You Received Your Acceptance Letter and Form I-20...Now What?

By Margarita Conger, Admissions Officer, May 2, 2024

You received your acceptance letter and form I-20 from Green River College. Congratulations!

What do you do next?

1. Complete DS-160 Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application form. This form collects biographical information about the student and their intended stay in the U.S. You will need your passport, SEVIS number, and the school’s address (see your I-20 form).
   • Prepare to submit a photo with your application and pay the DS-160 application processing fee ($185).
   • See Frequently Asked Questions section for form DS 160 on the U.S. Department of State website.
2. Schedule Visa Interview at the U.S. embassy or consulate in your home country. Visa interview wait times are different at each location. Schedule your interview well in advance to allow time for visa processing and travel arrangements. You may be able to schedule a visa interview at a U.S. consulate or embassy in another country. Please contact the specific embassy to see if this is an option. If you cannot get a visa interview appointment in time, contact GRC International Admissions Office and ask to postpone your program to the next term.
   • Find a consulate or embassy by country
   • See visa appointment wait times on the U.S. Department of State website. Type the city where you plan to go for your visa interview in the search bar. Review interview wait times and visa processing times for student/exchange visitors (F visa)
3. Pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System). You must pay this fee before you go to your biometric appointment. We suggest you pay this fee at least two weeks before the visa interview. The fee is valid for twelve months. Bring the payment receipt to the visa interview.
4. Attend the visa interview. A consular officer will ask questions about your academic background, intended course of study, financial resources, and ties to your home country.
   • Gather the following documents for the visa interview:
     • Valid passport
     • Form DS-160 confirmation page
     • Form I-20 issued by the school
     • SEVIS fee payment receipt (I-901)
     • Visa application fee payment receipt
     • Passport-sized photograph(s)
     • Academic transcripts and diplomas
     • Standardized test scores (e.g., TOEFL, SAT)
     • Financial evidence showing ability to cover tuition, living expenses, and other costs
     • Any other documents requested by the embassy or consulate
5. Wait for Visa Processing. If approved, you will receive your passport with the F1 visa stamped inside. Processing times for visa issuance vary.
   • If your visa was approved, you may have to pay Visa Issuance (reciprocity) Fee –required in SOME countries. The fee amount varies by country. See if you have to pay the visa issuance (reciprocity) fee here.
   • If your visa was refused, you can usually apply again. You may have to pay the visa application processing fee when you reapply. You can read about Administrative Visa Processing and refusals here.
6. Prepare for travel to the U.S.
   • Make travel arrangements and send your flight information to GRC.
   • Attend virtual new student orientation.

 After you arrive in the U.S. you must attend the new student orientation in-person to complete the registration process and maintain F1 visa status. You cannot enter the U.S. more than 30 days before program start date.

Green River College admission policy requires new students who entered the U.S. with a GRC I-20 to attend their first term at GRC.

We look forward to welcoming you at GRC!