|
Upon admitting an international student and assessing his or her ability to meet the expenses of a Yale education, the admitting school must notify OISS of the admission decision. This can be done by completing the
OISS Notification Form for Students. The form should be completed in its entirety and sent, with a copy of the financial certification documentation, to OISS. Upon its receipt, OISS will issue the visa document form (either an I-20 or
DS-2019) and send it to the student.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
How quickly does OISS process the request for a visa document, i.e. I-20 or DS-2019
form?
We will make every attempt to send out the document within five (5) working days of receiving the completed notification form and financial documents. If the form needs to be processed more quickly please let us know. Once prepared, OISS will mail the document to the student via U.S. airmail. If you would like to pick up the document and send it by another means, i.e. express mail or a courier service, please let us know. We will call or email you when the document is ready for pick-up.
-
What does the student do once he or she has received the visa document form?
Once the student has received his or her visa document, the student must present it to the U.S. Consulate or Embassy along with the application for a visa and a copy of the financial certification documents. (Some students may request that you return their original financial documents for this reason.) Additional details about applying for a U.S. visa are available from the
Department of State.
-
Are Canadian students also required to get a visa?
This requirement does not apply to Canadian citizens. Students coming from Canada simply present an I-20 or
DS-2019 form and proof of financial support at the
port of entry to be issued F-1 or J-1 status. Canadians must present the I-20 or
DS-2019 at the border to avoid entering as a
tourist (B2).
-
What about international students studying at another U.S. institution?
Admitting schools should also notify OISS when admitting an international student who is already in the U.S. International students who are attending a U.S. institution and transferring to Yale must complete an immigration status transfer process by re-entering the U.S. on Yale’s I-20 or
DS-2019 form. Or, if the student is not leaving the U.S., he or she must report to OISS with their immigration documents within 15 days after the first day of classes. An OISS advisor will complete the transfer. The student must bring his or her immigration documents (including the I-20 issued by Yale) and proof that he or she was a full-time student at the previous school (e.g. school transcript, letter for international student or academic adviser.) Failure to complete a timely transfer will result in the loss of F-1 or J-1 student status.
-
How important is the requirement to provide financial certification?
U.S. immigration regulations require that the admitting institution determine whether a student can afford the costs of attending the particular college or university. You must make certain that the student provides solid evidence that funds exist to cover the first year’s expenses and every assurance that the funds will be forthcoming for the duration of the program. (You may decide that you want to see proof of funding for the duration of the program.) OISS cannot issue a visa document without a copy of the financial certification documents.
-
What kinds of financial documents are acceptable?
- an original bank statement issued within the last six months in the student's or
student's parents name evidencing the availability of funds. (The website www.oanda.com/converter/classics provides on-line conversion of foreign currencies.)
- a scholarship letter, or
- an I-134 affidavit of support with accompanying documents that demonstrate that a third party (either a U.S. citizen or permanent resident) can meet the expenses of the academic program
-
If a student is going to be accompanied by his or her spouse and/or children, does the student need provide additional evidence of financial support?
Yes. We must make certain the student can meet the additional expenses of a spouse and/or dependent children. The budget for a married student or a student with dependent children must include an estimate of the cost of medical insurance. While these costs can vary, it is best to build the budget on the costs of YHP coverage for dependents. The budget should also take into account the additional costs for room and board.
 
|
 |
