GENERAL

INFORMATION
What is the purpose of the F1 visa?
The purpose of the F1 Student visa is to study in the United States.
The duration of the visa varies based on the duration of the chosen
program of study.

Who issues the F1 visa?

The F1 student visa is issued and approved by the American
Embassy/Consulate of the applicant’s country of residence. The
University does not issue the F1 student visa. The University only
issues the I20 Form.

What is the I-20 Form?

The I20 Form (also known as the Certificate of Eligibility for Non-
immigrant F-1 Student Visa for Academic and Language Students)
is a supporting document issued by SEVP-certified schools that
provides supporting information on a student’s status. It is the
supporting document required to obtain the F1 Student Visa. This
document reports the starting date of class, program duration,
program type, financial information, and sponsor or dependent
information (if applicable). The I20 Form allows the applicant to
schedule an appointment for the interview at the American
embassy in their country and enter the US after receiving the visa
on the passport.

How do I get the I-20 Form?

Upon completion of the Admissions process, the Visa Department
will contact the candidate explaining the steps to follow. As soon as
the candidate successfully submit the requested documentation,
the Visa Department is able to create the I20 Form.
REQUIRED

DOCUMENTATION
FOR THE I-20 FORM:

1 ACADEMIC DOCUMENTATION:
Enrolment Agreement signed & final Acceptance Letter.

2
DEPENDANTS:
If the applicant is bringing a spouse or child (dependents with F2 Visa), they
should inform the admissions specialist at the time of enrollment. In order to
process the dependents’ visas accordingly, it is mandatory to submit valid
passports for all dependents.

3 FINANCIAL EVIDENCE:
Original certified official bank statement that has been translated to the
English language, verifies the available amount of funds, type of currency, has
validity within the last 90 days, and includes the sponsor/account holder’s
name. An original copy of the current bank statement must be provided from
the student and/or their sponsor(s).

If a sponsor is used, an affidavit letter is required. By completing an affidavit,

the sponsor is swearing to the United States government that he/she will
provide this student with a specific amount of money for the student to study
in the U.S. Sufficient evidence must be provided to support the sponsor’s
financial stability.

If you have dependents (dependents Visa F2) you should apply an additional
minimum amount of $3,000 per dependent.

The minimum financial amount needed to be shown per program is listed

below:

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration &

Hotel Management - $23,000
MBA in Hospitality Management & Innovation - $23,000
Day-1 CPT MBA in Hospitality Management - $35,000
Executive MBA in Hospitality Management with Day-1 CPT
Los Angeles/Miami Campus - $36,000
Washington Campus - $23,000
SOURCES OF FUNDING
US Immigration Law requires that a student requesting an F1 Student
visa must show adequate funding to support all expenses for at least one
year of study.

Acceptable sources of funding: checking and savings account bank

statements with a current balance, approved loan documents,
scholarships and Graduate Assistantship awards. Please note, documents
cannot be more than 3 months old.

Unacceptable sources of funding: real estate holdings, stocks, bonds,

salary verification letters, retirement funds, property, life insurance
policies, and unapproved loan documents. These are not accepted
because they are not readily available to you, or because the value can
change.

CAN I WORK WHILE HOLDING

AN F1 VISA?
An F student may only work when authorized by a DSO in some cases,
and USCIS in others. If you choose to work without authorization, you will
be forced to leave the United States immediately, and you may not be
able to re-enter the United States at a later date.

F students are eligible for curricular practical training (CPT) at either the
undergraduate or the graduate level during the program of study. CPT
employment must be an integral part of an established curriculum and
the position must directly relate to your major area of study. Therefore,
this is only applicable to certain programs.

F students are also eligible for optional practical training (OPT) after
graduation. OPT is a form of temporary employment that directly relates
to your program of study. The OPT is approved by the USCIS, not by the
University.

ENTERING THE U.S. WITH THE F1 VISA.

Upon approval by the US Embassy, the student is allowed to enter the
U.S. territory 30 days prior to the program starting date indicated on the
I-20 Form. Within 48 hours of arriving in the U.S. each student must
register with the International Students Department at the campus.
APPLYING FOR THE F1 VISA
Students have various options to apply for their visas depending on their
individual situations:

Currently outside the States:

If the student is currently outside the U.S. then they must apply for a visa from
the U.S. embassy in a country where they are a resident.

Currently in the States on a non-immigrant visa status:

Option 1: Entry & Re-entry

Leave the U.S., apply for a new visa at a U.S. embassy, and reenter the U.S. with
the new visa. You will gain your new status when you are admitted into the
U.S. This process follows the same as the aforementioned application method.

Option 2: Change of status from the U.S.

This option entails submitting an application with USCIS to change your
current non-immigrant status to F1 status while in the U.S. With this option
you may gain the new status but you will not receive a new visa; visas are only
issued outside the U.S.

DO I NEED AN INSURANCE
FOR AN F1 VISA?
Medical accidents and injuries can unexpectedly happen and medical
expenses can get very costly in the United States. Hospitality Academy
strongly recommends that all students are covered by a health insurance plan
during the student’s educational period at the school.

Medical costs can get expensive especially during a time of medical

emergency. A sound health insurance plan can provide coverage for costly
medical expenses such as doctor appointments, accident costs, prescription
costs, injuries, etc.

There are a variety of health insurance agencies and plans that can provide
international students with benefits according to their own needs.
International students have the option of choosing a health insurance plan
that is recommended by Hospitality Academy or through other agencies.

Below is an optional (third party) health insurance agency:

International Student Insurance

All students must complete Hospitality Academy's health insurance form

before their program starts. Students must certify that all the information on
the form is accurate information. Hospitality Academy nor their partners are
not liable for any incurred medical cost, loss of health insurance premiums for
not following the insurance policy guideline, or loss of academic privileges due
to inaccurately completed waivers.
VISA APPLICATION FROM
A U.S. EMBASSY STEPS

1
Complete your application form HERE and fill in the DS-160 according to
the information on your I-20 (including the school address). Pay your
application fee and print the DS-160 form confirmation bar code page. You
will need to upload a picture of yourself that meets these requirements.

2 Book your Embassy Appointment: Visit the US Embassy website and follow
the instructions on how to book your US Embassy Interview for
nonimmigrant visas (F1 student visa) according to your country:
http://www.usembassy.gov/.

3 Prior to your appointment at the US Embassy, you will need to pay for your
SEVIS Fee and bring the receipt with you for your Embassy interview. To do
so:

Go directly to the SEVIS website

Click on Pay I-901 Fee
Fill in your personal and SEVIS information
Pay for the fee with a credit card
Print your receipt

4 As soon as your appointment is booked, schedule a mock interview with

your Admissions Specialist.

5 Bring the following to your appointment:

Passport
Signed I-20
SEVIS fee payment receipt
DS-160 form confirmation bar code page
They may ask for your previous academic diplomas and transcripts,
financial documents submitted for the I-20

In most cases, you receive your approval/rejection immediately during your

interview. However, there is a chance that they have to delay their decision
process.
CHANGE OF STATUS

APPLICATION STEPS

1 Obtain an I-20 for F-1 Status.

2 Settle the SEVIS Fee on the SEVIS Payment Website.

3 Fill out an online application form (I-539) for a change of status on the USCIS
website. This application form must be filled out with the same information
stated in the I-20 (make sure to be extra careful with the spelling). You must
attach the following to the application:

Copies of all of the immigration documents (e.g. DS-2019, Form I-94,

visa stamp, EAD card, etc...) showing that you are currently in
lawful non-immigrant status.
Copy of the admission letter from the University that issued the I-20.
Copy of your I-20
Copy of the receipt indicating payment of the SEVIS fee.

4 After you have filled out the application form you will be redirected to a
payment link where you have to settle the processing fee of $370 and $85
biometric fee; you will be able to do this via debit or credit cards directly online.

5 After the payment has been completed, you will receive a confirmation email
that your application has been submitted.

You can log in on the USCIS website to check the status of your application
at any time. It is also important to check frequently in case USCIS requests
more evidence.
If you wish, you can fill out this form first, send it to your Admissions
Specialist and they will review what you have written and provide you with
feedback.
Any student considering traveling outside of the U.S. when their Change of
Status Application is pending should plan to withdraw their application from
USCIS and apply for a new visa prior to returning to the U.S.

The I-539 application is your personal application. While Hospitality Academy

advisers may give general guidance on how to prepare a successful
application, we are not permitted to give detailed legal advice. In rare cases
that are very complex in nature you may need to pay an immigration attorney
for a consultation.
 If you are currently in the States on a non-immigrant visa status,

there are a few things to keep in mind before deciding which method

you will choose to gain the F1 status. Please find below, an overview
of the implications of the two options

ADVANTAGES OF ENTRY & RE-ENTRY

1. This process is usually faster than changing status in the U.S.
2. You will obtain the visa and the status

DISADVANTAGES OF ENTRY & RE-ENTRY

1. Possibility of visa processing delay
2. Expense of travel

ADVANTAGES OF CHANGE OF STATUS

1. Ability to stay in the U.S. during processing
2. Avoid the hassle of a visa application process (for now)

DISADVANTAGES OF CHANGE OF STATUS

1. Processing can be very slow (six to nine months, and as long as one
year), which may jeopardize your ability to begin your new activity, such
as studying or accepting a research or teaching assistantship or other
campus employment.
2. You must stay in the U.S. during processing; exiting the U.S. cancels the
application
3. You must still obtain a visa stamp to match your status the next time you
travel outside the U.S. (except for trips under 30 days to Canada or
Mexico). This means that the first time you travel outside the U.S. while
in F-1 status, you will have to apply for F-1 visa at a U.S. embassy in order
to be able to return to the U.S.
4. The application might be denied, which could require you to quickly
depart the U.S.

THINGS TO CONSIDER PRIOR TO DECIDING

1. Upcoming travel plans
2. Application processing times
3. The regulations of your future status will help determine if it is best to
travel and reenter or apply to change status in the U.S.

For more information about the I20 document and F1 Student Visa click refer

to the below: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas.html

Contact Us
www.pihospitalityacademy.com

admissions@pihospitalityacademy.com

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