What is the visa process for international students at Stony Brook University?

At Stony Brook, the usual process is: get admitted, submit proof of funding and passport details to the university, receive your Form I-20 for an F-1 visa or DS-2019 for a J-1, pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 visa application, and schedule a visa interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate. Stony Brook’s Visa and Immigration Services office handles the school-issued immigration documents, and they generally require financial documentation showing you can cover at least the estimated first year of costs. You also need to confirm your intent to enroll and make sure your name, date of birth, and program information match your passport exactly.

After admission, the most important thing to prepare is your financial paperwork. That usually means bank statements, sponsor letters if a parent or other person is funding you, and any scholarship or assistantship documentation.

Once you receive the I-20 or DS-2019, you pay the SEVIS I-901 fee and then fill out the DS-160 online. After that, you book your visa interview and bring your passport, admission letter, Stony Brook immigration document, SEVIS fee receipt, DS-160 confirmation page, financial evidence, and any other consulate-required materials. Visa officers usually want to see that your documents are consistent, your funding is credible, and you intend to study full time.

If your visa is approved, you can usually enter the U.S. up to 30 days before the program start date listed on the I-20 or DS-2019.