The F-1 Student
The F-1 student has or intends to apply for the F-1 visa, which is a non-immigrant visa that allows them to enter the US and study at institutions certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).
The F-1 visa is the most popular type of student visa for students seeking to study at a US university or college, and you can only apply for after an accredited US institution accepts your application, and you complete all of the requirements.
F-1 students seeking to apply to study at Florida Poly must complete the International Admissions application and verify their intent to study under the F-1 visa.
Once you are accepted, you will be contacted by a Designated School Official (DSO) who is responsible for administering and monitoring the F-1 students at the university.
The DSO will provide you with the Form I-20 , which you will need to apply for the F-1 visa. This form documents your study plans and provides supporting information about your stay, and will only be issued after you have been accepted, paid the required deposit to the university, and have submitted all required documentation.
The Form I-20 (I-20)
The Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Status” (I-20) is a paper record of the information maintained in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).
The I-20 is required for completing steps in the international student life cycle , and to certify:
- A student has been admitted to a SEVP-certified school in the United States (US) and is eligible for the F-1 nonimmigrant status
- The student’s program of study and education level (i.e., undergraduate, graduate)
- A student has provided evidence of financial ability to support the estimated cost of attendance (COA) while studying in the US
New F-1 students at Florida Poly are required to complete the F-1 Pre-Arrival Onboarding in CANVAS after being accepted and paying the required deposit fee. Completion of this course is the first step in becoming eligible to be issued the Initial I-20.
What is the “Initial” I-20?
The term “Initial” I-20, means this is the first I-20 issued to the F-1 visa student to study in the US.
To be issued the Initial I-20 students must complete the all steps required in their F-1 Pre-Arrival Onboarding. Students are required to verify personal identifying contact, education and financial information, which must be entered into the SEVIS database. In addition to this, there will be other supporting items that must be submitted to the DSO prior to the I-20 being issued.
Evidence of Financial Ability
F-1 students most often have questions about the evidence of financial ability requirement.
Evidence of financial ability must be proved by all F-1 students to confirm they have the financial resources to live and study in the US; this includes being able to cover the cost of tuition, books, living expenses, travel expenses, and dependent expenses (if bringing legal dependents to reside in the US while they study).
DSOs must collect evidence of the student’s financial ability before issuing the I-20; additionally students must bring this same evidence of financial ability when applying for their student visa.
It is advised to have the evidence on-hand when entering the country at a US port of entry, in the event a US Customs and Border Protection (CPB) officer asks to review it.
Evidence of financial assistance can consist of the student’s personal funds, scholarships or financial aid program, support from family or friends, a government agency and/or other supporting sponsor, to show they have sufficient funds to cover their tuition and living expenses. This eevidence of financial ability includes but are not limited to:
- Bank statements or certification of funds letter
- Other financial documentation verifying funds
- Financial aid letters
- Scholarship letters
- Letter from an employer showing annual salary
This information will also be required for the visa interview also, so it is very important that students provide the required information and documentation requested. There are NO exceptions or waivers to this requirement.
What is the Estimated Cost of Attendance (COA)?
The estimated COA reflects out-of-state tuition rates and additional categories based on undergraduate students enrolled in 30 credit hours and graduate students enrolled in 18 credit hours, for full-time enrollment for an academic year of 9 months in total (Fall and Spring semesters).
This estimate determines the total funds F-1 students must provide evidence of to attend school in the US. It is important that F-1 students also budget for additional costs not listed below that may arise.
These are estimates do not reflect the student’s university bill; these are the expenses students are expected to be able to cover while they study and reside in the US.
Total expenses may be more or less, and are dependent upon a student’s specific circumstances and needs.
Any form of asset that can be freely and readily converted into cash within 7 days or less. Students are required to verify they have readily available, the estimated total costs, at the minimum in liquid assets, which are any form of asset that can be freely and readily converted into cash within 7 days or less.
Specific fees owed directly to the university, will be reflected via the student CAMS account, once students have been registered for classes; remember this will not be the only expenses (please see chart below).
*COA information is subject to change without notice; updated information may be requested.
Undergraduate Students
Non-Florida Resident Costs
| Tuition and Fees* |
$21,005 |
| Room and Board |
$10,580 |
| Books |
$1,200 |
| Transportation and Other Expenses |
$4,000 |
| F-1 Health Insurance (required) |
$1,194 |
| Total |
$37,979 |
*Based upon 30 credit hours for an academic year | 2020-21 rates
**Add $3000 USD per dependent if any will reside with you in the US
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Graduate Students
Non-Florida Resident Costs
| Tuition and Fees* |
$19,998 |
| Room and Board |
$10,580 |
| Books |
$1,200 |
| Transportation and Other Expenses |
$4,000 |
| F-1 Health Insurance (required) |
$1,194 |
| Total |
$36,972 |
*Based upon 18 credit hours for an academic year | 2020-21 rates
**Add $3000 USD per dependents if any will reside with you in the US
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Please remember: This is NOT your actual bill; these totals may be more or less depending on your personal expenses and academic choices, and if you have dependents, you must provide an additional $3,000 USD per dependent to your estimated expenses.
Are There Additional Costs?
Yes, there are additional costs that are not included in the estimated COA Chart listed above. F-1 students should keep the following costs in mind when planning their personal budget for studying in the U.S.:
- Account for other personal expenses, such as driver’s license fees, frequent travel, and other needs you may need to cover.
- Account for summer living expenses or summer enrollment costs if you decide to attend classes.
- Account for the all expenses associated with residing off-campus if you determine not to reside on-campus in the dormitory.
- Students bringing a legal spouse and/or dependent children to the US on an F-2 dependent visa must provide evidence of an additional $3,000 for their spouse, and $3,000 for each child to cover dependent estimated living expenses.
*This requirement does not apply to dependents with US citizenship or another type of visa status.
Next Steps After Receiving I-20
The I-20 will be issued electronically via the student’s university email account, in accordance with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authorization effective March 26, 2020 for DSO electronic signatures. This is the primary form of delivery and receipt.
It very important that students keep their I-20 safe and to always have it readily available when traveling.
Please visit the Study in the States website for more information on when the I-20 and complete the next steps after receiving the I-20.
- Verify all information listed on your I-20 is accurate, this includes your name, program of study, program start and end dates, country of birth and citizenship, date of birth and financial information. If any discrepancies are found, notify ISS immediately, so the I-20 can be revised and reissued.
- Sign and date the Student Attestation section on the first page and keep it safe for your record and future use. Students will be required to present this document during their visa interview, when traveling to the US, checking in at Florida Poly when school commences, for employment purposes, and other important processes. Students should always keep their original I-20 and only provide copies when it is requested.
- Pay the required SEVIS I-901 Fee online to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
- Apply for the F-1 visa.
Maintaining F-1 Status
Maintaining F-1 status means fulfilling the purpose for why the Department of State (DOS) issued you the F-1 visa, and following the regulations associated with that purpose.
International Student Services (ISS) provides a variety of services for F-1 students. Depending upon the subject matter of a student’s inquiry, they will either receive instructions on what to do, be directed to schedule an appointment to meet with a DSO, or directed to the applicable university, staff, faculty or department applicable to proficiently assist them.
Some inquiries may include complex processes where students may be required to complete a short training module, or instructions may be given directing students to additional resources and documentation to assist them.
To maintain legal status in the US, international students must follow federal and state regulations, and Florida Polytechnic University policies and guidelines.
Students are responsible for following all rules and regulations, and not meeting the requirements to maintain their status, will result in the termination of their Student Exchange and Visitors Information (SEVIS) database record resulting in their ineligibility for continued enrollment, and use of benefits, such as employment.
F-1 visa international students are required to comply with all of the following to maintain their visa status:
- Enter the US no more than 30 days before their program start date listed on the I-20, and attend the school listed on the I-20.
- Do not arrive late (after the program start date on I-20)
- Keep passport valid, expiration date must not be less than 6 months into the future.
- Students must contact their contact their embassy to renew their passport prior to the expiration date.
- Enroll and maintain full-time enrollment for education level each academic term (fall and spring).
- The minimum credit hours students may enroll in per semester is:
- Undergraduates = 12 credit hours
- Graduates = 9 credit hours
- Summer term is optional
- Complete the F-1 Post Arrival Check-in process at the new student orientation after entering the US, no later than the program start date listed on the I-20.
- This is to register student’s SEVIS record, which alerts the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that they are meeting the requirements for an active F-1 student.
- Failure to check-in can result in classes being dropped, ineligibility for on-campus employment, possible loss of status, and possible termination of SEVIS record.
- Contact a DSO before dropping below full-time status or withdrawing from school.
- Students that are unable to complete a full course of study due to extenuating circumstances, must be approved for a Reduced Course Load (RCL) to be eligible to drop below full-time status.
- If planning to graduate early or are unable to complete program if study, by the program end date listed on the I-20, contact ISS to verify eligibility to have program date shortened or extended.
- This must be completed at least two weeks before the I-20 program end date.
- Never accept employment off campus without authorization from a DSO and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), even if it is volunteer work, or an unpaid.
- Contact ISS to determine if you are eligible for off-campus employment authorization in your field of study.
- Remember, F-1 students cannot work off-campus in their first semester, and must meet specific criteria after completing one academic year of study before they may apply for specific off-campus employment benefits.
- Never work in an on campus position for more than 20 hours per week while school is in session.
- Full-time (more than 20 hours per week) on-campus work is permitted only during official university breaks and vacations.
- Follow transfer procedures and notify ISS of the intent to transfer to another US school.
- An acceptance letter and the new school’s SEVIS Transfer form must be submitted to ISS.
- Request travel authorization (travel signature) from a DSO at least 2 weeks before departing the US, with the intent to return to continue your studies.
- Request a new I-20 for a change of major or degree program level.
- Report any changes to major, program level, funding sources to ISS within 10 days of the change.
- Additional forms and documentation may be required as applicable to the change requested
- Comply with all other US federal and state laws.
- Comply with all other Florida Poly academic and conduct policies.
- This includes all requests from ISS for additional items, documentation, or forms to be completed.
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