Non-US citizens and visitors from a foreign country are required to apply for a non-immigrant visa to enter the US. As an incoming NAU international student or scholar, you must have an F-1 or J-1 visa in your passport to be allowed entry into the US. Before applying for a student or an exchange visitor visa, you must be accepted by an SEVP approved US institution. You must also have your I-20 or DS-2019 from the US institution in which you intend to study before you apply for a visa. Follow the steps below to pay your SEVIS I-901 fee and apply for a visa.<\/p>\n
After you receive your immigration documents\u2013either a Form I-20 or Form DS-2019\u2013from NAU, you can start the visa application process by paying your SEVIS fee. All F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors must pay the SEVIS fee. Please note that you must pay the SEVIS fee at least three business days BEFORE your visa interview.<\/p>\n\n
Before applying for a visa, the Department of Homeland and Security requires all new F-1 students, J-1 students, and J-1 scholars who are entering the US for the first time to pay a SEVIS fee. The SEVIS fee is separate from the visa application fee which you will pay later on before your visa interview. For more information on who must pay the I-901 SEVIS fee, please refer to the Homeland and Security website<\/a>.<\/p>\n *Continuing students do not have to pay the SEVIS fee when they apply for a visa to return to the US. Find more information on who is exempt from paying the SEVIS fee at the SEVIS FAQ site<\/a>.<\/p>\n *Dependents of F-1 and J-1 students (F-2 and J-2 visitors) are not required to pay the SEVIS fee.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n We recommend that you pay the SEVIS fee immediately upon receipt of your Form I-20 or Form DS-2019. You do not need to pay the SEVIS fee to schedule your visa interview, but you must pay the SEVIS fee at least three business days BEFORE your visa interview.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n You can pay the SEVIS fee online via credit card payment on the USCIS website<\/a>. Make sure to enter your information exactly as they appear on your Form I-20 or Form DS-2019. See the step-by-step tutorial on how to pay the SEVIS fee, on the Study in the States website<\/a>.<\/u><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n After you pay your SEVIS fee, make sure to print out a receipt as proof of your I-901 SEVIS fee payment. This receipt is one of the important documents you will need when you go to your visa interview.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n After paying the SEVIS fee, you should complete the online nonimmigrant visa application <\/a>(Form DS-160) and schedule an interview. The US Department of State recommends that you print the DS-160 form confirmation page and bring it with you to your visa interview.<\/p>\n Find information on the visa interview requirements, application fee, and the required documentation on the State Department\u2019s website.<\/a><\/p>\n Find helpful tips for visa applications and interviews on the Study in the States<\/a> website.<\/p>\n\n An F-1 or J-1 visa appointment can be scheduled up to 120 days prior to your program start date at NAU. You must schedule an appointment with the US embassy or consulate in the country where you live. To find the closest embassy or consulate, refer to the US Embassy’s website<\/a>. See the visa appointment wait time in your city on the government travel page<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n Check your country’s US embassy or consulate website to know what documents are required for your interview. Generally, the following documents are required by the US embassy:<\/p>\n Processing your visa might take some time, so make sure that you schedule your visa interview well in advance of your travel date. Some visa applications may require administrative processing that will require additional processing time after the visa interview date, and could delay your arrival to the US. If this happens to you, be sure to contact us at studynau@nau.edu<\/a> to discuss deferring your admission and arrival dates. The status of your visa application can be tracked on the Department of State website<\/a>.<\/p>\n Once you receive your visa, be sure to check it carefully for errors to avoid any delays or complications while entering the US. If you find any errors, contact the US embassy immediately.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n The approval or denial of visa applicants is governed by the US law. Your visa application will be denied if the consular officer finds that you are not eligible. In the case of a visa denial<\/a>, you will be notified of the reason. Please notify us at studynau@nau.edu<\/a> along with the reason type if you receive a denial.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\nWhen should I pay the SEVIS fee? Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
How can I pay the SEVIS fee? Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
Proof of your I-901 SEVIS fee payment Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
Applying for a visa<\/h3>\n
Scheduling your visa appointment Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
Preparing for your interview Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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Receiving your visa Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
Visa denials Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
Contact International Student and Scholar Services<\/h3>\n <\/div>\n