VISA ISSUES FOR ADMITTED STUDENTS

International Students Who Currently Reside Outside the U.S.

Most students enter the United States in F-1 student status to be enrolled in a full-time degree program. A Form I-20 (certificate of eligibility for an F-1 student visa) is issued to students by UT for entry into the United States. Dependents of an F-1 visa holder are classified as F-2,and are not permitted employment in the US.

Some students enter the U.S. in J-1 student status. The J-1 visa is administered by the Department of State and is used for a variety of educational purposes. The DS-2019 (certificate of eligibility for a J-1 visa) may be issued to a student with a scholarship, either by a sponsoring agency or organization or by the University of Texas at Austin (UT). Dependents of a J-1 visa holder are classified as J-2, and may apply for permission to work in the U.S.

If you reside outside the U.S., the UT International Office will mail you the certificate of eligibility (Form I-20 or Form DS-2019) after you have submitted the required evidence of financial support. The certificate of eligibility (Form I-20 or Form DS-2019) must be presented at the U.S. Consulate or Embassy when applying for your F-1 student or J-1 student visa, together with your unexpired passport and evidence of financial support.

If you do not receive the Form I-20 or Form DS-2019, do NOT enter the U.S. on a B-1/B-2 tourist visa. If you enter the US on a tourist visa, a change to F-1 student status will not be possible after you are in the U.S. If absolutely necessary for you to enter the U.S. prior to receiving the Form I-20 or Form DS-2019, you should request at the U.S. Consulate that "prospective student" be noted on the B-1/B-2 visa to make a change of status easier to obtain. Do NOT enter the U.S. on the visa waiver program! You will be required to leave the United States to change your status!


International Students Who Are Currently in the U.S. on an F-1 Visa

If you are now studying at another U.S. university, your Form I-20 for UT will be receiving a letter from the UT International Office explaining transfer procedures. If you plan to leave the U.S. before enrolling, please ask us to send your Form I-20 so that you may use the UT Form I-20 to enter the U.S. and to apply for a new visa at the U.S. Consulate or Embassy, if necessary. If you plan to remain in the U.S., INS regulations permit a transfer of your immigration status to UT provided that you are in valid F-1 status at the school you are currently attending. Your Form I-20 from UT will be given to you when the transfer is completed, usually at check-in at the IO.

WARNING: Failure to complete the transfer process within 15 days results in the violation of immigration regulations. Furthermore, you may not work on campus until the transfer of immigration is processed. If you are out of status, discuss reinstatement with your current foreign student advisor or with an immigration advisor in the IO.


International Students Who Are Currently in the U.S. on Another Type of visa (F-2, J-2 or H-1) or Who Have Applied for Permanent Residency

The University does not require you to change your status to F-1 or J-1 student status to be enrolled. However, if you are in F-2 status, immigration regulations require that you change your status to F-1 before enrolling in a university. You are required to present your immigration documents to an immigration advisor during the "check-in", and we will assist you with the change of status process should that be required or advisable. If you want to change from your present status to student or exchange visitor visa status, please contact an immigration advisor in the International Office as soon as possible.

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