International Student Visas

Steps for Applying for Student Visas

Required documents for all international students requesting an I-20:

  • Submit the Certificate of Financial Responsibility form.

  • Submit the appropriate bank or financial support documents.

    • Individuals (parents, brothers, uncles, etc.) listed on the Certificate of Financial Responsibility, as the source of funding for the student, should provide original bank statements. Bank statements should be dated within the past twelve months, be from an individual account, and show funds that are immediately accessible and transferable. Credit card statements, business accounts, property value documents, solvency statements, statements of income, and insurance policies may not be submitted as sources of financial verification. Photocopies, faxes, and scanned documents are accepted. Please refer to this website for more information on proof of funding.

  • Provide a copy of the identification page of your passport.

    • Students are required to provide a photocopy of their identification page in their passport. This ensures the accuracy of the name and date of birth listed on your I-20. The name and birth date on your application for admission must match those that are listed on the identification page of your passport. Please do not use nicknames or Western names that are not your formal given name. If the names on your admission letters, I-20 form, and passport do not match, you may have difficulty during your student visa interview or when you try to enter the U.S.

  • For students transferring their SEVIS account from another U.S. education institution to Mason, you must also submit an I-20 application request. Please note, we will require these additional documents:

    • A completed Transfer Form signed by you and the International Student Advisor at the school from which you are transferring. Please be sure to include your US local address on the Certificate of Financial Responsibility.

    • Copies of the pages 1, 2, and 3 of previous I-20s. If you have dependents, please also submit a copy of their I-20s.

    • Copy of visa page. If you have dependents, please also submit a copy of their visa page.

    • Copy of arrival stamp/I-94, which is available on the I-94 website.

How to Submit Your Documents

Freshman and Transfer Students: Submit your I-20 required documents either with your application or through our document submission site. For further questions, please email world@gmu.edu. 

Graduate Students: Please submit an I-20 application via the “Administrative” section of the graduate application portal.  Please follow these steps below.  For further questions, please email gradi20@gmu.edu.

I-20 Deadlines for International Applicants:

Fall semester

First day to issue I-20 for fall semester admits February 15
Final day to issue I-20 (sent outside the U.S. by first class or international express mail paid by students, to accommodate visa processing time) July 31
MANDATORY SEVIS check-in with OIPS (international transfer students in the U.S. and change of academic level students) July 1 - September 1
MANDATORY SEVIS check-in with OIPS (for international students with initial entry into the U.S.) July 18 - August 28
DEFERRAL REQUEST deadline to defer your admission and/or I-20 start date to another semester September 1
Final day to issue I-20 (international transfer students currently in the U.S.) August 28

 

Spring semester 

First day to issue I-20 for spring semester admits October 1
Final day to issue I-20 (for students outside the U.S. to accommodate visa processing time) December 15
MANDATORY SEVIS check-in with OIPS (international transfer students in the U.S. and change of academic level students) December 1 – January 30
MANDATORY SEVIS check-in with OIPS (for international students with initial entry into the U.S.) December 12 – January 17
DEFERRAL REQUEST deadline to defer your admission and/or I-20 start date to another semester January 31
Final day to issue I-20 (international transfer students currently in the U.S.) January 30

Late Arrival

If you are a new undergraduate or graduate student arriving after the Program Start Date on your I-20, there are additional steps you must take.