Visa Information — California State University, Bakersfield
Visa Requirements
- Visa Type: F-1 student visa [citation:1].
- Entry Window: You will not be granted entry into the United States unless you have a student visa [citation:1].
- Processing Time: Many U.S. Embassies/Consulates now take approximately four to six weeks to process student visas [citation:1].
- SEVIS I-901 Fee: F-1 students and J-1 Exchange Visitors are required to pay a fee before applying for a visa. The fee cannot be paid at the port of entry. The SEVIS fee is in addition to any other application fees [citation:1].
Required Documents for Visa Appointment
- I-20 from California State University, Bakersfield [citation:1].
- Admission letter [citation:1].
- Valid passport [citation:1].
- Passport size photographs (specifications) [citation:1].
- Financial documents [citation:1].
Post-Arrival Check-in Requirements
- Mandatory Check-in: New students must attend one of the check-in sessions as part of their orientation [citation:1].
- Required Documents at Check-in:
- Passport with visa and U.S. entry stamp, marked valid for duration of status by "D/S" [citation:1].
- Copy of I-94 form, which can be retrieved from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website [citation:1].
- I-20 or DS-2019 [citation:1].
- Immunization records [citation:1].
- Final official transcripts and certificates of completion, if they have not yet been submitted [citation:1].
- International Orientation: All newly-admitted students are required to attend international orientation, which is scheduled the Friday before the 1st day of classes [citation:1].
Important Notes
- F-2 and J-2 dependents are exempt from the SEVIS fee [citation:1].
- J-1 visitors whose DS-2019s are issued by the U.S. government are also exempt from the SEVIS fee [citation:1].
- To become eligible for an academic advising appointment, you must: Be admitted to the university, have submitted official transcripts and all required documents as an international student [citation:1].
Contact Information
Note: Visa requirements and fees are subject to change. Please verify all information with the university's International Student & Scholar Programs and the U.S. Department of State.