Immigration FAQs

After receiving your I-20 or DS-2019, verify that your information on your form is correct. If you find mistakes, notify our office immediately. If everything appears correct, please read your document carefully and then sign your name and date on the front page.

Before applying for your visa, you must pay your SEVIS fee to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Once paid, schedule your visa interview with your nearest embassy or consulate.

Check your wait time at the closest Consulate or Embassy.

You can attend your visa interview 120 days before your program start date if you are applying for a F-1 visa. You can attend your visa interview anytime prior to the program start date if you are applying for a J-1 visa.

An international student is any student who will attend MSU Denver while holding a valid nonimmigrant visa. This includes students who are seeking or currently hold an F-1, J-1, H-1, or any other visa. Applicants who are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, refugees, asylees or who have no visa are NOT considered international students and should complete the domestic application process 

An I-20 is a “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status for Academic and Language Students.” The completed form verifies that an international student has been admitted to an academic program for full-time enrollment and has shown evidence of financial support for at least one academic year. A Form I-20 is issued by a Designated School Official (DSO), who is usually an International Admissions Counselor or International Student Advisor. The form is used by prospective international students to request an F-1 nonimmigrant student visa. 

New students: Any non-citizen who wishes to obtain an F-1 student visa or to change an existing immigration status to F-1 must first obtain an I-20 to verify their admission to a qualified school. Most I-20s are requested by students who are outside the U.S. and plan to apply for a student visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate in their home country. A significant number of I-20s are also requested by individuals already in the U.S. on other kinds of temporary visas (i.e., exchange participants, diplomats, employee of an international organization), and who need apply for a change of status in order to study.  

Transfer students: Students in the U.S. who already have F-1 status with an I-20 from another school must obtain a new I-20 from MSU Denver. Each I-20 is valid only for the school named on the form. 

Your I-20 will be issued after you have been admitted to MSU Denver and submitted proper financial support documentation. Your I-20 is an electronic document and will be emailed to you.  

Transfer students must submit a SEVIS Transfer Form which is to be completed by the student and the international advisor at the current institution. 

If you are currently in some other legal nonimmigrant status (such as B-1/B-2, F-2, J-2, or H-4) and intend to study, you must request a change of status to the F-1 visa. Because the change of status process can take 8 to 12 weeks, it is important to begin the process early.  

In some cases, it may be faster to leave the U.S. and schedule a visa interview at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Please contact the International Student Support team for more information. You may also use the Checklist for Change of Status as a reference.  

If your current visa status allows you to study as a degree seeking student, you are not required to change visa status. 

Yes. More than one source of funding is permitted to meet the financial support requirements. An F-1 Affidavit of Financial Support form must be completed for sponsor who submits a bank statement on your behalf.  

International students are permitted to work on campus for up to 20 hours per week.

On-campus employment is not guaranteed. You can search for potential positions once you arrive on campus. You can find more information about student employment and available job opportunities on our website.

International students are required by law to enroll in a full course of study at all times. A full course of study is a minimum of 12 credits each semester.

International students are required by law to enroll in a full course of study at all times (12 credits). Failure to enroll in a full course of study or dropping below 12 credits will result in a student’s immigration status being terminated.

Please schedule an appointment with your DSO before making any enrollment changes.

You must enroll in a minimum of 2 semesters within an academic year (Fall, Spring, Summer).

If you enrolled in the Fall and Spring semesters, you are not required to enroll in the Summer. Contact your DSO if you have any questions about maintaining your status and enrollment requirements.

Yes, students must properly report to MSU Denver by arriving in Denver, CO and allowing the International Student Support team to make documentation of your immigration documents that include: Form I-20, Acceptance Letter, Passport, VISA, I-94.