International students should submit their application to St. Bonaventure University like any other student:

• Undergraduate students:
  • Freshman Admissions
  • Transfer Admissions
• Graduate students:
  • Graduate Admissions

Upon your admission to SBU, the ISSO staff will help you complete the paperwork and immigration documentation needed to study in the United States. You will receive an International Student Packet with a checklist and enrollment timeline. The process starts with your Form I-20 Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant F-1 Student Status (in short, your I-20). 

As a prospective international student, you must provide evidence showing that you have sufficient funds to cover tuition and living expenses during the time you intend to study at St. Bonaventure. You must submit your Certification of Finances, included in your International Student Packet, before the ISSO can issue your I-20. 

If you are already studying in the U.S. as an F-1 student (either in high school or at another college or university), your current school must transfer your I-20 to St. Bonaventure University. You should coordinate with the DSO at your current school to request the transfer. 

Always keep your I-20 in a secure location. Do not discard or destroy an old I-20; save all copies, even if you have multiple versions of the document. 

Find your program start date

Your I-20 will indicate your program start date, which is the day you are required to arrive on campus at St. Bonaventure. In your first year at SBU, the program start date will take into account the dates of your mandatory SBU orientation prior to the start of classes. 

Pay the I-901 SEVIS fee

This fee must be paid before entering the US. You will need information from your I-20 when paying your SEVIS Fee. Typically, you can pay your I-901 SEVIS Fee online. Keep the receipt of your payment. 

Apply for your visa

You will need to complete the online application for your nonimmigrant student visa and schedule an appointment for an interview at the US Embassy or Consulate located in the country where you live. Check the U.S. State Department website for information about the visa application and the current wait time for interview appointments. Student visas can be issued up to 120 days prior to your program start date. Remember to bring your original I-20 with you to your interview. 

• Note: Citizens of Canada and citizens of Bermuda are not required to obtain a nonimmigrant visa in order to obtain F-1 status. A valid I-20 and the I-901 SEVIS Fee, however, are necessary.

Plan your travel

You are allowed to arrive in the U.S. no earlier than 30 days prior to the program start date printed on your I-20. Send your travel itinerary to the ISSO staff as soon as it is confirmed. We can help you plan your travel arrangements to SBU.  

Entering the U.S.

You will need your I-20, a valid F-1 visa, a valid passport, and your I-901 SEVIS Fee receipt. Generally, your passport needs to be valid for at least 6 months past the date of your entry into the U.S. Do not pack these documents in your suitcase since you will need to present them to a CBP officer upon arrival.

Your entry into the U.S. will be recorded on a Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record. There are paper and electronic versions of the I-94; the type of I-94 that you receive will depend on how and where you enter the US. Today, most I-94 records are created electronically and are available available online. 

Starting at SBU

New students will participate in Welcome Days or Transfer Orientation prior to the start of classes. These programs help you learn more about the campus buildings,  resources, and offices. You’ll also begin developing friendships with your classmates.

The ISSO sponsors an additional, mandatory international student orientation during the first week of classes. We will review important policies for international students, update your immigration documents, and help you start the semester successfully.

At St. Bonaventure, all students are assigned an academic adviser. You will meet with your academic adviser at least once every semester to plan your courses, review degree requirements, and discuss future opportunities, such as employment or graduate school.

The ISSO provides supplemental advising for international students to help them navigate academic requirements for F-1 students, register for classes, and utilize campus resources that support your academic success. You must remain enrolled full time and your classes should be in-person.

While a limited number of online classes are allowed, there are strict rules about establishing full time enrollment. Advising in the ISSO office also helps ensure you are meeting the full-time requirements each semester in order to maintain your F-1 status. Procedures to request a reduced course load are outlined for enrolled students on My.SBU, our university intranet website. 

In addition to supplemental academic advising, the ISSO provides help for international students seeking a variety of services, such as:

• Opening a bank account
• Applying for a driver's license
• Opening a PO Box
• Signing up for a meal plan
• Purchasing books
• Authorizing on-campus employment
• Certifying your I-20 for international travel 
  

CPT allows international students to obtain practical experience related to your primary field of study. This can include off campus internships, clinical work, field placements, employment, or other practical training. CPT must be directly related to your major and integral to the curriculum in your degree program. 

The ISSO will help students identify CPT opportunities and authorize CPT. St. Bonaventure's Career and Professional Readiness Center also offers extensive assistance for students exploring internships and other practical experiences. 

For more information about CPT, click here; procedures to apply for CPT are outlined for enrolled students in My.SBU. 

OPT provides another avenue for international students to gain practical work experience in the U.S. while still maintaining their F-1 student status. 

OPT must be related to your major. Post-completion OPT allows you to work in the U.S. for up to 12 months after graduating. Pre-completion OPT is for students seeking employment prior to graduating. Pre-completion OPT, though, reduces the amount of time you are eligible to work after graduating. OPT extensions for STEM students are also available. 

The ISSO helps international students identify OPT opportunities, recommends students to USCIS for OPT approval, and assists you with your OPT application. There is an OPT application fee, so we strongly recommend that you work closely with the ISSO to review your application before submitting it. OPT is ultimately approved by USCIS; you may not begin working until you receive your Employment Authorization Document (for short, your EAD Card). 

The Career and Professional Readiness Center at St. Bonaventure also offers excellent resources for students seeking employment after graduation, including assistance with your resume, cover letter, and other professional documents. 

Students should be prepared to submit their OPT application 90 days before graduation. For more information about OPT, click here; procedures to apply for OPT are outlined for enrolled students on My.SBU. 

What is a nonimmigrant? What is F-1 status?

A non-immigrant is an individual that is not a US citizen who wishes to be admitted to the United States for a limited time period for a specific purpose. Nonimmigrants plan to depart the United States at the end of this time period. 

F-1 nonimmigrant status is for individuals coming to the US to be full-time students in academic programs or language training programs. St. Bonaventure University admits F-1 students into  academic programs only; we do not offer language training programs.  

Do you provide assistance for international students who do not have F-1 status?

Yes! Some international students who hold other types of visas are allowed to study in the US, including students whose parents hold a work visa. While our ability to help you maintain your visa status is very limited, we can provide assistance and advice on a wide range of academic, social, co-curricular, and immigration concerns. Contact the ISSO if you would like to speak with our staff. 

Are F-1 students required to have health insurance?

Yes. All students at St. Bonaventure are required to have health insurance in order to study at St. Bonaventure. We strongly recommend all international students purchase the SBU student health insurance plan.

Student-athletes who do not have coverage in the U.S. must buy the SBU student health insurance plan in order to be covered by a supplemental plan through athletics. If you want to waive the university’s student plan, you must provide proof of insurance coverage (like any domestic student would).

Before waiving the university student plan, make sure your health insurance provides coverage in the U.S., especially in Western New York. For more information about the SBU student health insurance plan, visit the Wellness Center webpage. 

What should I do if my visa expires?

If you are currently in the United States, the expiration date of your F-1 visa does not affect how long you may stay in the U.S. You can remain in the U.S. with an expired F-1 visa as long as you maintain your F-1 student status. Your I-20 is sufficient to demonstrate your lawful status.

However, if you are returning home or traveling to another country, you must have a valid visa to return to the United States. You will need to reapply for your F-1 visa in order to reenter the U.S. 

Can you explain what all the numbers and acronyms mean?

We understand that the forms, agencies, and abbreviations related to your immigration status can be confusing! Here is a quick glossary that can help. If you have any questions, you can always contact the ISSO!

• CBP — U.S. Customs and Border Protection; responsible for immigration inspections when you enter the U.S.; will issue the I-94.
• DHS — U.S. Department of Homeland Security; oversees the rules, regulations, and agencies that govern student immigration status.
• D/S — Duration of Status; appears on your I-94 and means you can remain in the US legally for as long as you maintain your F-1 status.
• DSO — Designated School Official; person identified by the school as the official representative and authorized to issue immigration documents related to your F-1 status. The coordinator for International Student Services is the principal designated school official at St. Bonaventure.
• I-20 — Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant F-1 Student Status; a document issued by a DSO that is required for international students to apply for a student visa, enter the U.S., and apply for a variety of services in the U.S. The I-20 also serves as your primary identification while in the U.S.
• I-94 — Arrival/Departure Record; a document that shows when and where you entered the U.S. The I-94 is required in many circumstances and should indicate that you are an F-1 student.
• ICE — U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement; oversees the SEVP and SEVIS.
• SEVP — Student and Exchange Visitor Program; part of the Department of Homeland Security; manages schools and nonimmigrant student status. 
• SEVIS — Student Exchange and Visitor Information System; electronic database and monitoring system for international students; used by DHS, SEVP and U.S. Department of State.
• USCIS — United States Citizenship and Immigration Services; part of the Department of Homeland Security; oversees applications for OPT and reinstatement of F-1 status, among other services.

Has COVID impacted rules about international students?

Decisions made by U.S. governmental agencies are taking longer at every stage of the process. You should plan ample time for each interaction and application. Some restrictions have been temporarily loosened, such as our ability to send you an electronic copy of your I-20. 

You should stay up to date with changing travel requirements to enter the U.S., including proof of an approved COVID-19 vaccination and/or negative COVID-19 test results. Contact the ISSO if you have specific questions.