Congratulations on your decision to study in the United States! A very rewarding and life-changing experience awaits you! If you need more information about the types of American education that are available to you, please see EducationUSA.

If you already know what you want to do, the first step is to apply to a school in the United States. The school must be an SEVP-certified school.

• Search SEVP-certified schools on the DHS Study in the States website.

Once you are formally accepted for admission to an SEVP-certified school and you submit any required documents, your school will give you a document called a Form I-20. The Form I-20 is a paper record of your information in a US government database called SEVIS. Each school that accepts you will mail you a Form I-20.  Before you apply for your visa, you must select one school’s Form I-20 to use.

Check your Form I-20 against your passport information to make sure that your name and date of birth (DOB) are correctly listed and spelled.  If it is not correct, contact the school official who sent you the Form 1-20.

Once you have your Form I-20, you are ready for the next step – paying your SEVIS I-901 fee.

Before you leave for the United States, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the different kinds of documents you might need. It is always a good idea to carry your original documents at all times. Do not put them in your checked baggage.

It is also a good idea to make at least two sets of copies of these documents: one copy to leave with your family or friends before you depart and one copy to give to your school officials on their request. Here is a list of the important immigration documents for your entry:

Required documents

• Passports
• Visas
• Form I-20 / Form DS-2019

Strongly advised to also bring a copy of your:

• I-901 Fee Receipt
• Proof of financial ability
• Your Lamar University acceptance letter

Obtain these documents after your successful US entry:

• Most Recent Form I-94 (Will be available only after your port of entry admission)
• Border Crossing Cards (for qualifying citizens of Mexico)

If your school official has not given you a pre-arrival packet that explains the Form I-94, please consider reviewing the following: Form I-94 fact sheet and retrieval instructions

Arriving in the United States is a very important step which you should to prepare for. If you have everything ready, it should be a very smooth experience. The following documents give a good outline of the arrival processes and exceptions:

• How do I become an F or M student?
• What is Secondary Inspection?

If the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer at the port of entry cannot initially verify your information, or if you do not have all of the required documentation, you may be directed to an interview area known as “secondary inspection.” Secondary inspection allows inspectors to conduct additional research in order to verify information without causing delays for other arriving passengers.

The inspector will first attempt to verify your status by using the Student and Exchange and Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Failure to comply with U.S. government entry-exit procedures may result in your being denied entry to the United States. It is always the final decision of the CBP officer at your port of entry to allow entry to any visitor requesting admission into the US.

The port of entry gave me a Form I-515A. What does that mean?

Under certain circumstances, the CBP officer may issue a “Notice to Student or Exchange Visitor” Form (I-515A), which authorizes temporary admission into the United States. Work with your school without delay to submit the proper documentation required by the Form I-515A.

Form I-515A Tool Kit will help to ensure a smooth travel experience for International Students and Exchange Visitors.

You are permitted to enter the US no more than 30 days before the Program Start Date printed on your I-20, which is registered in SEVIS by an official at your school. The earliest date you will be allowed to enter the US is also printed directly on your I-20 as the “Earliest Admission Date,” which is only left blank on very select circumstances.

You must report to your school by your Program Start Date or you are not maintaining your status. We suggest that you contact your school immediately once you enter the country so that there is no question of your arrival.

To best prepare in maintaining your F-1 visa status on entry, we advise you to review our guidance on our webpage here.

If you cannot enter the United States for the term listed on your Form I-20 or if you will be late by a few days, immediately contact your school officials so that they can accurately reflect this information in your SEVIS record.

F-1 Students are eligible for a range of benefits while they study within the US. Some of these benefits are working during study, getting a Social Security number, training after your program is completed (OPT – optional practical training), and getting a driver’s license.


Social Security Number (SSN)

• F/M Nonimmigrants: Getting a Social Security Number

• Texas DPS – How to apply for a Texas Driver License
• Guidance on documents required for international students to obtain a Driver License

If you are an F student, you have the option of working in the United States by doing practical training during your program or after it ends. Click on one of the links below for more information.

• Practical Training – CPT, OPT and STEM
• OPT Guidance (PDF)
• STEM List

Working in the United States

• Pursuing Employment In The United States

Travel and Re-entry to the United States

• The F and M Visas: Official FAQ for Travel and Re-entry

Domestic applicants and some International applicants can qualify for in-state tuition rates based on their residency within the state of Texas. Certain visa and immigration status holders cannot qualify to in-state tuition based on residency alone, such as F-1 Student Visa holders. For a F-1 holder to qualify for in-state tuition rates, they must receive at least $1,000 per year in university scholarship.

In the effort to ensure we are lawfully following the published policies set by Lamar University and the rules and regulations set forth by the state of Texas and the United States, students cannot be automatically considered for exemption from our admission requirements.

English Proficiency test requirements will require that you meet one or more of the criteria listed by the Admission office on their webpage:

• Are from an English waiver country
• Have completed 48 credits of secondary/post-secondary school from an English waiver country
• Have completed 48 credits of secondary/post-secondary school, taught in English
• Have completed a level 112 of Intensive English at a U.S. institution
• Have completed English Composition I and II, or the equivalent, from an accredited US institution with a grade of "B" or better on a 4.0 scale.
• Have earned a degree from or have attended two consecutive years at an accredited U.S. institution.

Those asking for a possible exemption based on the list above should directly contact the Admissions Office to request the exemption.

Academic requirements (Transcripts, evaluations, SAT scores, etc.) will require extraordinary circumstances for exemption. Graduate applicants will need to petition their major’s academic department for a waiver of these requirements.