Welcome to the University of Oklahoma!



We welcome all international students and their families! Two thousand international students and their families representing more than 100 countries call the University of Oklahoma (OU) their home away from home. The OU Office of International Student Services (OU ISS) is here to support you!

OU ISS advises all F-1 and J-1 international students at OU on matters of immigration, student services, and general information. We work with international students, university faculty and staff, community members, and US federal agencies. The OU ISS office is a key university-wide resource for F and J federal immigration regulations, along with the benefits and restrictions associated with F and J visa status.

All new international students in both F and J status must check in with OU ISS upon arrival. Bring your passport and immigration documents (I-20 or DS2019, passport, visa, I-94) to our office to complete the check-in process.

We extend our best wishes to you for a successful program at OU!

-- OU ISS Staff

Thank you for considering the University of Oklahoma as the next step in your educational career.  For questions about applying to an OU degree program, click here to go to the OU Office of Admissions.  For information on the OU Center for English as a Second Language (CESL), click here.

 

If you are a prospective international student, and have a question that is specific to your application for admission to the University of Oklahoma in a degree-seeking program, send an email the OU office of Admissions directly.  The OU ISS office is unable to answer any questions pertaining to your admission to the University of Oklahoma or to the OU CESL program.

 

Have questions about university housing and meal plans?  Click here to go to the OU University Housing and Food Service.

 

Applying for a Visa


Below is important information about visa applications, consular appointments, fees, and arriving in the US.


Visa & Entry

To obtain a US visa and enter the US, you must:

  1. Pay the SEVIS fee.
  2. Make a visa appointment at a US consulate.
  3. Apply for your student visa at the consulate interview.
  4. Present required documentation for entry into the US (flight arrival information).
  5. Make your visa interview appointment as early as possible. Setting a visa interview appointment and obtaining the visa takes time.

Travel Plans


Do not purchase airfare or make firm travel plans until you have received your Certificate of Eligibility (I-20 or DS-2019) and have made your visa appointment at the US consulate.  US federal immigration regulations restrict new international students from entering the US more than 30 days prior to their program start date.

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SEVIS Fee Payment


The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is an online system that manages data for F-1 and J-1 international students studying in the US. As an international student beginning a new program of study, you must pay a one-time fee of US$100 to the US government before you can obtain an F-1 or J-1 student visa. The SEVIS fee is in addition to any visa fees you may be required to pay at a US consulate. F-2 and J-2 dependents are not required to pay the fee. The SEVIS fee is not a university fee.

Fee Payment


  • Fee payment information is at http://www.fmjfee.com/.
  • Payment can be made:
    • Online with a credit card
    • By mail with a check drawn on US funds
    • Western Union wire service
  • Payment and receipt of the SEVIS fee must be made before a visa can be issued by a US consulate.
  • Payment of the SEVIS fee must be made at least 3 business days prior to your visa interview at the US consulate.
  • Citizens of Canada and certain islands who are exempt from visa requirements must pay the fee at least 3 business days prior to entering the US.
  • The fee cannot be paid at a US consulate or at a US port of entry. Some consulates in China and India may be able to receive the SEVIS fee together with visa fees. Contact the US consulate for fee payment information.

Method of Payment


Online Payment

  1. Online payment can be made online here with Visa, MasterCard, or American Express.
  2. Complete the online form (I-901) as instructed.
  3. Enter your name exactly as it appears on your I-20 or DS-2019.
  4. Enter the SEVIS ID number on your I-20 or DS-2019 (found in the upper right corner above the bar code).
  5. If you have been admitted to more than one school and have more than one I-20 or DS-2019, only enter information for the school you will attend in the US. Changing schools or documents will cause delays and problems in obtaining a visa and entering the US.
  6. Print the online SEVIS fee receipt after completing the payment form. Keep a copy for your records.

Payment Receipt


  • After paying the SEVIS fee, you will receive a payment receipt (form I-797). If paying online, print the receipt at the end of your transaction.
  • Make and keep extra copies of your SEVIS fee payment receipt. Keep your receipt for the duration of study in the US.
  • Present a copy of the receipt with your visa application at the US consulate and at the US port of entry. Carry the receipt with you during any future travel into the US.
  • F-2 and J-2 dependent family members must present a copy of the SEVIS fee receipt when applying for F-2 or J-2 visas and when traveling into the US.

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Visa Appointment


All international visitors must have a current US visa in their passport to be admitted into the US. People come to the US for many different reasons. As a student at OU, you will apply for an F-1 or J-1 student visa.

Canadian citizens are not required to apply for a visa to enter the US but must still pay the SEVIS fee and present the Certificate of Eligibility (I-20 or DS-2019) at the US port of entry. Landed Immigrants of Canada must obtain a US visa.

Visa Preparation


Before you apply for your student visa, you must pay the SEVIS fee and consular visa fees, make a visa appointment, and prepare your visa application. Click here to locate the website for the US consulate where you plan to apply for your visa.

Visa Appointment


When you make your appointment, inform the consulate that you are applying for an F-1 or J-1 student visa and give them the SEVIS ID on your I-20 or DS-2019 (upper right corner of your document, above the bar code). Consulates may have long waiting periods for appointments, especially during May through August, but may give priority to student applications.

Visa Application


When you apply for your student visa, you will need:

  • Passport (valid at least six months into the future)
  • Certificate of Eligibility (I-20 or DS-2019)
  • Proof of admission to OU
  • Evidence of your financial support
  • Visa application forms and fees
  • SEVIS Fee Receipt

Some consulates may require additional documentation. Check the consular website for visa application instructions.

Security Clearances


Some students may be required to pass an additional security check on the visa application. Your visa cannot be issued until the security check has cleared. This may take several weeks. If you are subject to a security clearance, notify the University of Oklahoma International Services (OU ISS) office by email.  If your delay will result in a deferral of your attendance to the next semester, also send an email to the OU office of Admissions to advise them of your need to defer your new program start date.

Web Resources

Entry into the US


When to Arrive


US federal immigration laws restrict new international students from entering the US more than 30 days prior to the program start date.  We recommend that new students arrive at least two weeks before the start of the semester. You will receive information about several different orientations, including the orientation program organized by your school and/or department. It is important that you attend these programs. The OU ISS office is required to give all new international students an orientation program; this orientation is mandatory for all new and transferring international students.

Students who are transferring from another US school to OU and who have a "Transfer Pending" I-20 or DS-2019 are not subject to the 30-day arrival limit. Transfer students may travel and re-enter the US any time between school programs. However, transfer students must re-enter with their OU I-20 or DS-2019, and not the I-20 from the previous school.

I-94 Arrival/Departure Document


Prior to entering the US, you will receive an I-94 Arrival/Departure form to complete along with customs declarations. Use the I-94 on white paper; the green paper I-94 is for certain tourists only. Write your name and other information as they appear on your I-20 or DS-2019 and passport. Inconsistency in your name and information can cause problems and delays after your arrival.

Port of Entry Inspection


At the Port of Entry immigration inspection, be prepared to present the following documents. Carry them with you on the plane.

  • Passport
  • Valid F-1 or J-1 visa
  • Certificate of Eligibility (I-20 or DS-2019)
  • Proof of admission to the University of Oklahoma
  • Financial support documents

The immigration officer will stamp the I-94 and your I-20 or DS-2019 and make the notation, "F-1 D/S" or "J-1 D/S". If the officer does not do this, politely ask the officer to check it before you leave the inspection station. Keep the I-94 stapled in your passport or in a safe location! It is proof of your legal entry into the US.

If you have any problems with your entry, please notify the OU ISS office as soon as you arrive on campus. You may also file a grievance on the DHS Trip website.

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