Visa Requests
To apply for a visa to study in the U.S., you will need a visa-qualifying document, either an I-20 form (for an F-1 visa) or a DS-2019 form (for a J-1 visa). These documents must be generated through the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and issued by a U.S. college or university or a U.S. Department of State-designated sponsor organization. The information provided on this page is intended to help you understand the process of getting an I-20 or DS-2019 from The George Washington University and the steps involved in getting a visa.
Please note that the policies and processes described on this page apply to applicants to graduate programs in the following schools:
Columbian College of Arts and Sciences
School of Media and Public Affairs
Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration
College of Professional Studies
Graduate School of Political Management
Elliott School of International Affairs
Graduate School of Education and Human Development
School of Business
School of Engineering and Applied Science
Applicants to programs in the following schools should refer to the international student sections on each school’s Web site:
Law School
School of Medicine and Health Sciences:
Health Sciences Programs
M.D. Program
School of Nursing
School of Public Health and Health Services
Required Documents
Financial Certification
External Links and Resources
Step-by-Step Process for Obtaining a Visa
1. Complete the Visa Request form and collect the necessary supporting documents for financial certification.
The Visa Request form is used to provide details about your immigration status and funding sources. Before completing the form, carefully review the details about funding amounts and financial support documents under Financial Certification. The “Official Certification by Family of Individual Sponsor” section of the Visa Request form must be completed by your sponsor, and both you and your sponsor must sign the form. If you are planning to bring a spouse or dependent with you to the U.S., you must also complete the Dependent Information form. Retain the original copies of all materials documenting financial support. You will need to present the original copies to the consular officer at your visa interview and to the U.S. immigration inspector when you enter the country.
2. Scan the Visa Request form, financial support documents, Dependent Information form (if required), and all other materials described below (under Required Documents) and upload these materials to your online application for admission.
Please note: you will be considered for admission and University funding (if available) regardless of whether you submit your Visa Request form and supporting documents. Uploading these documents to your application, however, will allow the University to expedite the processing of your I-20 or DS-2019 should you be admitted. Scanned copies are typically sufficient to process I-20 or DS-2019 requests. The University reserves the right to request official copies of these documents when necessary. Please do not submit official copies unless you are specifically instructed to do so by the school to which you have applied.
3. If you are offered admission, promptly submit the Enrollment Decision form (linked from your online letter of admission) to indicate whether or not you plan to enroll at GW. If you accept admission, the admissions office will then review your Visa Request Form and supporting documents. The admissions office will contact you if any additional or updated materials are needed. Once the admissions office has received all of your required documents, your file will be forwarded to the GW International Services Office for review and issuance of the visa forms. As soon as the I-20 or DS-2019 is available, your school’s admissions office will mail the form to you.
4. Upon receipt of your I-20 or DS-2019, pay the SEVIS fee. The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is an online system that maintains data on foreign students and exchange visitors before and during their stay in the United States. A $100 SEVIS fee must be paid at least three business days prior to the visa interview if paying electronically, or at least 15 business days prior to the visa interview if submitting payment through regular mail. Be sure to get a receipt. You must be able to prove the fee has been paid when you appear for your visa interview, before leaving your country, and when you enter the U.S. Full details about the SEVIS fee are available on www.ice.gov/sevis/i901.
5. Schedule an appointment for a visa interview with the nearest U.S embassy or consulate. An interview is required for almost all visa applicants. To schedule an interview, visit the Website for the embassy or consulate nearest you (www.usembassy.gov). The estimated wait times for interview appointments and visa processing at each location are provided online at travel.state.gov/visa/temp/wait/wait_4638.html Be sure to take all required documentation with you to the interview. Your local EducationUSA Center can help prepare you for the visa interview.
6. Make your travel plans. As you cannot be assured of a visa before the embassy has fully processed your application, you should not make final travel plans or purchase nonrefundable tickets until a visa has been issued. Please note that your visa cannot be issued more than 120 days before the start of your academic program in the United States. If you are an initial entry student, you will not be allowed to enter the country more than 30 days before the start of the program.
7. As soon as possible upon arriving in Washington, DC, you must check-in at GW’s International Services Office (ISO). The staff will collect your immigration documents, confirm that you are legally ready to begin your studies, and answer any questions you may have about your visa status. The International Services Office is located at 2033 K Street, NW, Suite 310 (Third Floor), Washington, DC.
Required Documents
When requesting an I-20 or DS-2019 from GW, the following materials must be submitted by all applicants:
- A completed Visa Request form, signed by both the applicant and any sponsor(s).
- Financial support documents showing proof of sufficient funding to cover all educational costs and living expenses for the full length of your academic program – at least two years for a master’s program and four to five years for a doctoral program.
- A legible copy of the biographical page of your passport, with the expiration date.
Applicants currently in the US must also submit the following:
- A legible copy of the front and back page of your I-94.
- If you are on F-1 Optional Practical Training, your employment authorization card.
- If you are or were in F or J status within the past year, copies of your I-20 or DS-2019.
Applicants who will be accompanied by dependents (a spouse and/or children) must certify that you have sufficient funding to cover your dependents’ living expenses. The required amount of additional funding that you must show is detailed on the Visa Request form, and these amounts must be included for each year of study. The following documents are also required:
- A completed Dependent Information form, stating each dependent’s full legal name (first, last, and middle names as shown on passport), gender, relationship to you, date of birth, city and country of birth, country of citizenship, and country of legal permanent residence.
- A legible copy of the biographical page (with expiration date) of each dependent’s passport.
Financial Certification
The amount of funding required will vary, depending on the source of your support. An estimate of the minimum amount of funding required per year is listed on the Visa Request form. As tuition and expenses can be expected to increase yearly, and actual costs may be higher for some GW schools and programs, you should check current tuition rates and estimated living expenses for updated information about the actual amount that must be certified.
When completing the form, you must indicate the required amount of funding for each year of your program. Funding may be from one or more specifically identified and reliable sources. If you are applying to a Master’s program, you must indicate the amount of funds for two years (Year 1 and Year 2 on the form). If you are applying for a doctoral program, you must indicate the amount of funds for five years (Year 1 through Year 4 or 5 on the form). An I-20 or DS-2019 will not be provided if you indicate funding for less than the required number of years. Please review the sample Source of Funds charts.
PLEASE NOTE: You will still be considered for admission and any University funding (if available) even if you currently lack sufficient funding of your own. If you will be totally dependent on the University for funding, leave the Source of Funds section blank.
If you have a disability and will require attendant care, you must certify the availability of additional funds to pay for this service. For more information, contact Disability Support Services at dss@gwu.edu or 001-202-994-8250.
Listed below are descriptions of different funding sources and the details about the financial support documents required for each type. All documents must:
- Be in English.
- Indicate the currency of the funds.
- Have an issue date that is no more than 12 months from the time you plan to begin study.
Self-Support:
If you are using personal funds as your sole source of support, you must have sufficient funds for the entire length of your program (two years for a master’s program; four to five years for a doctoral program).
Your funds must be in cash (e.g., checking or savings accounts) and not subject to withdrawal restrictions. Funding in stocks and other long term investments will not be accepted. If you do not have sufficient funds for the entire duration of your program, a sponsor must agree to provide support for the remaining amount.
Financial support documents. Bank statement with the bank’s address and phone number, indicating the date the account was opened and the current account balance. Bank statements may include checking or savings accounts, certificates of deposit, or money market accounts. Your full legal name (as listed on your passport) must be included on the document.
Family/Individual Sponsor:
If a family member or other individual will provide your funding, your sponsor does not need to show funding for the entire length of your program. Instead, your sponsor must have sufficient funds for at least the first year of your program. These funds must be in cash (e.g., checking or savings accounts) and not subject to withdrawal restrictions.
If your sponsor currently has funds for just the first year, your sponsor should also submit documents showing the means of support for the subsequent years.
Financial support documents: For the first year of study, a bank statement with the bank’s address and phone number, indicating the date the account was opened and the current account balance. Bank statements may include checking or savings accounts, certificates of deposit, or money market accounts. For each subsequent year, wage statements, statements of the value of holdings of the sponsor, investment account statements, or other documents that provide credible evident of the availability of funds. Sponsors who are living in the U.S. and are not U.S. citizens must provide copies of the immigration papers (I-94 and visa stamp), as well as a copy of the biographical page of their passport, with the passport expiration date.
Government/Agency Sponsor:
If your sponsor is your government or an official agency, your sponsor must indicate the exact amount of the funding (including the monthly or yearly amount for living expenses) and the duration of your award. If the amount of the award is less than the amount indicated on the Visa Request Form, you must have your own funding or funding from another sponsor to meet the required amount.
Financial support documents: Letter of support indicating the dollar amount awarded and the duration and any conditions of the sponsorship.
The George Washington University:
If you are offered funding from GW, the University will provide you a letter detailing the exact amount of funding that you are being awarded. If the funding is sufficient to cover all of the expenses for the duration of your program, you will not be required to submit additional proof of funding. If the funding package is less than the full amount, you must have your own funding or funding from another sponsor to make up the difference. Please note that a completed Visa Request Form is required even if you are being fully funded by GW.
Financial support documents: Copy of the official letter of support indicating the dollar amount awarded and the duration of the sponsorship.
External Links and Resources
Student visa process
Visa wait times for interviews by location
EducationUSA Centers
General information about visas for foreign visitors
U.S. embassies, consulates, and diplomatic missions
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