Student Visas and Your Visa Interview
F-1 International Student Visas
After paying the I-901 SEVIS Fee and getting a receipt, you must apply for an F-1 student visa at any U.S. Embassy or Consulate before you come to the United States. Student visas for new students can be issued up to 120 days in advance of the program start date printed on your I-20.
To receive a visa, you will have to participate in an in-person interview. During your visa interview, you will need to establish that you meet the requirements under U.S. law to receive the category of visa for which you are applying. The consular officer will determine if you qualify to receive a visa and which visa category is appropriate based on your purpose of travel.
A visa does not guarantee entrance to the United States; it only permits you to arrive and seek permission to enter the country. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer at the U.S. port of entry has the final authority to admit entry into the country.
The following pages will assist with this process
F-2 Visas for Dependents of International Students
If you have a spouse and/or children who would like to accompany you to the United States, make sure that this is clear when you apply for admission to Highline College. A Designated School Official (DSO) will issue a Form I-20 for each of your dependents. Their I-20s are connected to your SEVIS record, so you only need to pay the I-901 fee once for the whole family. However, each dependent will need to receive their own F-2 dependent visa. For more information, see Study in the States.
Visa Issuance
If you are issued a student visa, congratulations. You can schedule your flight and start making housing arrangements.
Visit our Arrival and Orientation page to prepare for your arrival in the Seattle area. And, view our Housing Options page for more information about the types of housing available near Highline.
Please email int@highline.edu to confirm your arrival plans.
Visa Denial
If you are denied a student visa, politely ask the consular official why the application was denied. Also ask when you may reapply for a visa. Then, contact your education agent or Highline College. If there is not enough time for you to re-apply and receive a visa before your scheduled orientation date, you may need to make arrangements to defer your attendance to a future quarter.