Visa Information for Accepted Students
We can't wait to see you in Buffalo! Use these pages to help plan your arrival.
What is a U.S. visa?
Your visa category will impact many parts of your life in the U.S. Your studies, employment, vacation, and travel are a few examples. Your visa (sometimes referred to as visa stamp or visa foil) is the document placed on a page in your passport that permits you to apply for admission to the U.S. in accordance with your visa category.
Most international students come to the U.S. on F-1 visas, while some come on J-1 visas. However, there are some other visa categories that permit studying (H-1B, H-4, L-2, E-2, etc.).
To come to the United States to study, you will need to apply for a visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
You cannot study for a degree on a tourist (B-1/2) visa or on the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Therefore, you should not enter the U.S. as a B-1/2 or on the VWP if you plan to study.
Can I use my current student visa if it is still valid?
If you are already in the U.S. on an F-1 or J-1 visa, you can study at UB on the same visa.
Visas are entry permits that allow you to enter the U.S. from anywhere in the world, if your visa and number of entries have not expired, and if all of your other immigration documents are in order. Visas do not determine how long you can stay in the U.S., so, unless you travel abroad before joining UB, you can study at UB without renewing your visa even if it has expired.
Students New to the U.S.
If you are currently outside the U.S., you must apply for a U.S. visa stamp before you can arrive.
How do I apply for a student visa?
Important Points to Consider
- We do not recommend applying for a visa at a U.S. Consulate outside your country of permanent residence unless you are residing outside your country or cannot apply for a U.S. visa in your country. Visit the embassy/consulate website to find out what you need to do to apply for a student visa.
- Even if you have your visa stamp, you will not be allowed to enter the U.S. as an F-1 student more than 30 days before the Program Start Date on your I-20.
- When your visa is issued, you may also be required to pay the Reciprocal Visa Issuance Fee. Check the Visa Reciprocity Table to see if you are required to pay this fee.
Canadian students do not need to apply for a U.S. visa.
Students Transferring from Other U.S. Schools
Before you can transfer to UB from another U.S. school, be sure you understand how a transfer may affect your immigration status.
What if I am already in the U.S. as an F-1 or J-1 student?
If you are already in the U.S. as an F-1 or J-1 student, it may be possible to transfer your SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) record from your current school to UB.
As a SEVIS transfer student, you will receive a “Transfer Pending from (current school)” I-20 instead of an “Initial” I-20.
Am I eligible for a SEVIS transfer?
To be eligible for a SEVIS transfer, you must:
- Have maintained your F-1 student status
- Be admitted to UB in time for your SEVIS record to be transferred, which is no later than the last day of the 60-day grace period after the end date on your I-20 (for F-1 students).
- Continue attending classes at your current school until your transfer release date.
- Begin classes at UB within 5 months of your transfer release date or the last day you studied at your previous school OR at the start of the next available academic term, whichever is earlier (for F-1 students).
Your transfer release date is the day your current school releases your SEVIS record to your new school.
Enrollment exception
The only exception to the requirement to enroll during the next available session is when it is a summer vacation for which you are eligible. To be eligible for this exception, you must have been enrolled at a U.S. school for a full academic year AND you must enroll within five months of your transfer release date.
If you are not eligible for a SEVIS transfer, you must depart the U.S. and re-enter with an Initial I-20.
J-1 transfers
The rules for J-1 students’ transfers are different than for F-1 students. If you are a J-1 student hoping to transfer, contact our office for advice.
What if I am on Optional Practical Training (OPT)?
You can transfer to another school during the 60-day grace period after your OPT, as long as the transfer release date occurs within the grace period.
You must begin classes within 5 months of your transfer release date or the date your OPT authorization ends, whichever is earlier.
Your OPT work authorization will end on your transfer release date. Therefore, if you wish to complete your OPT, your transfer release date must be after your OPT ends.
Do I have to pay the SEVIS fee again?
If you meet all the conditions for a SEVIS transfer, you do not need to pay the SEVIS fee again.
If I am transferring, can I travel outside the U.S.?
Yes, but you must be careful to re-enter the U.S. using the I-20/DS-2019 issued by the school that currently has your SEVIS record.
Continuing UB Students
You’re ready for the next step in your UB education and we're glad to have you back!
Do I have to pay the SEVIS fee again?
If you have continually maintained your F-1 or J-1 status or were outside the U.S. for fewer than five months, you do not need to pay the SEVIS fee again. However, if you failed to maintain your F-1 or J-1 status or were outside the U.S. for more than five months not on authorized overseas study, you will have to pay the SEVIS fee again.
What if I am on Optional Practical Training (OPT)?
Your OPT work authorization will automatically end when you start studying in your new degree program.
You can study part time while on OPT as long as you are not admitted to a new degree program at UB.
If you apply to a new degree program and change your mind after you receive admission to the program, inform International Student Services.
Disclaimer
The information contained in this website is provided as a service to the international students, faculty, staff, employees and administrators of the University at Buffalo, and does not constitute legal advice on any immigration, tax or other matter. We try to provide useful information, but we make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to this website or any associated site. As legal advice must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case, and laws are constantly changing, nothing provided herein should be used as a substitute for the advice of competent counsel. Neither the University at Buffalo nor the Office of International Student Services is responsible for any errors or omissions contained in this website, or for the results obtained from the use of this information.