Congratulations on making the choice to attend Utah Tech University – we are looking forward to meeting you!
We know that preparing for University in a new country can be difficult, but the Office of International Programs is here to help. We have the resources, connections, and knowledge to help you succeed during your time as a student at UT. Review the information on this page about your next steps for joining Trailblazer Nation!
After being admitted, you will be provided instructions for paying the $500 USD enrollment deposit. You must pay this fee before we can send you your I-20 or DS-2019. The deposit is not an additional expense. Instead, it is a portion of your first semester tuition billed early. If paid from a U.S. bank account, payment can be made at pay.utahtech.edu. If paid from a bank account outside of the U.S., please use Pay My Tuition.
After payment clears (can take up to up 7 business days), your I-20 or DS-2019 will be provided to you digitally, which is currently allowed under current Department of Homeland Security (DHS) guidance.
If you are denied a visa or choose not to attend Utah Tech University after paying the fee, approximately $475 of the deposit can be refunded to you as long as you notify iss@utahtech.edu by the first day of classes for your admission term.
In the steps below, our office has provided general information about the typical process of applying for a nonimmigrant visa to study in the U.S.. Every student situation and home country has slightly different requirements, however, so it is important that you also do individual research on the application process. Before proceeding with the next steps, we suggest reviewing the general information about applying for select nonimmigrant visas here: F-1 student visa (I-20) & J-1 exchange visitor visa (DS-2019). Another great resource for incoming F-1 international students is the Study in the States website, which is managed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the F-1 student visa program.
Note: Citizens of Canada and Bermuda do not need to apply for an F-1 student visa and may enter the U.S. on a valid I-20. Citizens from these two countries do not need to submit the DS-160 application, schedule a visa interview, or pay the visa fee. They are required, however, to pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee (step 4). When traveling to the U.S. you will need to present a valid I-20 and the I-901 SEVIS Fee receipt.
Once you receive your signed I-20 or DS-2019, you need to complete a DS-160: Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application. You will be interviewing for an F-1 student visa if you have an I-20 or J-1 exchange visitor visa if you have a DS-2019. After submitting, be sure to print your confirmation page – you do not need to print the entire application.
Note: In addition to submitting the DS-160, you must also schedule an interview. Information collected on the DS-160 and gathered during your interview are used to evaluate your petition for a visa. See step 4 for information about scheduling the visa interview.
Once you have submitted your DS-160, you should pay the $350 I-901 SEVIS Fee. You can read more about this fee and make the payment for it here: I-901 Fee. Be sure to print your receipt after payment. Bring the receipt to your visa interview and to the U.S. border when you travel to the U.S. to begin your studies.
Make an appointment to interview. Typically you may interview as early as 120 days prior to your program start date.
You can check current estimated wait times for a visa interview appointment at your local embassy or consulate using this website: Visa Interview Wait Times. Be prepared for these wait times to increase during busy travel months. Many international students will be applying for visas during June and July, so expect long wait times during these months.
Please review the website for the U.S. consulate or embassy in your home country for specific information and required materials to apply for your nonimmigrant visa and for information on how to schedule your visa interview. A list of embassies, consulates, and diplomatic missions can be found here: U.S. Embassies and Consulates.
The interview is conducted in English and typically lasts just a few minutes, so be prepared ahead of time! The following is a list of common requirements to bring to your visa interview – this is NOT an official list. Always follow the requirements listed on the website of the U.S. embassy or consulate in your home country for up-to-date and accurate information.
Most importantly, be honest during your visa interview. Before issuing a visa, the U.S. consular official must be convinced that you have a residence outside the United States that you have not abandoned and that you have not decided to seek permanent residence in the U.S. It is important to show the officer that you have strong ties to your country of residence, such as family, community or social ties, documents showing membership in professional organizations and religious groups, a family business, ownership of property, bank accounts, a job offer, or evidence that people with the kind of education you are seeking are needed.
Questions the consular official might ask:
Practice your English before the visa appointment, and bring physical documents to help substantiate your responses! Principally, consular officials are trying to determine that you plan to enter the U.S. as a legitimate, serious student, that you have sufficient finances to support your studies, and that you plan to depart the U.S. at the end of your studies. The F-1 student visa is a nonimmigrant visa.
Wait times vary by country and individual student case. We recommend that students allow a minimum of 2-3 weeks to receive a decision on their petition for a nonimmigrant visa. Please note that UT has no ability to influence wait times or decisions made by your local embassy or consulate.
If you are denied a student visa, you have probably not sufficiently proven to the consular officer that you are entitled to student status. In most cases, the denial will be based on failure to prove “permanent residence” or “strong ties” to your home country. A visa denial is not permanent and may be reconsidered if you can show additional, convincing evidence. We strongly suggest that you contact our office if you are denied a visa so that we can advise you prior to your second application. Do not enter the U.S. on a visitor (B1/B2) visa or under the visa waiver program with plans to study at UT.
While you await a decision, please work on other pre-arrival requirements detailed within your application UT. You can log back into the application here: Return to UT Application.
Email: iss@utahtech.edu
Phone: 435-879-4687
Office: Student Activity Center (SAC), 106
