- SEVIS fee
- Initial F-1 Visa Application
The information in this section is for individuals who will be applying for F-1 student or J-1 exchange visitor visas in order to begin or to continue a program of study, teaching, or research at Boston University. It will describe one of the most important application requirements you must satisfy – convincing the U.S. Consular officer that you have “nonimmigrant intent.” Following the suggestions in this handout will strengthen your visa application and increase the likelihood that you will be granted the visa and permitted to enter the U.S. We recommend that you carefully prepare your visa application and thoroughly document your qualifications.
U.S. regulations require the Consular officer who considers your visa application to assume that you want to immigrate to or remain permanently in the U.S. In order to qualify for an F-1 or J-1 visa, you must prove that your visit to the U.S. will be temporary in nature and that you will return to your country after completion of your activities here. Consular officers call this “nonimmigrant intent.” The way you can try to prove your nonimmigrant intent is by giving the Consular officer documents that indicate that you have strong ties to your country. The stronger your financial, employment or family ties to your country, the more likely it is that the Consular officer will believe that you intend to return home.
Below are some questions to help you decide if you should make a special effort to prove your “nonimmigrant intent”. The more questions to which you respond with the answer “yes”, the more important it will likely be for you to make a special effort to prove your intent to return home after your activities in the U.S.
If, based upon your answers to these questions, you believe you should make a special effort to prove that you intend to return home, the next sections below offer some suggestions about documents you might take with you when applying for a visa.
If you own property or have financial investments in your country, documenting them may help prove you have strong financial ties. To prove this, you may not use any assets that will be needed to pay for your F-1 or J-1 activities. You will need to prove the availability of that financial support separately in order to meet the minimum requirements for the visa.
If you will be employed full-time upon your return, this indicates strong employment ties to your country. Your employment ties are viewed as stronger based on the prestige, importance and salary of your job.
Note: The best letter is one that guarantees a job upon your return and states how important your U.S. activities will be for the type of work the employer wants would be ideal Family Ties
If all members of your immediate family live in your country, the U.S. Consular officer may understand that you have strong family ties to that country. If you are the oldest child or only child in your family, the Consular officer may believe that you are more likely to return home because of that fact. If one or both of your parents are not in good health, this is another reason you might be expected to return home.
If you have visited other countries and returned to your country after those visits, you have demonstrated a pattern of behavior that may lead the U.S. Consular officer to believe that you will return home after your time in the U.S. The more trips you have made, the better your situation.
The ISSO has other information available on the visa issuance and U.S. entry process.
If you will be applying for an F-1 visa, please refer to the section entitled “Obtaining a F-1 Visa and Entering the United States.”
If you are a student and will be applying for a J-1 visa, please refer to the section entitled “Obtaining a J-1 Visa and Entering the US for Students.”
If you are a scholar and will be applying for a J-1 visa, please refer to the section entitled “Obtaining a J-1 Visa and Entering the US for Scholars.”
You may contact the ISSO if you still have questions or are in the Boston area and wish to meet with an ISSO advisor to discuss your personal situation. For more information on U.S. Embassies and Consulates and on the visa application process, you may visit the U.S. Department of State: Bureau of Consular Affairs Web page.