*Please note, your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the United States (unless exempt by country-specific agreements).
A non-immigrant is someone who seeks temporary entry to the United States for a specific purpose. Furthermore, all non-immigrants require a visa to be allowed to enter the United States to fulfill that purpose. Once they are in the United States, they have a non-immigrant status, which they must maintain by pursuing the intended purpose and following certain regulations.
Links for additional information:
*This answer does not apply to students from Canada or Bermuda, please read on if you are a citizen of these countries.
Congratulations! As soon as you learn that you are accepted to JNA Institute of Culinary Arts, you should fill out an application for an I-20 and verify your financial status via our Application for Form I-20. If you are currently in the United States, we can schedule a day for you to pick up your Form I-20. If you are not in the United States, please speak with someone in the Admissions Department about receiving your Form I-20 via FedEx or email.
When you receive your I-20 from JNA Institute of Culinary Arts, verify that everything on the form is correct and sign it.
*Please note, an I-20 does not guarantee admission to the U.S.– nor does it guarantee you will be granted a visa. Do not purchase airfare to the U.S. until you have been granted your F-1 visa.
Complete you application for a nonimmigrant visa, Form DS-160, online.
Next, call the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your country; you must schedule an appointment for your visa interview. You may schedule your interview at any U.S. Embassy or Consulate, but be aware that it may be difficult to qualify for a visa outside of your place of permanent residence.
Wait times for interview appointments vary by location, season, and visa category, so you should apply for your visa early. If you intend to travel to the U.S. in less than two (2) months, you may attempt to schedule your interview before your I-20 paperwork arrives. Email admissions@culinaryarts.edu and request JNA’s school code and your SEVIS number, as you will need this information to schedule your interview and to pay your SEVIS fee (also known as I-901 fee).
You must pay the SEVIS fee (also known as I-901 fee) to apply for your F-1 visa. This fee was put into effect by the US Department of Homeland Security in September 2004 to supplement the administration and maintenance costs of the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). This can be done online at the Student and Exchange Visitor Program: SEVIS I-901 Fee website.
In addition to the SEVIS I-901 fee, residents of some countries may also need to pay a visa application fee. When your visa is approved, you may also need to pay a visa issuance fee, if applicable to your nationality. To learn more about the various fees associated with visas and border crossings, please read Fees for Visa Services. You can also ask a representative at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
The following documents should be gathered in preparation for your visa interview:
Additional documentation that may be required:
During your visa interview, an officer will determine whether you are qualified to receive an F-1 visa. Ink-free, digital fingerprint scans will be taken as part of your application process. They are usually taken during your interview, but this varies based on location. After your visa interview, your application may require further administrative processing. You will be informed by the consular officer if further processing is necessary for your application.
When the visa is approved, you may pay a visa issuance fee if applicable to your nationality and you will be informed how your passport with visa will be returned to you. Review the visa processing time, to learn how soon your passport with visa will generally be ready for pick-up or delivery by courier.
Unlike nonimmigrant students from other countries, Canadians do not need to visit a U.S. Embassy or Consulate to apply for a visa but you will need to do a few things to be able to attend JNA Institute of Culinary Arts.
First, you are required to fill out an application for an I-20 and verify your financial status via our Application for Form I-20. If you are currently in the United States, you can make arrangements to pick up your Form I-20 at JNA Institute of Culinary Arts. If you are not in the United States, please speak with someone in the Admissions Department about receiving your Form I-20 via FedEx or email.
When you receive your I-20 from JNA Institute of Culinary Arts, verify that everything on the form is correct and sign it. You will need to travel with this document, so do not misplace it.
You must pay the SEVIS fee (also known as I-901 fee) prior to arriving in the United States. This fee was put into effect by the US Department of Homeland Security in September 2004 to supplement the administration and maintenance costs of the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). This can be done online at the Student and Exchange Visitor Program: SEVIS I-901 Fee website.
You must travel with your signed I-20 and your I-901 fee receipt. When you enter the United States, a Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) official at the Port of Entry (POE) will determine your eligibility for entry into the U.S. You should be prepared to present all supporting financial documentation upon arrival at the U.S. POE in order be admitted as a nonimmigrant student.
In summary, these are the steps Canadians must take to attend JNA Institute of Culinary Arts:
You will need to show all of these same documents to a JNA staff person in the Admissions Office before you will be permitted to attend classes.
Bermudian citizens do not currently require a visa to attend school in the United States. Presentation of the I-20, a SEVIS fee receipt (I-901), proof of financial support and a valid passport at the port of entry is sufficient for Bermudian students to attend school in the United States. However, since you will be remaining in the United States for more than 180 days, you may find that having a visa can assist with obtaining a U.S. driver’s license, securing accommodations, or re-entry from land border crossings.
To apply for a F-1 visa, schedule an appointment at your local U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
Yes, it absolutely matters. The School needs to supply this information to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program to process your I-20. If your living arrangements change at any time during your education, you must update the Admissions Office at JNA Institute of Culinary Arts. You are not permitted to attend classes until you provide this information.
Receiving a Form I-515 is not good. You received this form because you did not remember to bring all of the required documents with you to the United States. You must bring all of your documentation and the Form I-515 to the Admissions Office at JNA Institute of Culinary Arts immediately. You are not permitted to attend classes until you meet with a staff person at JNA.
You have only 30 days from the date of entry into the United States to submit your correct paperwork to the Student Exchange Visitor Program officials. Failure to do so can result in deportation and the revocation of your visa.
As a foreign national entering the U.S., you will need certain documents with you as evidence of your legal status. You should have with you:
You are allowed to enter the US in F status up to 30 days prior to the program start date listed on your I-20 (section 5). Please plan accordingly.
If you have your documents properly prepared, your experience with USCIS and Customs (CBP) will go easily, but it might be time consuming. Your experience will be as follows:
Did you lose or misplace your I-20? (Also see FAQ #5)
If you lost or misplaced your I-20, do not panic. Ask the inspector to issue you a Form I-515. The I-515 will allow you to legally enter the US as an F-1, but only for one month. Come to the Admissions Department to check in as soon as possible after you arrive, and we will take care of the Form I-515.
If you wish to transfer to JNA, please inform the registrar at your current school and email admissions@culinaryarts.edu.
Admission to a new school does not, by itself, authorize an international student in F-1 status to begin studying full-time at the new school. You must request your current school transfer/release your F-1 SEVIS I-20 record to your new school before you can begin studies there.
In general, a nonimmigrant student in M-1 status is not eligible to change his or her status to F-1.