Newly admitted students should review the New Students page for information regarding the Application for Visa Certificate and applying for an initial visa to enter the United States. 

1. Valid I-20/DS-2019 with a current travel signature
2. Valid Passport
3. Evidence of Financial Resources
4. Evidence of student status
5. Receipt of I-901 SEVIS Fee Payment

Employees and Scholars should verify the applicable visa application procedures on the U.S. Embassy/Consulate website of the location where they intend on applying: Find your local U.S. Consulate. 

If you are a new international employee or department representative looking for information about the initial visa sponsorship process, please visit our New Scholars and Faculty page. 

Alumni on F-1 Optional Practical Training (or the STEM Extension) or J-1 Academic Training MUST have a valid F-1 or J-1 visa to re-enter the United States while on an approved period of practical training. 

1. Valid I-20/DS-2019 with a current travel signature
2. Valid Passport
3. Practical Training authorization documents:
   1. F-1: OPT EAD (Employment Authorization Document).
   2. J-1: Academic Training Authorization letter from the Davis IC
4. Proof of employment in the form of a letter from your employer stating the job title, job description and salary. 

It is important to NOTE that it may be more difficult to obtain a student visa while on OPT as the issue of non-immigrant intent with the intention to return to the home country at the completion of the OPT could be more difficult to prove once the student has obtained a degree and is working in the U.S. For more information, please review the Davis IC Optional Practical Training page for details on re-entering the United States with an approved OPT request.

It is important to plan ahead for any visa application to mitigate risks of delay in returning to the U.S. Applicants should review the Department of State’s Visa Appointment Wait Times to assist in their planning. 

Many consular locations may offer expedited visa appointments for students and academics. Additionally, those who have already received a visa in their nonimmigrant category may be eligible for a visa interview waiver when renewing their visa. Procedures and eligibility will vary for both expedited appointments and visa interview waivers depending on when and where you are applying. Please review the Department of State’s list of consular locations to find information for the individual embassy or consulate you plan to apply at. 

Some visa applications require further administrative processing, which takes additional time after the visa applicant’s interview by a consular officer. Administrative processing may be implemented for any of the following reasons:

• Due to the country of origin;
• Due to the applicant’s name being on a U.S. Government watch list or sharing the same name with someone who is on that list;
• Due to research in a field of study that is considered “sensitive” by the U.S. Government;
• Due to concerns about technology transfer, especially for individuals from countries considered to possess nuclear capability, etc.

You will be informed by the consular officer if further administrative processing is necessary for your application. The time required for security clearances can vary from one week to several weeks or even longer and is dependent on individual circumstances. Your visa will not be issued until the clearance is received. Once a visa application is subjected to security clearance, there is nothing further to do except inform your Davis IC advisor and wait. 

IMPORTANT: Security clearances cannot be expedited by Princeton University nor by U.S. Congressional intervention. The U.S. Government considers this to be a matter of national security and will not bypass the process. 

If your visa application is denied, you should politely request a written explanation of the denial from the U.S. Embassy/Consulate. The most common reason for visa denial is a failure to demonstrate non-immigrant intent. 

To obtain a nonimmigrant visa, the U.S. Consular Officer must be convinced that you have nonimmigrant intent; that is, that you have a residence abroad, that you do not have immediate intention to abandon that residence, and that you intend to depart the United States upon completion of your program. You may be able to demonstrate this through family, educational, business, or financial ties to your home country. In addition, you should be prepared to answer questions about how your field of study and program relates to your future employment and career goals. 

Should your visa be denied, please let your Davis IC Advisor know immediately. You may be able to re-apply for a visa at a later date. However, it is not advisable to simply re-submit the original application materials. You should only re-apply if you are able to submit updated evidence that addresses the reason for the initial denial. Additional information about visa denials is available on the Department of State website. 

U.S. Embassies and Consulates adjudicate visa applications that are based on a same-sex marriage in the same way that they adjudicate applications for opposite gender spouses. Please reference dependent information for details on the applicable visa procedures. For more information, please see the Department of State U.S. Visas for Same-Sex Spouses FAQs.