City Colleges of Chicago

Applying for your Visa

Applicants who wish to study in the United States must go through process of obtaining a Form I-20 to obtain an F-1 visa (student visa).

A nonimmigrant is an alien who is a citizen or permanent resident of their home country who seeks temporary entry to the United States for a specific purpose. An F-1 student is a nonimmigrant holding an F-1 visa who is pursuing a full course of study in the US towards a specific educational goal at an academic institution approved by the United States Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS, formerly INS) to offer courses of study to such students, and has been enrolled in SEVIS (the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System).

A student obtains F-1 status using the Form I-20 issued by the SEVIS approved school. The Form I-20 is a three page government form containing demographic and program information required by USCIS. Authorized SEVIS schools enter this information into the SEVIS database. A Form I-20 issued by SEVIS contains a SEVIS bar code and a SEVIS student identification number.

Before the Form I-20 can be issued to the prospective student, the student is required to submit a completed International Student Admissions Data Form that includes academic criteria, financial documentation, application fees and transfer verification (when applicable).

After issuance of the Form I-20, the student may obtain F-1 status either by:

Proceeding with the Form I-20 to the U.S. embassy or consulate in their home country and obtaining the F-1 visa before entering the United States.
Or if the student is already in the United States, submitting the Form I-20 to USCIS for the processing of a change of status. Students that are already in the United States on a F-1 visa at an approved SEVIS institution seeking to transfer to one of the City Colleges of Chicago please visit our Transfer Applicants page.