features
International
for students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents and are coming from abroadVisa Information
Students coming from abroad who are admitted for study in the United States need "Certificates of Eligibility" to apply for a student visa. These certificates, which are issued by the institution the individual will be attending, can be either the Form I-20 or the Form DS-2019. In general, students will be issued the Form I-20 (which is used in making application for the F1 Visa); the Form DS-2019 (used in making application for the J-1 Visa) is rarely issued to regularly enrolled students. At Western Washington University, the I-20 is the most commonly used Certificate of Eligibility, and these forms are issued by International Programs and Exchanges. To qualify for a Certificate of Eligibility, an individual must be formally admitted to the University. We do not issue these documents to part-time students nor to students enrolled in the Division of Continuing Education.
If you are admitted to Western Washington University, you will receive a new student information sheet and a billing form for the $250 enrollment confirmation fee with your formal letter of admission. Certificates of Eligibility will not be issued until you have proven that you have sufficient funds and also make the requisite enrollment confirmation fee payment to indicate that you have accepted the University's offer of admission.
Applying for Your Visa
When you receive your Certificate of Eligibility (either the I-20 or the DS-2019), you will use this to begin the application process for your visa. Application is made at the closest American Consulate or Consular Section of the American Embassy. You should be aware that, at the time of visa application, you will need a valid passport, proof of financial resources, and the Certificate of Eligibility.