Visa Requirements
New international students must obtain an F-1 (student) visa or have an immigration status that permits study in the United States before they can enroll at Florida Tech. Please select the dropdowns below to see the requirements for your visa type or immigration status.
Step 1: Submit the required I-20 supporting documents to Florida Tech
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. Submit the following documents after being admitted to Florida Tech.
- $300 tuition deposit (non-refundable)
- A copy of the picture page of your passport. Passports must be valid for a minimum of six months from the first day of class.
- Proof of English Proficiency if English is not your first language
- Proof of funding that equals or exceeds the Total Cost of Attendance for one academic year. All financial documents must be dated within six months and may be in the name of the student or a family member. Florida Tech accepts the following document types:
- Bank statement
- Deposit certificate
- Statement of investments (funds must be available to access at any time)
- Loan approval letter
- Sponsorship letter stating the amount of funds the sponsor will provide per year
- Affidavit of Support (if necessary). If a financial document is in the name of a family member who is not listed on your application, you must submit a letter stating the account holder’s relationship to you and the amount the account holder is willing to sponsor you per year. The affidavit must be dated and include the account holder’s signature.
Step 2: Receive your Florida Tech I-20
Florida Tech will email the I-20 as a PDF attachment. Print a copy of your I-20 for your visa appointment and for entering the U.S. Keep all copies of your I-20 – do not throw them away!
Step 3: Pay your I-901 SEVIS fee online at fmjfee.com.
Print a copy of your payment receipt – you will need it for your interview and when entering the U.S.
Step 4: Complete the DS-160 Online Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application and pay the application fee
Step 5: Make an interview appointment at the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate (if required)
Save a copy of your visa appointment confirmation and upload it to your Admitted Student Portal under the material type “International Visa Appointment Confirmation.” The confirmation should include the date of your appointment.
Review the information regarding student visas and interviews on Travel.State.Gov. At a minimum, you will need to take the following to your visa appointment:
- I-20
- I-901 SEVIS Fee payment receipt
- Passport
- DS-160 Online Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application submission confirmation
- One 2x2 photograph
Step 6: Receive your F-1 visa and pay the visa issuance fee (varies by country)
Please upload a copy of your F-1 visa to the Admitted Student Portal.
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. 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.
Step 1: Submit the required I-20 supporting documents to Florida Tech
- $300 tuition deposit (non-refundable)
- A copy of the picture page of your passport. Passports must be valid for a minimum of six months from the first day of class
- Proof of English Proficiency if English is not your first language
- Proof of funding that equals or exceeds the Total Cost of Attendance for one academic year. All financial documents must be dated within six months and may be in the name of the student or a family member. Florida Tech accepts the following document types:
- Bank statement
- Deposit certificate
- Statement of investments (funds must be available to access at any time)
- Loan approval letter
- Sponsorship letter stating the amount of funds the sponsor will provide per year
- Affidavit of Support (if necessary). If a financial document is in the name of a family member who is not listed on your application, you must submit a letter stating the account holder’s relationship to you and the amount the account holder is willing to sponsor you per year. The affidavit must be dated and include the account holder’s signature.
Step 2: Transfer your SEVIS record to Florida Tech
Your SEVIS record will not be transferred until after you have finished classes at your original school. Florida Tech’s code to transfer SEVIS records is MIA214F00181000.
Step 3: Receive your Florida Tech I-20
Florida Tech will email the I-20 as a PDF attachment. Print a copy of your I-20 for your visa appointment and for entering the U.S. Keep all copies of your I-20 – do not throw old copies away!
Canadian and Bermudan citizens may enter the U.S. for studies with an I-20 and I-901 payment receipt only. They are not required to obtain an F-1 visa.
Step 1: Submit the required I-20 supporting documents to Florida Tech
- $300 tuition deposit (non-refundable)
- A copy of the picture page of your passport. Passports must be valid for a minimum of six months from the first day of class
- Proof of English Proficiency if English is not your first language
- Proof of funding that equals or exceeds the Total Cost of Attendance for one academic year. All financial documents must be dated within six months and may be in the name of the student or a family member. Florida Tech accepts the following document types:
- Bank statement
- Deposit certificate
- Statement of investments (funds must be available to access at any time)
- Loan approval letter
- Sponsorship letter stating the amount of funds the sponsor will provide per year
- Affidavit of Support (if necessary). If a financial document is in the name of a family member who is not listed on your application, you must submit a letter stating the account holder’s relationship to you and the amount the account holder is willing to sponsor you per year. The affidavit must be dated and include the account holder’s signature.
Step 2: Receive your Florida Tech I-20
Florida Tech will email the I-20 as a PDF attachment. Print a copy of your I-20 for your visa appointment and for entering the U.S. Keep all copies of your I-20 – do not throw them away!
Step 3: Pay your I-901 SEVIS fee online at fmjfee.com.
Print a copy of your payment receipt – you will need it for your interview and when entering the U.S.
Students who already hold a U.S. visa or immigration status should confirm that their status allows for full-time study. Students are not required to change their visa type to F-1.
Deadlines
Visa appointment wait times vary across the world and are often very lengthy. To ensure that you have enough time to apply for your F-1 visa, Florida Tech requires that international students confirm their enrollment and submit the documents required for their I-20 by the deadlines listed below.
Students who have not submitted the documents required for their I-20 by these dates may be required to change terms.
| Semester | I-20 Deadline |
|---|---|
| Fall | July 1st of enrollment year |
| Spring | November 1st of enrollment year |
Documents Required to Enter the U.S.
International students are expected to enter the U.S. by the program start date listed on their I-20. If you attempt to enter the country after this date you may be turned back at the port of entry.
Have the following documents readily available when you enter the U.S. – do not pack them in your checked baggage. Border Officials will ask for the following documents, at the minimum:
- Passport
- F-1 Visa
- I-20 from Florida Tech
- I-901 SEVIS fee payment receipt
Have the following documents readily available when you enter the U.S. – do not pack them in your checked baggage. Border Officials will ask for the following documents, at the minimum:
- Passport
- I-20 from Florida Tech
- I-901 SEVIS fee payment receipt