Admitted International Graduate and Professional Students

Your I-20 is the document you will need to be able to apply for an F-1 student visa. As soon as you receive your NSU acceptance, you may submit the documents below to receive your initial I-20.

Please note, the following deadlines apply for initial I-20 requests and document submission:

Submission Deadlines: Documents for Initial/Transfer I-20 Requests

• Summer Semester 2023
  • Deadline for document submission: April 1^st, 2023
• Fall Semester 2023
  • Deadline for document submission: August 1^st, 2023
• Winter Semester 2024
  • Deadline for document submission: December 1^st, 2024

To request your initial I-20, please complete the following documents, and submit them to intl@nova.edu in one email. Multiple emails, or incomplete requests, could delay processing times:

• Completed I-20 Process Form
  Please download, print, and complete the I-20 Process Form and submit it along with all other required documents. Please take the utmost care in completing the form accurately in order to avoid mistakes or delays.
• Copy of Biographical Page of Your Passport
• Financial Statement
  
  • The Financial Statement to receive your initial I-20 must show the "Cost of Attendance", which includes Tuition & Fees and Living Expenses, for one year (12 months) of attending your program at NSU.
  • Visit this spreadsheet to view the Cost of Attendance needed to be showing in your Financial Statement for your specific NSU program.
  • The financial statement should be a bank statement or a bank letter (prepared by a bank official on the bank’s letterhead). Visit this link for a list of acceptable financial statements.
  • If the funds are not in your name (personal funds), you must provide a Sponsorship Form for each sponsor who has provided his/her bank statement in support of your expenses.
  • Contact our office for inquiries pertaining to financial statements at intl@nova.edu.
• Foreign Address and Phone Number (address in your home country)
• Transfer Authorization Form (only if you are a transfer student from another U.S. university)
  

Submit all of these documents in one email to intl@nova.edu.

Processing time for Initial I-20 issuance is 5-10 business days upon receipt of your documents. Incomplete documents, corrupt files, and incorrect information will result in processing delays

All I-20 are issued electronically. I-20 documents can be mailed, at the expense of the student, upon request.

Once you receive your I-20 you must apply for your F-1 visa. Please note, obtaining an F-1 student visa can take several weeks or even longer, depending on your home country.

Individuals who come to the United States to study must apply for a student visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate in their home country.

You may book a visa appointment once you complete the following:

• Once you complete the processes above to receive your Initial I-20 Document (also known as the Certificate of Eligibility for Non-Immigrant (F-1) Student Status).
• Pay your SEVIS Fee
  • Visit www.fmjfee.com and pay the SEVIS I-901 fee. After payment is complete, print the confirmation page to bring with you to your local American Embassy.

You may search for the U.S. Embassies in your home country at the link below. Visit your local U.S. Embassy's homepage, or contact them directly by phone or email, to complete the F-1 visa application, pay the application fee, and book your appointment.

• https://www.usembassy.gov/ 

For your appointment at the US embassy, ensure take the following items with you:

• I-20 issued by NSU
• Valid passport
  
• Original financial document(s)
  
• SEVIS I-901 payment receipt

For any questions, please reach out to intl@nova.edu 

Important Notes:

• Embassy appointment availability differs on home country, and could sometimes take weeks to book. Begin the I-20 process early to avoid delays and the potential inability to arrive in the U.S. before your program start date.
• Canadian and Bermudian passport holders: You are NOT required to obtain an F-1 visa but you must still pay the SEVIS I-901 fee.

• NSU requires that all students communicate via their NSU email address. Your NSU email address is your NSU username + @mynsu.nova.edu (example username[at]mynsu.nova.edu). 
  • Retrieve Your Username (You will need your NSU ID#)
  • Set Your Password
  • If you need assistance with this process please contact the NSU Help Desk at +1 (954) 262-4357 or help@nova.edu.

• Contact your admissions advisor or program advisor for information on registering for classes.  Utilize the full list of NSU's Academic Programs to identify contact information for your program.  
  • Many courses fill very quickly so students should contact their advisor very soon after they receive their NSU acceptance.
• All students must complete the Student Enrollment Agreement (SEA) in order to register for classes. The SEA requires students to agree with NSU standards and policies. 
  • View a copy of the SEA
  • SEA FAQs

Please remember that it is the student's responsibility to secure housing for the duration of his or her stay here at Nova Southeastern University. NSU does not assist with or guarantee housing for Graduate Level students.

To assist you in your search for permanent housing, please visit the following NSU Office of Residential Life and Housing web pages:

Off-Campus Housing

• Students who meet the requirements to live off-campus may find resources for securing housing from Off-Campus Housing Services.
• Resource: International Student Rental Policies by Local Housing Partners (excel) - Use this spreadsheet to determine the policies NSU's local apartment complex partners have for renting to international students, especially those without Social Security Numbers SSN.

• HEALTH INSURANCE
  • All NSU students are automatically enrolled in the NSU Student Health Insurance Plan and your student account will be charged accordingly.  If you are insured under another insurance plan, you must opt out of the NSU Student Health Insurance plan each academic year by the given waiver deadline.  Please review the following pages for additional information.  Questions about the NSU Student Health Insurance should be directed to studenthealth@nova.edu. 
    • Health Insurance Information
    • Waiver Information
    • Waiver Deadlines

• IMMUNIZATION RECORDS
  • All students living on campus must submit their immunization records to housing@nova.edu.  Students will not be permitted to move into their on-campus housing unless immunization records are received. 

• PAY YOUR NSU BILL
  • Payment for NSU student account charges is due in full at the time of registration.  Students will not be able to check-in to the Residence Life and Housing halls until all requirements to satisfy outstanding student account balances have been fulfilled.  Students may view their student account status including account balance, charges, payments, and financial aid awards in SharkLink.
    • Student Billing Accounts
    • Payment Policy
    • Payment Options

• SUBMIT FINAL TRANSCRIPTS
  • As soon your final, official transcripts are available, have them mailed to:

International Student Orientation is mandatory for all incoming international students.  

Please visit the International Student Orientation page for additional information.

All F-1 students on initial NSU I-20's must complete the F-1 Check-In process in order to have their SEVIS records registered and activated. Students who failed to complete the F-1 Check-In process will have their SEVIS record and immigration status terminated. This is a U.S. immigration requirement and no exceptions can be made. 

Initial students include: 

• Students who are starting a new program at NSU 
  • First time NSU students 
  • Continuing NSU students starting a new academic program
• Students who have transferred from another university 
• Students who have been issued a new initial I-20 after an interruption in their interruption in their status and/or studies (termination, leave of absence, etc.) 

Important: 

Students who fail to submit the F-1 Check-In Form by the deadline will have their SEVIS record terminated. Once a SEVIS record had been terminated, the only option is for the students to leave the country and re-enter with a new I-20 or file for reinstatement. 

To complete your F-1 Check-In , you email intl@nova.edu the following documents and information: 

• Biographical page of your passport 
• Copy of the first page of your NSU I-20 
  • Copies of the first page of each F-2 dependent I-20, if applicable 
• I-94, printed form  https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov  click on "Get most Recent I-94"
• Copy of F-1 visa (except students from Canada or Bermuda)
  • If you obtained your F-1 status through the change of status process, please submit the I-797 Notice of Action indicating your Change of Status to F-1 was approved. 
• Proof of your $350 SEVIS Fee payment, printed from https://www.fmjfee.com click "Check I-901 Fee Status"
• F-1 Students Responsibility Acknowledgement (signed) https://www.nova.edu/internationalaffairs/students/prospective/F1-Student-Responsibility-Acknowledgement.pdf 
• Your current local US Address. This is the address where you willing be living. 

Processing Time: 

• Your SEVIS record will be activated approximately 5-7 business days after you submit your F-1 Check-In Documents. 
• SEVIS activations must be completed 24-72 hours before students are able to apply for a Social Security Number or Driver License. 

Deadlines: 

• Students with an INITIAL ATTENDANCE or CHANGE OF EDUCATION LEVEL I-20: The F-1 Check-In must be completed no later than 10 day after the start of the program start date, as listed on your valid NSU I-20. 
• Students with a TRANSFER PENDING I-20: The F-1 Check-In must be completed no later than 10 days after the start of the program start date, as listed on your valid NSU I-20.
• Students with a CHANGE OF STATUS I-20: Do not submit the form until your Change Of Status has been approved. Once approved, the F-1 Check-In Form must be submitted no later than 10 days after the start of the program start date, as listed on your valid NSU I-20.