home country after your visit to the United States. This documentation can include your return plane ticket that has already been purchased or a letter from an employer stating that you need to return by a certain date. You must also show the consulate that you have a reason to return home after your trip. For example, if you have recently bought a house or have an apartment in your home country, you should provide the title or lease agreement to show that you have a stable place to live. You may also want to take copies of recent pay stubs if you have a job, copies of your birth or marriage certificates showing your ties to family that live in your home country, and even letters from family members who can confirm that you live there and are expected to come home after you complete your studies.

What fees will I have to pay?
Before your visa application can be processed, you will have to pay the $100 Machine Read Visa surcharge fee. Please see the Department of State Web site, http://travel.state.gov, for fee updates.

What are the wait times for getting a visa approved or denied?
Your visa may be approved or denied on the spot or it may take days or weeks for the consulate to make a decision. However, an officer is most likely to make a decision on the spot unless he or she allows you to leave and return with a specific document that would decide your case (it is very rare that a consulate would allow this).

Do I need to make an appointment?
Some consular offices do require you to make an appointment. You will need to contact your local United States embassy's consular office to check their procedures for the interview process.

How long will the consulate interview take?
In most cases, your consulate interview will only take a few minutes.

What do I do if my visa is denied?
If your visa is denied, the decision is final. There is no appeal process to go through in order to challenge the decision. If you are denied, you should ask the consulate the exact reason why you were denied. The consulate is not required to tell you his or her reason for denying you, but it is recommended that you ask anyway, just in case. If the consulate does give you a reason and you are able to correct the problem, you can start the process over again with a new visa application. For example, you may be able to provide a new piece of financial documentation that would prove that you could afford your expenses in the United States. However, if your denial had to do with fraud or inadmissibility due to security or health reasons, you would not be able to get a visa no matter what other documentation you provided. If the consulate denies you based on a certain law or regulation, ask for the section number of the law under which you were denied because an immigration lawyer may be able to help you with this kind of denial.

Can I be denied entry into the United States even if the consulate approves my visa?
When you arrive in the United States, you will go through a "second interview" with a border patrol officer. There is always a risk that this officer will think that you lied to get your visa or that it is not a real visa. If he or she believes that, you could be put on a plane back to your home country. Therefore, it is very important that you keep all of your paperwork close at hand to show the border patrol officer that you are a legitimate visitor. This includes your passport, your visa stamp, your I-20, and your evidence of financial support. Make sure that you dress conservatively for your arrival in the United States and do not do anything that would be considered inappropriate and cause the officer to doubt you. You should always look the officer in the eye; looking away or at the floor could indicate to the officer that you are untrustworthy and are hiding something. This may not be acceptable in your own culture, but it is a very important part of American culture. Be sure to keep your answers short and speak in a loud, clear voice to make yourself appear confident and honest. As long as you have prepared your paperwork carefully and you understand the entry requirements, you should have no problems crossing the United States border.

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I-94 Information

What is an I-94?
The I-94 is your Arrival/Departure record. It is a small, three part white card that will be given to you to fill out on the airplane before you arrive in the United States. The customs and border official will keep the arrival portion of the card and then stamp the Departure record part of the I-94 with your visa type, the place and date of your admission to the United States, the date on which you are to depart the United States. For F-1 students, the border official will most likely write "D/S" which means "Duration of Status." This means that you are allowed to stay in the United States until the program end date on your I-20 plus your 60 day grace period that is to be used to pack your bags and fly home. This is the documentation that will be used to keep track of when you must leave the United States. Do not make the mistake of thinking that you can stay in the United States until your visa expires. Your I-20 and I-94 are what immigration officials are looking at to make sure you remain only as long as you need to in order to complete your studies.

What do I need to do with my I-94?
Your I-94 will be stapled into your passport. Be sure to take very good care of it, it is a crucial document!

Who issues my I-94?
You will be issued your I-94 on the airplane when you arrive in the United States. Before your I-94 will be stamped, you will need to have satisfied the customs and border official that you are a legitimate visitor or student and plan to leave the United States upon completion of your visit or course of study.

Where do I go to get an I-94?
You will only receive an I-94 on the airplane when you arrive in the United States. Do not lose this document! Leave it in your passport and then keep this and all other documentation in a safe place where you can find it quickly if necessary.

What do I need to provide in order to get my I-94 stamped?
The border official will ask you to provide your I-20, passport, and financial documents in order to ensure that you have obtained your visa legitimately. Be prepared to present any other documentation upon request.

What is the fee for obtaining an I-94?
The current fee for an I-94 is $8.

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