Getting Your Visa
As a foreign national, you will need a passport from your government and a temporary visa from the United States Embassy or Consulate. You need the visa before you can enter the United States. It is best to plan to receive this visa a few months before your studies begin. The two most common types of visas are the F-1 student visa and the J-1 exchange visitor visa.
The F-1 student visa is used by most students. For this temporary visa, you must be enrolled full-time during the academic year. If you are admitted and confirm your intent to enroll, after we receive proof of full financial support, U-M will send you a Form I-20. You then take the Form I-20 to a United States Embassy or Consular Official to apply for the visa.
If you are an F-1 student already studying in the United States, follow the transfer procedures explained on page 2 of your new University of Michigan I-20. You are required to present your new I-20 issued by the University of Michigan to advisors at our International Center within the first few days following enrollment at this school. (An International Center advisor will assist you.)
The J-1 exchange visitor (student category) visa is designed for certain non-privately sponsored students, such as those whose funding comes from their government. For this temporary visa, you must be enrolled full-time during the academic year. If you are admitted and confirm your intent to enroll, the University or various sponsoring organizations will send you the form necessary to obtain this visa, the DS-2019. You then take the DS-2019 to a United States Embassy or Consular Official to apply for the visa.
If you are a Canadian citizen who has been admitted to the University and you have confirmed your intent to enroll and you have proven funding, you do not need a visa. Instead, you are required at the port of entry to present your passport or proof of Canadian citizenship, a certificate of eligibility for non-immigrant status (which is the I-20 or DS-2019 we provide), and evidence of adequate funding for your proposed program of study. You will then be issued an I-94 card indicating your student visa status.