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Admitted International Students - Next Steps

If you have received an acceptance letter from Hennepin Technical College indicating that you have been admitted as an International student, congratulations!

Here are your Next Steps:

It is very important to enter the United States (US) with the proper Visa. You must apply for an entry Visa stamp in your passport. F and J Entry Visas can only be obtained outside the U.S. at a U.S. embassy or consulate in your home country.

To help you with applying for a Visa, the following steps will outline what you need to do:

  1. Pay the SEVIS fee
    • Most new students must pay the SEVIS fee before applying for an entry Visa or entering the U.S. This fee is assessed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and is not administered by Hennepin Technical College. For details, visit the FMJ Free website
  2. Locate the Nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate
    • Must be completed in your home country
    • Embassy/consulate information is available on the www.travel.state.gov website
  3. Schedule an Appointment for Visa Interview
    • Your local embassy or consulate has specific instructions for scheduling an appointment. An appointment wait time can be several weeks or longer. Schedule your appointment as soon as possible after receiving your I-20. For more information, you can find it at www.travel.state.gov website.
  4. Prepare Documents for Your Visa Interview

    All Visa applicants must provide the following documents:

    • Valid Passport
    • I-20 document
    • Documented proof of financial support for at least one year
    • Proof of SEVIS fee payment (Receipt)
    • Visa application forms (available from the embassy/consulate)
    • Any other documents required by the embassy/consulate
  5. Practice for your Visa Interview
    • When applying for a non-immigrant Visa, the U.S. Consular officer interviewing you will assume that you plan to immigrate to the U.S. permanently unless you prove otherwise. During the interview you will need to prove you will only study temporarily in the U.S. and plan to return home after your studies are completed. Answer all questions truthfully but only provide information related to the question asked.
  6. Decision/Actions
    • If your Visa was approved, you will be informed when, and when your passport and Visa will be returned to you.
    • If denied, you will be informed why you are ineligible to receive a Visa. You can gather more information at www.travel.state.gov. Please contact a Hennepin Tech Designated Official immediately if you have received a denial letter.
  7. Other Things to Consider:
    1. Name Consistency
      • To avoid problems or delays in obtaining your Visa and entering the U.S., ensure that all of your immigration documents reflect the same name, exactly as it appears in your passport. Do not use “nicknames” or shortened names on any of your documents, including your passport, I-20, entry Visa stamp, I-94 card (completed in the airplane before your arrival) and any additional documents that you acquire after your arrival in the U.S.
    2. Security Clearance Checks
      • Many Visa applicants are subject to additional security clearance checks that will delay the issuance of your Visa by one or two months. This is NOT a denial. Most applicants who are subject to clearance will eventually receive the Visa. You cannot prevent a security clearance nor can Hennepin Technical College intervene to speed up the process.

*NOTE: If you are a transfer student, your admissions process will be different. Please work with Hennepin Technical College's DSO and the DSO from your previous college to transfer SEVIS records.