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U.S. Visa

Generally, any citizen of a foreign country seeking to enter the United States for any period must first obtain a U.S. visa, which is placed in the traveler’s passport to authorize them entry into the country. Our international students at BYU–Hawaii can enter the United States for the purpose of student if they apply for either a student visa or an exchange visitor visa.

Certain international travelers may be eligible to travel to the U.S. without a visa. For example, our international students from Canada do not need to apply for a visa; However, they must obtain a certificate of eligibility, I-20 or DS-2019 prior to entering the states on student or exchange visitor status.

Meet Your Advisor

July 16, 2019 10:29 AM
Not sure which visa applies to you or have questions about the application process? Whether you're on the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program or the F-1 Student Program, we're here to help clarify your next steps.
Schedule An Appointment
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Preparatory Timeline

Application and Admittance

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4 - 5 Months Before Start Date
  • Apply to BYU–Hawaii and get accepted
  • Submit Intent to Enroll
  • Complete Admissions Checklist
  • Pay IPF and send a colored copy of your passport to ISS

Preparation for Visa

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2 - 3 Months Before Start Date
  • Receive I-20 or DS-2019 from ISS
  • Apply for U.S. Visa: DS-160
  • Schedule visa interview
  • Pay SEVIS Fee

Visa Interview

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Within 120 Days of Start Date
  • Attend Visa Interview with all supporting documents
    • Passport, Certificate of Eligibility, Admissions Letter, Proof of Finances, and intent to depart the U.S. after study, etc.

Travel to Campus

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Within 30 Days of Start Date
  • Arrange travel itinerary and purchase ticket
  • Travel to Hawaii with all documents
  • Arrive at port of entry and receive visa stamp
  • Travel to campus

Upon Arrival

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Beginning of Semester
  • Retrieve I-94
  • Attend mandatory International Student Orientation
  • Complete online orientation form
  • Check in with ISS