Immigration Requirements for Entry to the US

Updated: February 25, 2026

Congratulations! Now that you have received your visa certificate (Form I-20 or Form DS-2019) from Tufts University, you are ready to take the next steps to prepare for your arrival at Tufts as an F-1 or J-1 student. Please read through this important information and contact the International Center if you have any questions.

Step 1: Read and Sign Your Form I-20 (F-1 visa) or Form DS-2019 (J-1 visa)

Carefully read the instructions you received from the International Center with information about downloading your I-20 or DS-2019 visa certificate. Once you have downloaded the form, review the visa certificate carefully and make sure the information is accurate. In particular, make sure your name, date of birth, and citizenship are correct. Your visa certificate will typically reflect the full legal name indicated on your passport. Contact the International Center if you have any questions, or refer to the guides below.

Step 2: Make Sure Your Passport is Valid

In order to minimize possible problems when applying for a visa or entering the US, it is recommended that your passport be valid at least six (6) months into the future at all times when traveling to or residing in the US. If your passport is due to expire at any time during your program, you should take steps to renew it so that it remains continuously valid while you are studying at Tufts.

Step 3: Pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee

If your Form I-20 was issued for "Initial Attendance" (or your Form DS-2019 was issued to "Begin New Program"), you must pay the I-901 SEVIS fee for your visa type at least three days prior to your visa appointment or three days prior to entering the US, whichever comes first. The current fee is $350 for F-1 students and $220 for J-1 students. There is NO fee for F-2 or J-2 dependent family members. For more information, and to pay the I-901 SEVIS fee, go to the I-901 SEVIS Fee website.

Step 4: Apply for Your F-1 or J-1 Visa at Your Nearest US Consulate

**Citizens of Canada are exempt from the visa requirement and may skip to Step 5**

International Students must apply for a student visa to be eligible to pursue full-time studies in the US. To learn more about what a student visa is and how to obtain one, please review the information on U.S. Entry Visas.

To apply for your F-1 or J-1 visa, you must prepare a visa application and schedule a visa appointment and interview at a US consulate. It is generally required to apply for your visa at a US consulate in your home country, i.e., country of residence. Please consult the instructions available on the embassy or consulate website where you intend to apply.

Complete the Online Visa Application
1. Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160 – Learn more about completing the DS-160.
2. Upload your photo while completing the online Form DS-160. Your photo must be in the format explained in the Photo Requirements page.
3. You must: (1) complete the online visa application, and (2) print the application form confirmation page to bring to your interview.
Schedule an Interview
1. Use the DS-160 online portal to schedule your visa interview at the consulate or embassy of your place of residence or assigned to your place of residence.
2. Wait times for interview appointments vary by location, season, and visa category, so you should apply for your visa early. Review the interview wait time for the location where you will apply.
Prepare documents for your interview, including:
- - Passport valid for travel to the United States - Your passport must be valid for at least six months into the future. If you have dependents, each person who needs a visa must submit a valid passport.
  - Your Form I-20 or DS-2019 from Tufts University
  - Form DS-160 Nonimmigrant Visa submission confirmation page
  - Information about your Social Media
    - Please consider that your social media information will likely be reviewed at the time of visa adjudication and entry to the United States. The School of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering and Tufts Department of Public Safety have helpful information and resources regarding social media expression and protecting your online identity.
  - Proof of payment of the DS-160 visa fee
  - Proof of payment of the I-901 SEVIS fee
  - Financial Documentation and affidavits (including scholarship letters, bank letters, etc.) used to obtain your I-20 or DS-2019
  - Tufts acceptance letter- highly recommended

Note: citizens of certain countries may be required to pay an additional reciprocity fee if the visa application is approved. This fee varies from country to country and by visa type, and is generally uncommon for most F-1 and J-1 visa applicants. However, you can check ahead by consulting the US State Department's visa reciprocity tables.

Step 5: Apply for Admission (Entry) into the United States

Once you have your visa (or visa certificate if you are Canadian), you are eligible to travel to the US. You cannot enter the US more than than 30 days before the program start or begin date indicated on your Form I-20 or DS-2019. Bring your passport with the F-1 or J-1 visa, your printed and signed Form I-20 / DS-2019, and other documents used in your visa application with you.

Upon arriving in the US, you will apply for "admission" (entry) into the US by undergoing immigration inspection with a US Customs and Border Protection officer. Note that having a visa or visa certificate is not a guarantee of entry, as a Customs and Border Protection officer must still confirm your reasons and eligibility for studying in the US on an F-1 or J-1 visa. The officer may ask you to explain your purpose for coming to the US and details about your program and intended stay. Present your passport, visa, and Form I-20 / DS-2019 and explain your intended purpose for coming to the US. Be sure to show the correct visa, especially if you have other types of US visas, so that they admit you in the correct status (F-1 or J-1).

For admission to the U.S. you will need to present

Valid Passport
Valid F-1 or J-1 visa (not applicable for Canadian citizens)
Tufts issued Form I-20 or Form DS-2019
Receipt of SEVIS I-901 Payment

It is recommended that you have the following documents ready to present, should the Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) Officer ask for them:

Letter of admission to Tufts University
Documents showing funding for your education in the U.S.

You should expect increased screening when entering the US for the Fall 2026 academic year. In particular, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) may inspect your phone, tablet, computer or other electronic devices. They may also ask you for passwords to review social media accounts. Review this website to learn about CBP’s authority to search your electronic devices . Please see here for further resources regarding device inspection. Please also note that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) may send those seeking entry to the U.S. to a secondary inspection office. This does not necessarily mean that there are problems with your record or that you will be denied entry. This process is often used when CBP would like to further verify your documents or, for students and scholars, to check your SEVIS record. If you have an emergency issue at a port of entry, please call the Tufts University Police Department at +1-617-627-3030 to be connected with assistance from the University. Download and print our emergency contact card .

Step 6: Confirm Your Arrival

Once we are close to the start of the semester, you will receive an email notification from the International Center asking you to confirm your arrival. This is an online process that you must complete so that we can notify the US Department of Homeland Security that you have arrived on campus and enrolled in your program. Failure to complete the Confirmation of Arrival process within the deadlines provided to you may delay your ability to work on-campus, apply for a Social Security Number, or eventually remain in the US.

Step 7: Attend the Mandatory Orientation for International Students

All international students at Tufts University are required to attend an orientation for international students. This orientation will cover information about your immigration status and life in the U.S. Be sure to check your email regularly as we will send updates about the time and location of the International Orientation; you can also monitor our Orientation Page.