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Obtaining Your I-20 and Visa

Obtaining Your I-20 And Visa

All international students must obtain an F-1 (student) visa or have an immigration status that permits study in the United States. International students must obtain an I-20 before they can apply for an F-1 (student) visa at their nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

The I-20 is a United States Department of Homeland Security document issued by SEVP-certified schools that provides supporting information on a student's immigration status. Admitted students attending a university in the U.S. need this form to pay the required I-901 SEVIS fee, apply for a visa, and enter the United States. 

Deadlines:

The deadlines for international students to confirm their enrollment and obtain their I-20 are below. Students who have not submitted the documents required for their I-20 by these dates may be required to change terms.

International students are encouraged to confirm their enrollment and obtain their I-20 as soon as possible to allow enough time to secure their F-1 visa before they are expected to arrive on campus for Orientation.

  • Fall Term – July 1 of enrollment year
  • Spring Term – November 1 of enrollment year

How To Obtain Your I-20

Once a student has been admitted to Florida Tech, they will receive access to the Admitted Student Portal. To be issued an I-20, students must submit the following items on the portal:

  • Non-refundable $300 tuition deposit
  • A copy of the picture page of their passport. Passports must be valid for a minimum of 6 months from the first day of class. Florida Tech will not issue you an I-20 document if the student’s passport is expired.
  • Proof of English Proficiency if English is not the student’s native language
  • Proof of funding for the first-year cost of attendance

Proof of Funding Details

To be issued an I-20, students must provide proof of funding that equals or exceeds the Total Cost of Attendance for one academic year. The total cost is a combination of direct university costs and indirect costs such as tuition, fees, housing and meal plan, books, and expected personal expenses.

Students who are offered a partial academic merit scholarship or other university funding can deduct their award amount from the Total Cost of Attendance.

Proof of funding can be any of the following documents. All documents must be dated within six months.

  • Bank statement in the student’s name or a family member’s name
  • Deposit certificate in the student’s name or a family member’s name
  • Statement of investments in the student’s name or a family member’s name (funds must be available to access at any time)
  • Sponsorship letter stating the amount of funds the sponsor will provide per year

If the student provides a bank statement in the name of a family member who is not listed on their application, students must submit an Affidavit of Support. The affidavit must state the account holder’s relationship to the student and the amount the account holder is willing to sponsor their studies. The affidavit must be dated and include the account holder’s signature.

2024-2025 Undergraduate Cost Of Attendance (Based On Major)

  • Engineering and Science = $66,090
  • Business, Liberal Arts, Psychology, Aviation (non-flight) = $63,230
  • Aviation (with flight) = $84,230

2024-2025 Graduate Cost Of Attendance (Based On Program)

  • Business = $36,890
  • Engineering, Science, Liberal Arts, Psychology, Aviation = $43,910

Transfer Students from U.S. Schools

If a student is currently studying in the U.S. on an F-1 visa, their SEVIS record must be transferred to Florida Tech at the end of their final semester at their original school. Transfer students must notify the proper office at their current institution of their intent to transfer to Florida Tech as soon as possible, and they must provide their current institution with a copy of their Florida Tech admission letter. Once Florida Tech receives the student’s SEVIS record, they will be issued a new I-20. Florida Tech’s code to transfer SEVIS records is MIA214F00181000.

Getting Your I-20 Document Delivered To You:

Florida Tech will email the I-20 as a PDF attachment. Students can download the copy and use it for their US Embassy appointment.

Students who are transferring from another school in the U.S. may have the option to pick up their I-20 document in person on campus.

Schedule Your Visa Appointment ASAP

IMPORTANT: Be Aware of Your Country’s Visa Appointment Wait Times

Once a student receives their I-20, the next step is to schedule a visa appointment and apply for an F-1 visa. To schedule a visa appointment, complete the following steps:

  • Pay SEVIS Fee (I-901 Fee) online at the SEVIS I-901 Fee Processing Website and print a copy of the payment receipt.
  • Make a visa appointment at the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Save a copy of the visa appointment confirmation and upload it as a pdf to the Admitted Student Portal under the material type “International Visa Appointment Confirmation.” The confirmation should include the date of the appointment.
  • Gather the documentation required for the visa appointment. At a minimum, take the following to the appointment:
  • Prepare for the interview. Review the information regarding student visas and interviews on Travel.State.Gov

 

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