The Student Visa Process

The following information outlines the visa application process when a new student comes to Harvard University from outside the United States using a visa sponsored by the Harvard International Office (HIO). All student visas sponsored by the HIO require both a visa document from the HIO and a visa from a U.S. Embassy or Consulate outside the United States. (Canadian citizens are exempt from the visa requirement.) The information in this section provides an overview of what to expect when requesting a visa document, applying for a visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate, and finally entering the United States.

The Student Visa Process

Most students coming to Harvard who are not U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents will need visa documents issued by the HIO. Before entering the United States all international students, except for Canadian citizens, coming to Harvard will need to apply for U.S. visas in their passports at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Below is an outline of the process from admissions to entering the United States on a student visa.

Admissions and Financial Certification
The first few steps of the visa process for matriculating students coming to Harvard are managed directly by specific schools that the students plan to attend. Once a student accepts an offer of admission into a Harvard program, the admissions or financial aid office at the school requests documentation regarding the financial ability of the student to study in the United States. The financial certification process can be time consuming since the student needs to compile evidence of guaranteed funding, often from several different sources. The HIO is not directly involved in the admissions and financial certification process.

Visa Document
Once the financial certification is complete the school's admissions or financial aid office enters the student's information into a database shared with the HIO. Until this point the advising staff of the HIO has no record of new students coming to Harvard. The HIO has been designated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of State to issue F and J student visa documents. In most cases it takes the HIO only a few days to prepare the Form I-20 (F-1 visa) or Form DS-2019 (J-1 visa). The HIO prepares instructional information for students regarding the next step of the process which is to apply for a visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate. The visa document and instructions are then sent to the student.

Students who have their visas sponsored by another agency, such as Fulbright, LASPAU, OAS etc. receive their visa documents directly from the agency.

Choosing Your Student Visa

There are generally two visa categories for studying in the United States: the F-1 student visa and the J-1 Exchange Visitor visa in the Student Category. Both allow full-time study in the United States. Under the current regulations, both allow various degrees of work permission before and after graduation. Most admitted full-time international students to Harvard University are eligible for the F-1 visa. Only a few of these students are eligible for the J-1 student visa.

Students are only eligible for the J-1 student visa:

• If at least 50% of the tuition funding comes from a government agency, official scholarship or employer (student personal loans, e.g. HELP loans do not qualify)
• If the student's government requires that s/he use the J-1 visa based on receiving a government scholarship
• If the student's visa is sponsored by an agency such as Fulbright, LASPAU, USAID, or AMIDEAST.

Those students who are eligible for both the F-1 student visa and the J-1 student visa must communicate to the admissions offices of their schools which visa they plan to use for their programs at Harvard. The following is a list of some differences between the two visas:

F-1 Student Visa

• Students are eligible to work on-campus for up to 20 hours a week while school is in session as long as the employment does not interfere with their educational program.
• Accompanying dependents (spouse and children) receive the F-2 visa and are not allowed to work.
• Accompanying dependents may not enroll in a full time course of study in the United States while in F-2 status. However, F-2 children may enroll in primary or secondary school.
• Optional Practical Training, defined as employment related to the student's field of study, may be authorized for up to 12 months, either during the summer, during academic years, or following graduation.
• Off-campus employment that is not related to the course of study is restricted.

J-1 Student Visa

• Part-time employment, either on or off campus, is permitted if there is an unforeseen financial need or does not interfere with the student's program of study.
• Accompanying dependents (spouse and children) receive the J-2 visa.
• Accompanying dependents in J-2 status may apply for work permission in the United States. Be advised that it sometimes takes several months to obtain work permission.
• Accompanying dependents may enroll in a full-time course of study in the United States while in J-2 status.
• Academic Training may be authorized for up to 18 months following completion of studies (not to exceed the length of the academic program). Students in doctoral programs may be authorized for up to 36 months of Academic Training.
• Depending upon the country and funding sources, a J visa holder may be subject to the two-year home residence requirement. Students who are subject to the requirement must return home for two years before being eligible to apply for an H-1, L-1 or immigrant visa.
• Both J-1 and J-2 visa holders are required to have comprehensive health insurance coverage in the United States.