International Student Information

Receiving Your I-20

After being accepted at MGH IHP, you will work with International Student Services (ISS) to receive a Form I-20. With this document, you can set a visa appointment at the nearest US Consulate. Steps for obtaining your US visa stamp and arriving in the United States are explained below. ISS will provide you with detailed information. In general, you will:

• Receive your Form I-20
• Pay the SEVIS I-901 fee
• Schedule your visa appointment at a US Consulate
• Complete the online DS-160 application
• Receive your F-1 Visa Stamp
• Enter the US up to 30 days prior to your start date
   

If you are already a student with F-1 status in the US, you will work with your current school and MGH IHP to have your SEVIS record transferred to MGH IHP. 

1. Demonstrate Ties to Your Home Country: U.S. law presumes that all nonimmigrant visa applicants intend to immigrate permanently. To overcome this presumption, you must show that your ties to your home country — such as family, employment prospects, property, or financial investments — are stronger than your reasons for staying in the U.S. Be prepared to explain your educational goals, career plans, and your commitment to returning home after completing your studies.

2. Conduct Your Interview in English: Visa interviews are conducted in English. Practice conversational English in advance but avoid memorizing scripted answers. The consular officer will want a genuine, interactive discussion about your study plans, goals, and home country ties.

3. Speak for Yourself: The interview is for you, not your family. Be ready to answer questions independently and confidently. If you are a minor and need a parent present, contact the consulate in advance to confirm their procedures.

4. Know Your Program and Career Goals: Be able to clearly explain why you chose your specific program of study, how it connects to your career goals, and what you plan to do when you return home. Graduate students should be prepared to discuss their research focus and may be asked for a letter from their faculty adviser.

5. Be Concise and Professional: Consular officers handle a high volume of applications and typically spend only a few minutes per interview. Make a strong first impression: answer questions directly and briefly, stay calm and positive, and avoid arguing with the officer. If denied, ask for the reason in writing and inquire about what documentation could help in a future application.

6. Bring Clear, Organized Supporting Documents: Documents should be easy to review at a glance. Key items typically include financial documentation, your admission letter, and any scholarship or assistantship letters. The financial figures on your Form I-20 should match your supporting documents. Check your specific consulate's website for a complete list.

7. Understand Country-Specific Requirements: Requirements can vary based on your country of origin. Applicants from countries with high rates of overstay or economic instability may face additional scrutiny. Always review the website of the U.S. embassy or consulate where you will apply and check current visa appointment and processing wait times at travel.state.gov.

8. Emphasize Study as Your Primary Purpose: Your visa is for study — not employment. While some on-campus and authorized off-campus work is permitted, employment must be incidental to your academic program. Be ready to explain your plan to return home upon program completion. Note: F-2 dependents (spouses and children) are not permitted to work in the U.S. under any circumstances.

9. Be Prepared to Discuss Dependents Remaining at Home: If your family is staying behind, be ready to explain how they will support themselves financially during your absence. If the officer believes you plan to support them through U.S. employment, your application will likely be denied.

10. Additional Considerations:

• Tell the truth. All statements on your visa application and during the interview are made under penalty of perjury.
• Social media vetting. Form DS-160 requires disclosure of social media handles used in the past five years. As of June 2025, the Department of State requires F-1 visa applicants to make all social media accounts public during the consular review process. Officers will screen your entire online presence.
• Administrative processing delays. Some applications require additional review, particularly if your name resembles another individual in a government database or if your field of study involves sensitive technology. This process can cause significant delays.
• Past U.S. visits or immigration violations. Be prepared to explain any prior U.S. stays, visa statuses, or OPT periods. If you ever overstayed or violated an immigration status, consult an immigration attorney before applying.
• Legal history. Disclose and document any arrests or convictions, including DUI, whether in the U.S. or abroad. Consult an immigration attorney if you have any current or past legal issues.

An F-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa issued by a United States Consulate abroad to an alien who plans to come to the United States to pursue full-time studies at a U.S. educational school or institution. Generally, the U.S. Consular Office has total discretion to grant or deny the visa. Foreign students who wish to obtain an F-1 visa must plan to pursue a full course of study in an approved academic institution in the United States.

When admitted into the U.S. on an approved F-1 visa, that student becomes an F-1 status holder. For those who are already in the United States on another non-immigrant status, such as B-1/B-2, H-1, etc., they may apply to change to F-1 status in the U.S. or travel outside the U.S., apply for an F-1 visa at a U.S. Consulate or Embassy and gain F-1 status by presenting the F-1 visa upon entry to the U.S. As long as your activity in the U.S. reflects the intent of your F-1 documents your F-1 status is maintained.

The spouse and/or unmarried, minor children of F-1 holders are eligible to come to the United States on an F-2 Visa. People in F-2 status may remain in the U.S. as long as the principle F-1 student maintains valid status. People in F-2 status are not eligible to engage in a course of study or work in the U.S.

Maintaining your F-1 non-immigrant status is your responsibility. International Student Services is here to assist you in that goal.

• Maintain full time enrollment

You must enroll in a full course of study each academic term, except during official breaks, and make consistent progress toward completing your program. Any exceptions must be approved in advance by International Student Services.

• Limit on-line enrollment

No more than one course or three credits of online or distance education per term may count toward your full-time enrollment requirement.

• Report your local address

You are required to notify International Student Services of any change to your U.S. address within 10 days of moving.

• Work only when and where authorized

Employment is permitted only when authorized under F-1 regulations. Please refer to the Employment section below for details on eligibility and restrictions.

• Keep I-20 Valid

Ensure your I-20 remains accurate and up to date by reporting any changes so that an updated document can be issued.

• Extension of Stay

If you need more time to complete your program, contact International Student Services at least 30 days before the end date on your I-20.

• Transfer Out

To transfer to another institution, you must coordinate the release of your SEVIS record. Please contact International Student Services at least 30 days before your new program begins.

• Reinstatement

Failure to follow F-1 regulations may result in a loss of status, affecting eligibility for employment, travel, transfers, and extensions. Reinstatement requires an approved application with USCIS. Contact International Student Services immediately if you believe you are out of status.

Required Documents

1. Valid Passport
   Must be valid for at least six months beyond your intended re-entry date. If your passport is expiring soon, contact your embassy or consulate for renewal procedures. A valid U.S. visa in an expired passport remains valid. Travel with both your expired and new passport.
2. Valid F-1 Visa
   A valid F-1 visa stamp is required for re-entry. Canadian citizens are exempt. If your visa has expired and you traveled to Canada, Mexico, or adjacent islands for fewer than 30 days, you may qualify for automatic visa revalidation. Students needing to renew their visa abroad must schedule an in-person interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate (interview waivers are very limited as of 2025).
3. Form I-20 with Valid Travel Signature
   Your I-20 must have a current DSO travel signature, and your SEVIS record must be Active.
   1. Currently enrolled students: travel signature valid for 12 months from signing date
   2. Students on OPT: travel signature valid for 6 months from signing date
   3. CBP officers will need to see a printed paper copy of your I-20 at the port of entry.
4. Proof of Financial Support
   Documentation showing sufficient funds to cover tuition and living expenses (bank statements, scholarship letters, or sponsor letters matching the financial information on your I-20).

Recommended Documents

These are not always checked at the port of entry but may be requested and can help prevent delays:

• Printed I-94 record — Print or save from cbp.gov/I94 after each re-entry
• I-901 SEVIS Fee Receipt — Print from fmjfee.com (no need to re-pay if SEVIS number is unchanged)
• Enrollment verification letter or class schedule — Confirms active student status
• Digital copies of all documents — Save passport, I-20, visa, and I-94 to email or cloud storage in case originals are lost

Special Situations

Students on OPT
In addition to the required documents above, also carry:

• Valid EAD (Employment Authorization Document) card — Note: all EAD cards say “not valid for reentry,” meaning it cannot be used alone; you must also carry your I-20 and valid visa
• Employer offer letter or employment verification letter — strongly recommended
• Do not travel if your OPT application is pending and you have not yet received your EAD card.
   

Renewing Your F-1 Visa Abroad

• As of September 2025, you must apply for your visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate in your country of nationality.
• An in-person interview is required — interview waivers are very limited.
• Allow extra time for processing and security clearances, which can significantly extend wait times.
   

Students in F-1 status have a few opportunities to secure employment.

On-campus Employment

F-1 students enrolled in a degree-seeking program are eligible to work on campus while school is in session for up to 20 hours per week, and full-time during school breaks. Employment does not need to be related to the field of study. To be employed, you must obtain a Social Security Number (SSN). International Student Services (ISS) will assist you with this process. 

Curricular Practical Training

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is defined as any off-campus experience that provides professional training, industry experience, or resume value in your field of study constitutes work under immigration regulations regardless of compensation. CPT authorization is the mechanism by which this activity is permitted under your visa status. CPT authorization is required for any curricular placement or for-credit internship, including clerkships, practica, clinicals, rotations, field work, and preceptorships. Note that one full year of full-time CPT cancels Optional Practical training. If you have a year-long internship, work with the ISS to carefully schedule your CPT authorizations so they do not exceed twelve months. 

Optional Practical Training

Optional Practical Training (OPT) allows students to gain U.S. work experience that is directly related to the major field of study. Unlike CPT, which is processed by the ISS, OPT will be processed via an application with the United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS).

F-1 students must complete two consecutive semesters of study in lawful U.S. status before becoming eligible for OPT and can apply for 12-months of OPT for each higher level of education. You may apply for OPT 90 days prior to your program completion date (not graduation ceremony date) and can request your OPT to begin within 60 days after your program completion date. There is a five-month window to apply for OPT. The ISS offers workshops on OPT three times per year. Please note that MGH IHP has no academic programs that qualify for the 17-month STEM extension. 

Social Security Number (SSN)

A Social Security number (SSN) is issued to track earnings over a worker's lifetime. Students holding F-1 visa status who are employed in the U.S. must apply for a Social Security number. The Social Security Administration requires evidence that you are eligible to work, which could be on-campus employment, Curricular Practical Training, and Optional Practical Training. New students should wait 10 business days after arriving in the U.S. to apply for a SSN. Students who will not work on campus but who receive a taxable scholarship can apply for an Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) for tax purposes.

Becoming comfortable with your new life in Boston will make your experience at the Institute that much more successful and rewarding. The following topics are presented to help you in getting to know Americans, understand your own adjustment to life in Boston, find an apartment in the Boston area, learn about the quirks of Boston English and more.

Find a Place to Live

The following websites will lead you to more information to help you adjust to your new life in Boston. Some sites offer information on multiple topics while others are more focused specific information. If you discover a particularly helpful website please share it with us.

whattodoboston.com

Provides an interactive map of apartment cost, size and availability, rental sites, and information on weather, transportation and things to do in Boston.

myfirstapartment.com

Insights on renting your first apartment including tips for long distance apartment searches, understanding your lease, tips on dealing with roommates and furnishing on a budget.

boston.com

Popular website used by Bostonians for local news, weather, and rental information.

mbta.com

Official website of the public transit (buses, subways, trains, and water taxis) system serving Boston and the surrounding suburbs.