[NYU] Getting a student Visa!

Please review the following and download the AFCOE at the bottom of the page.

Nonimmigrant Student Status
United States law requires that all nonimmigrant students be admitted to a full-time academic program, meet English language proficiency requirements, and document sufficient funds to cover educational and personal living expenses. Whether you are coming to NYU from outside the United States and therefore will apply for a student visa at a U.S. Consulate or you are already in the U.S. and plan to maintain or obtain nonimmigrant student status at NYU, you must have an original NYU-issued Certificate of Eligibility for F-1 Status (form I-20) or Certificate of Eligibility for J-1 Status (form DS-2019) to apply for an F-1 or J-1 student visa. To obtain an NYU I-20 or DS-2019, submit the Application for Certificate of Eligibility for F-1 or J-1 Status to the Office for International Students and Scholars as soon as you make your decision to attend NYU.
Read the following before beginning the application. Errors or omissions will delay processing.
The United States requires that individuals applying for F-1 and J-1 status demonstrate their intention to come to the U.S. for a specific period of time to undertake a study program and to return to their home country after completing the program. Prospective students who are in the process of applying for permanent residence should consult their legal counsel prior to submitting this application.
F-1 and J-1 students must pursue a full-time course of study at all times. Because employment is severely restricted for F-1 and J-1 students, employment cannot be a means of financial support for an academic program. Working without proper required authorization, whether on or off campus, can permanently jeopardize your opportunity to remain in or return to the United States .
Students awarded graduate assistantships must be in F-1 or J-1 student status. Other nonimmigrant classifications do not allow employment at NYU.
F-1 Student Status
The majority of international students in the United States hold F-1 status. The F-1 visa permits study in full-time academic or English language programs, employment on campus up to 20 hours a week, internships and other study-related employment outside the university commencing in the second year of study, and full-time professional employment for one year following completion of the academic program. F-1 students can finance their education through scholarships from public or private organizations, assistantships from the university, or personal or family funds.
The accompanying spouse or child enters the U.S. in F-2 status. F-2 dependents are not permitted to work in the U.S. , and F-2 spouses may not enroll in academic or professional programs in the U.S. You will be issued an I-20 form for F-1 student status unless you specifically request and meet the qualifications for a DS-2019 form for J-1 status. Read the J-1 student status section carefully when making your decision.
J-1 Student Status
Participants in an exchange visitor program enter the United States with a J-1 visa. Administered by the U.S. Department of State, exchange visitor programs are designed to promote international understanding and cultural exchange. J-1 students must be funded by their home or host university, a public or private national or international organization, or the U.S. or home government. Students supported solely by personal or family funds are not eligible for exchange visitor program sponsorship and must apply for F-1 status.
Certain exchange visitors are subject to the two-year home residency requirement. J-1 students and their dependents must return to their country of citizenship or country of permanent residence for two years upon completion of their academic program if
their studies have been funded in whole or in part by the U.S. or home government;
the U.S. Department of State determines that the skills acquired in the exchange visitor program are in short supply in the country of citizenship or country of permanent residence; or
their purpose in coming to the U.S. is to receive graduate medical education or training.
Exchange visitors who are subject to the two-year home residence requirement are not eligible to change to any other nonimmigrant status in the U.S. other than that of diplomat or employee of an international organization.
The accompanying spouse or child enters the U.S. in J-2 status. J-2 spouses may enroll in academic or professional programs in the U.S. and are eligible to apply to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services for permission to work.
In order to obtain a DS-2019 form rather than an I-20 form , include a cover letter with your AFCOE to request the DS-2019 form.
SEVIS
The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System is the mechanism the United States Department of Homeland Security uses to monitor the arrival, enrollment, and departure of international students and their dependents. Schools are required to create a record in SEVIS, an Internet-based database, for all F-1 and J-1 students and to report information on students' immigration and academic status throughout their academic careers. These student records are available to consulates abroad and the immigration authorities in the U.S. The unique record identifier, the SEVIS ID, is located above the bar code in the upper right corner of the I-20 or DS-22019.
SEVIS Fee
New F-1 and J-1 students are required to pay a non-refundable SEVIS fee of $100 at least three days prior to the visa interview. Canadian students must pay at least three days prior to entering the U.S. The fee must be accompanied by the U.S. government form I-901. F-1 and J-1 transfer students and dependents are not required to pay the fee.
Instructions on paying the fee are at www.ice.gov/sevis/i901/index.htm . Hint: when prompted be sure to print the receipt immediately it is not possible to go back once leaving the page. Staple the receipt to your I-20 or DS-2019.
Nonimmigrant Visas
A visa is a permit to apply for entry to the United States . A visa stamp can only be issued by a U.S. Consulate abroad. Individuals coming to the United States for the sole purpose of studying must apply for either an F-1 or J-1 nonimmigrant student visa.
Tourists are not permitted to study in the United States . Do not enter the U.S. with B-1/B-2 visitor's visa or under the auspices of the visa waiver program if you intend to enroll in a full-time academic program.
Canadian citizens do not need a visa stamp to enter the United States but must present an I-20 or DS-2019, financial documents, admission letter, and SEVIS fee receipt to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security inspector at the border or port of entry. Canadian landed immigrants do require a visa to enter the U.S.
For detailed information on the visa application process, view the multimedia tutorial for newly admitted international students on the OISS Web site.
Students Already in the United States
F-1 Transfer Students
Students who are currently in the United States in F-1 status, or who will be enrolled in the U.S. in F-1 status at another institution prior to coming to NYU, must follow the procedure outlined below. Find more information about the transfer process on the OISS Web site.
• Submit an F-1 Student Transfer Information Form with your AFCOE no later than August 15, 2009 for admission in fall 2009. For spring 2010, submit the form by January 2, 2010.
• If you are presently outside the U.S., but will attend another school prior to attending NYU, apply for your F-1 visa stamp with the I-20 from the first school you will attend and submit the AFCOE and F-1 Student Transfer Information Form to the OISS upon completing the program at that school.
• Consult the international student advisor at your current school regarding your intention to transfer to NYU and the date your SEVIS record will be released to NYU. The OISS can not issue your transfer I-20 prior to the release date.
J-1 Transfer students
Individuals in J-1 student status who wish to transfer to NYU's visa sponsorship to continue their studies must discuss their transfer with the Responsible Officer of their current Exchange Visitor Program prior to the completion of that program to determine whether transfer to NYU is consistent with their original program objective and is therefore possible under the J-1 regulations.
Prospective Students in Other Nonimmigrant Categories
Students in the U.S. in an immigration status other than F-1 or J-1 student who wish to apply for a change of status to F-1 or J-1 student will find detailed information on applying for a change of status on the OISS Web site. Prospective students must plan ahead and consider traveling abroad to apply for a visa if there is not sufficient time to obtain a change to student status. It can take several months to obtain approval from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service for a change of status. Individuals in B-2 or F-2 status are not permitted to begin full-time study until their application for change of status is approved. A change of status from B-2 tourist to F-1 student is extremely difficult to obtain.
Minimum Expenses
Tuition and Fees
New York UniversityTable of Estimated ExpensesThe following amounts reflect the cost of tuition, fees and health insurance for the 2008-2009 academic year. Anticipate that all costs related to study at NYU will increase approximately 5% for the 2009-2010 academic year and every subsequent year. This increase may be reflected on the I-20 or DS-2019 you receive and therefore may not match precisely the amounts listed below. If you have questions about exact fees, check the NYU Bursar's Office Web site at www.nyu.edu/bursar. Find your school at NYU in the column on the left. The columns to the right indicate the 2008-2009 full-time tuition of 24 credits (one academic year) plus service fees, estimated living expenses and health insurance. The total estimated expense plus any additional dependent expenses is what you must document for issuance of the I-20 or DS-2019. Full payment of tuition and fees is due upon registration for classes, which takes place in August/September for the fall semester and January for the spring semester.

Living Expenses
The cost of living in New York City is the highest in the United States . Students are required to document a minimum of $1,800 per month. Living expenses include rent, food, books, supplies, transportation, minor medical expenses not covered by insurance, entertainment and clothing. The OISS recommends you have at least an additional 25% reserve of your total expenses available.
The in-kind value of room and board is estimated to be $10,000.00 per year. Students receiving room and board from an individual in the New York metropolitan area must attach a letter from the individual that includes the full name, address, and telephone number and that stipulates the terms and duration of the offer of room and board.
In planning a budget, students should be aware that they are required to pay federal taxes on income earned in the U.S. , including assistantships, fellowships and scholarships. State and local taxes are also levied on some forms of income.

Mandatory Health Insurance
NYU requires all students to purchase health insurance. Coverage begins in mid-August for the fall 2009 semester and in mid-January for the spring 2010 semester. J-1 students are also required by law to carry health insurance; failure to do so results in termination from the exchange visitor program. When international students register for classes, they will be automatically charged for the NYU-sponsored comprehensive insurance plan which is $2,170 annually. You can downgrade to the basic plan or apply to waive the NYU insurance.There are new procedures in place to obtain a waiver of NYU-sponsored health insurance for F-1 and J-1 students. In order to apply for an insurance waiver the insurance company must be headquartered and operating in the U.S. with a U.S. claims address and customer service telephone number. You can find detailed information on the NYU Health Insurance Web site.

Dependents
Spouses and/or children under the age of 21 may accompany students to the United States . Students with an accompanying spouse must document an additional $10,800 per year for living expenses and insurance. An additional $5,400 is required for each child. U.S. federal law requires the J-2 spouse and children to have adequate health insurance coverage. Though not mandated by law, because F-1 students are required to meet all of their personal expenses while in the U.S. , they are expected to obtain health insurance for dependents.

Financial Documentation
Students must demonstrate that they have sufficient liquid assets to cover tuition and living expenses for the first year of study and sufficient funds available for the remaining years of the academic program by c ompleting the Certificate of Funds section on the application and submitting evidentiary documentation. The amount for the first year of study must equal or exceed estimated total expenses. The amounts for subsequent year(s) must include an anticipated annual cost increase of approximately 5%. Failure to show sufficient funding for the duration of your academic program will delay issuance of your I-20 or DS-2019.
Supporting documents may include but are not limited to personal funds, a current financial statement, printed on letterhead and signed by a bank official, a personal loan, a pre-approval letter confirming amount for which s loan is approved an individual sponsor, the OISS Affidavit of Support (section C of this form) plus a bank statement and/or an employer's statement of the individual's earnings, an organizational sponsor, a copy of an award letter from a sponsoring organization specifying the amount of the award, its duration, and the terms of renewal, or
NYU funding, a copy of an NYU award letter for an NYU scholarship, assistantship, or fellowship. All financial documentation must be in English or have certified English translations attached to the original.


Instructions
Complete the AFCOE on line and either email OR mail the application to the OISS. Please only choose one method to send the AFCOE as we cannot receive multiple copies.
Email instructions: complete the AFCOE on line and print, scan and email the AFCOE and supporting documents to afcoenew@nyu.edu.
Mail instructions: mail the application with a copy of your NYU admission letter and evidence of financial resources to the Office for International Students and Scholars, New York University , 561 LaGuardia Place , New York , NY 10012.
Keep a photocopy of your AFCOE and all attached documents for your records. Take a set of original financial documents for your visa interview.
If you are in the U.S. in F-1 or J-1 status, include a copy of your I-94 card and I-20 or DS-2019 form. F-1 students must also submit an F-1 Student Transfer Information Form.
Include a payment of $50 for the application fee. You may pay by check (bank draft) or international money order (payable to New York University ) or credit card (see Section D). Applications received without the payment will not be processed. Include your full name and NYU ID number on the check or money order.
The OISS will send you an email notification within 3 business days of the receipt of a complete application. Processing is approximately two weeks. Your visa document will be sent via UPS express mail service and you will receive an email directly from UPS with your tracking information. Submit your AFCOE as soon as you decide to attend NYU. Students who submit an AFCOE later than June 15, 2009 may not be able to arrive in the United States in time for the fall 2009 semester.
Download the AFCOE