Applying for a Visa

All nonimmigrant visitors are required to have a valid visa (*except Canadians) in their passport to be allowed entry into the United States. For general information, see the U.S. Department of State website.

• An appointment for a visa interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad is required for F/J visas. As of Sept 2, 2025 interview waivers are no longer available for those visa categories.
• Visas cannot be issued inside the United States. You must be physically present in the country in which you are applying for the visa.
• Applicants for F/J visas should schedule their visa interview appointments at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in their country of nationality or residence. (Rare exceptions may also be made for humanitarian or medical emergencies or foreign policy reasons.)
• Residence Requirement:  Applicants must be able to demonstrate residence in the country where they are applying, if the place of application is based on their residency.
• Nationals of countries where the U.S. government is not conducting routine nonimmigrant visa operations must apply at the designated embassy or consulate, unless their residence is elsewhere.  
• The maximum length of the visa and number of entries is determined by the visa category and country of citizenship. See the Reciprocity Table for your country of citizenship and the visa category for more information.
• What if I choose to schedule an appointment outside of my country of ationality or residence anyway? Applicants who schedule nonimmigrant interviews at a U.S. embassy or consulate outside of their country of nationality or residence might find that it will be more difficult to qualify for the visa.  Fees paid for such applications will not be refunded and cannot be transferred.Wait times for nonimmigrant interview appointments vary by location.  Applicants applying outside their country of nationality or residence should expect to wait significantly longer for an appointment.

F-1 and J-1 Visas

Do the following to get an F-1 or J-1 entry visa:

1. Obtain a valid I-20 (F-1) or DS-2019 (J-1) from UC Berkeley by completing the NIF (degree-seeking and UCEAP students) or being invited by a UC Berkeley department or lab as a J-1 Exchange Visitor
2. Check the current wait times for visa appointments and issuance in your city.
3. Pay the SEVIS Fee, if applicable.
4. Complete the Visa Application form DS-160 and pay the DS-160 fee. (Note that some applicants may pay an additional Visa Reciprocity fee, acording to their visa category and nationality.)
5. Make a visa appointment and go to an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate. (See below for required documents.)

Visa Appointments

Read the U.S. Department of State website for more information about the visa application process and Temporary Visitors to the U.S. New initial students/scholars may apply for a visa up to 365 days in advance of their program start date. 

Visa Interviews & Required Documents

When going to the visa interview, bring:

• Passport (valid at least six months into the future)
• Valid Certificate of Eligibility I-20 (F-1) or DS-2019 (J-1) 
• Proof of admission (F/J new students) or proof of enrollment (F/J currently enrolled students) or UC Berkeley appointment letter ( J scholars)
• Evidence of Financial Support (F/J Enrolled EAP or Degree-Seeking Students)
• Evidence of financial support (J scholars) 
• Visa application forms and fees
• SEVIS Fee receipt (F-1 and J-1 only)
• F-1 Students on OPT or STEM OPT Extension do not require proof of enrollment, but they must also bring an unexpired EAD card and a job offer letter or current employment verification letter.
• J-1 Students on  post-completion J-1 Academic Training will need the J-1 AT DS-2019 and job offer letter or current employment verification letter.
• F-1/J-2  spouse or child dependents will need their own  F-1 I-20 or J-2 DS-2019 and copies of all of the primary F-1/J-1's documents

Some consulates may require additional documentation, so check the consulate website for visa application instructions. Visa application forms and fees can be found on the consulate website.

Visa Wait Times

Since visa appointments are limited and visa processing times can be lengthy, make your appointment as early as possible. Consulates will generally accept appointments up to 120 days prior to the start of studies. There may be long waiting periods for appointments, especially May through August. However, consulates may give priority to F-1 and J-1 student applicants, if requested.

Additional Information

Increased Visa Screening

Be mindful of your social media presence!

The DS-160 visa application includes specific questions requiring you to list all social media platforms, identifiers, and handles used in the previous 5 years. 

The DS-160 may also require:

• Point of Contact in the US? F/J Enrolled Students should use the Berkeley International Office contact address and phone and provide the name of the DSO/ARO who issued your I-20/DS-2019.  J-1 Scholars should use the name and contact information from their host department.
• Address Where You will Stay in the US? If you don't know your U.S address, use the address you will use when you first arrive in the US, which might be a temporary address like a hotel or friend.
• Five years of previously used telephone numbers, email addresses, and international travel
• Admission of all prior immigration violations
• Whether specified family members have been involved in terrorist activities

Administrative Processing

In some cases, the consulate may require  administrative processing on the visa application.  A visa may be approved, but cannot be issued until the administrative processing is complete. It is common for administartive processing to take a couple of weeks to a couple of months. If you are subject to a adminisatrtive processing and have concerns about your arrival date, please email Berkeley International Office at InternationalOffice@berkeley.edu so we can advise on the implications of a delayed arrival.