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Obtaining the Visa Form I-20 or DS 2019

Dear Undergraduate International Student:

Congratulations on your acceptance to Tufts University! We, at the International Center, would like to welcome you and offer you our assistance while you attend Tufts. Our office advises international students, faculty and scholars, coordinates international activities on campus, and handles immigration issues.

Please carefully read the following procedure which explains how to obtain a student visa and I-20 or DS2019 form.

1. Send to the Admissions Office:
   1. Your deposit
   
   2. A written confirmation of your intention to attend Tufts
    
2. Send to the International Center:
   1. International Student Information Form (PDF), completed and signed.
   
   2. Copies of your (and your dependents, if applicable) passport identification page.
   
   3. Original financial documentation proving your ability to finance your tuition, living expenses and health insurance (in U.S. dollars preferable) for the duration of your program. The documentation must be issued within 3 months of the date we receive the documents from you. If you have a spouse and/or children accompanying you to the U.S. as your dependents, please be sure to provide original financial documentation proving the ability to support them for at least one calendar year.
   • Affidavit of Support (sample letter) (PDF) which documents financial support for you for one calendar year and which further guarantees sponsorship for the duration of your program, if you will be fully or partially funded by anyone other than yourself or Tufts University.
      
   • A copy of an award letter (a print out of an online letter is acceptable) offering you a scholarship. If you have not received the letter and can't print out the online one, please indicate your scholarship and the amount on the International Student Information Form.
      
   • Please refer to the Estimate of Expenses for detailed amounts that you will need to show for your program.
     • Note: Students can work part-time (not to exceed 20 hours per week) on Tufts campus. Although part-time on-campus work is allowed, these jobs are limited. Please keep in mind that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services severely limits off-campus work for students, and does not allow it at all within the first academic year. You must check with the International Center before considering off-campus employment. We expect that the funding source(s) you are certifying to us will be available to you and that you will not need financial assistance upon arrival at Tufts. Total estimated start-up figures will range from $2,000 to $3,000.
        
   4. International Student Transfer Form (PDF) (If applicable)
   If you are currently attending a school in the U.S., or recently graduated, your current school will need to release your record in the SEVIS electronic tracking system to Tufts. First, you must fill out the top portion of the Tufts University International Student Transfer Form. Second, forward the form to an international student advisor at your current/previous school so that your record transfer will occur.
   

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (VERY IMPORTANT!)

• To help speed up the process, it is very important for you to mail us complete paperwork including financial documentation. We process the visa documents in order of receiving the complete documents
   
• After receiving ALL of the above-listed items, the International Center will process your visa documents (I-20 Form or DS-2019 Form). Please note that we are unable to start processing visa documents earlier than late May.
   
• PLEASE MAKE YOUR VISA APPOINTMENT AFTER YOU RECEIVE YOUR I-20 because we can't guarantee you that you will obtain your visa document by a specific date. We cannot prioritize anyone simply because you have a visa appointment. Please be aware that you may be charged a fee for canceling or changing the visa appointment date by the U.S. embassy and the I-Center will not be responsible for the fee.
   
• Once your I-20 is in the mail, you will receive an email confirmation from our express carrier services (DHL).
   
• We greatly appreciate your patience and understanding!
   

TOURIST VISA
Do NOT enter the U.S. in B-1, B-2, WB or WT Tourist Visa Status. It is not possible for you to change your tourist visa status to the required student status once you are in the U.S. You will not be permitted to register at Tufts University on tourist visa status.

HEALTH INSURANCE REQUIREMENT
In compliance with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Tufts University does not accept international insurance plans nor will it accept alternate US health insurance plans for international students.

It is therefore critical that you plan ahead so that the health fees can be covered. Current costs for the health insurance plan is $1,723 for the year. There is an additional, separate cost for the Health Service Fee of $668. Both fees are mandatory. Both fees are required to be paid in advance of the start of classes in September. We are forewarning you of this so that you can plan and budget accordingly. If you have any questions, contact Ms. Mary Daley: mary.daley@tufts.edu or Ms. Susan Keating: susan.keating@tufts.edu at the Tufts Health Services. You can also reach them by phone: 617 627-3350 or fax: 617 627-3592.

SUMMER ENGLISH LANGUAGE TRAINING
For those students entering Tufts in the fall who would like to improve their English skills, we recommend English language training, which is offered at Tufts during the summer. For further information, please contact the Tufts English Language Programs. They can also be reached by telephone at 617-627-3568, by fax at 617-627-3856 or via email at ESL@tufts.edu.  Please let us know if you will attend the Tufts English Program.

We will send more comprehensive information on the visa application process and the process for paying the SEVIS Fee along with your immigration document. You will also receive arrival orientation material at that time. Before you arrive at Tufts, you will receive several mailings. Therefore, it is very important that you notify the International Center, the Admissions Office of change of address, email or telephone number.

We look forward to meeting you! If you should have any questions, please contact the International Center at +1 (617) 627-3458, by fax at +1 (617) 627-6076, via email at internationalcenter@tufts.edu or on the web at http://www.ase.tufts.edu/icenter.


Sincerely yours,

Jane Etish-Andrews, Director

Jodi Hanelt, Assistant Director
Naoko Kotoge, International Student & Scholar Advisor
Hannah Mumma, International Student & Scholar Advisor
Lois Hutchings, Office Coordinator