FAQ

ISSS can answer questions about the process of obtaining immigration documents. This takes place after you receive your offer of admission.

Questions about academic programs, the application process, and English language proficiency exam requirements should be directed to the Office of Admission.

The I-20 is the document F-1 students need from The New School in order to apply for the F-1 student visa; the DS-2019 is the document J-1 students need in order to apply for the J-1 student visa. You also need to present your I-20 or DS-2019 at the U.S. border along with your F-1 or J-1 visa and other supporting documents in order to enter the United States as an F-1 or J-1 student.

Please refer to our handout on the differences between F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors. At the time a student applies to ISSS for the I-20 or DS-2019, the member of the applications team reviewing the application will tell the student whether he or she is eligible for both F-1 student and J-1 exchange visitor status. After the student informs ISSS of his or her choice, ISSS will issue an I-20 for an F-1 student or a DS-2019 for a J-1 exchange visitor.

In your acceptance letter, you will find a link to iGlobal, The New School's portal for online service requests for international students. Once you reach this site, you will be asked to enter your New School Net ID and your password. Please follow the detailed instructions provided in the I-20 / DS-2019 Application Guide and read the Application FAQ.

If you will be coming to The New School for a degree program or as a visiting or exchange student, please complete the application form titled I-20 or DS-2019 Application.

If you will be coming to The New School for a program through Summer Intensive Studies or Open Campus, please complete the Summer Intensive Studies I-20 Application.

Submit your application at least three or four months before your intended start date, to leave extra time in case of visa delays. If you do not apply at least three or four months before your intended start date, you may face difficulty in arriving for the first day of classes if you are outside of the United States.

It takes 15 to 20 business days from the time a completed application is submitted in iGlobal for the I-20 or DS-2019 to be issued. A completed application includes correct documentation, including financial documents and confirmation from your financial sponsor (if applicable). Supporting documentation includes your passport, documents for dependents (if you are bringing any), financial documents (from you or your sponsor), and a SEVIS Transfer Form (if you need to have your SEVIS record transferred from another school to The New School). Business days are Monday through Friday; they do not include weekend days or holidays (check the ISSS homepage for a list of holidays).

U.S. government regulations require that educational institutions collect financial documentation from international students in order to issue an I-20 or DS-2019. The New School cannot waive or modify this requirement; all students (and their sponsors) must submit financial documentation.

For detailed information on tuition and fees for your program, please refer to the Tuition, Fees and Billing website.

If you wish to bring a spouse and/or children under the age of 21 with you, please complete the dependent e-form in the iGlobal application. You will need to provide ISSS with basic information about your dependents as well as a scan of the biographical page of their passports and proof of their relationship to you. This could be a marriage certificate for a spouse or a birth certificate for a child.

Only a spouse and/or children under the age of 21 can accompany you as dependents. Parents, grandparents, and other relatives are not eligible to come to the United States with you as F-2 or J-2 dependents. F-1 visa applicants pay $200; J-1 visa applicants pay $180.

When your I-20 or DS-2019 is issued, you will receive versions of these documents with which your dependents can apply for their own visas. Dependents of F-1 students apply for an F-2 dependent visa. Dependents of J-1 students apply for a J-2 dependent visa.

Regulations require all prospective F and J students to pay the I-901 Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee before the Department of State issues you a visa. To pay the I-901 SEVIS fee, visit fmjfee.com to access the SEVIS Form I-901. Watch the I-901 SEVIS fee payment tutorial to learn about each step of the payment process.

Schedule your visa appointment after you receive your original I-20 or DS-2019 and after you pay the I-901 fee. More information about the visa appointment can be found on the U.S. Department of State's website.

The earliest F-1 students can arrive is the date indicated on their I-20 under Earliest Admission Date.

The earliest J-1 exchange visitors can arrive is 30 days before the start date listed in Section 3 on their DS-2019.

If you are denied a visa, you will receive a formal notice from U.S. immigration authorities giving the reason and offering you the option of applying again with new information. If this happens, complete the visa denial support request in iGlobal, where you will upload the copy of the denial notice, so that we can provide you with additional support.

Please note that 221(g) administrative processing is not a visa denial and is now part of the standard process for F-1 and J-1 student visa applicants. Please see the next FAQ, "What happens if my F-1 or J-1 visa is delayed?"

Students may face visa delays because of security checks based on their field of study, name, country of birth, citizenship, or nationality. Most security checks are handled within 30 days. The New School cannot submit inquiries on behalf of visa applicants. 

All international student visa applicants can expect that during the current standard process, they will go through additional vetting as part of the 221(g) visa refusal, also known as administrative process. Applicants will be notified by the consular officer at the time of the interview that the application is going into Administrative Processing 221(g). Students will receive a document from the officer explaining this decision. This means that the officer will take additional time to review your application and conduct more detailed vetting. This process can take several days to several weeks to complete.

U.S. embassies and consulates may allow inquiries after 60 days. If 60 days have passed without a decision, visa applicants may attempt to independently contact the U.S. consulate to inquire about their case. The consulate will not permit outside entities to make requests or to influence the speed or outcome. 

For information on customized visiting programs, please refer to our Global Partnerships Office.

Students who plan to pursue a full-time course of study - including students accepted to the Parsons Summer Intensive Studies and Summer Studies in Constructed Environments programs - do not apply for a B-2 or F-2 visa. U.S. immigration regulations prohibit individuals who enter the United States as tourists (B-2) or dependents of F-1 students (F-2) from enrolling in a full-time course of study. In order to attend school in the United States, you must apply for your own F-1 or J-1 student status, even if you are living with a spouse, parent, or guardian who is in this country on a student visa. Otherwise, you will be in violation of your B-2 or F-2 status.

ISSS strongly recommends that students attending a program of study at The New School apply for an I-20 and an F-1 visa for their time in the United States. Since students who are registered for classes usually come to New York for the primary purpose of studying, spend most of their time in class, and earn college credit for the courses, F-1 status is the most appropriate non-immigrant status for them. In order for them to obtain an I-20 and an F-1 visa for their time in the United States, the program must be I-20- and F1 visa–eligible.

B-1 and B-2 as well as WB and WT (ESTA) and other tourist statuses impose strict restrictions on study; violating these restrictions can lead to problems with U.S. visas in the future. If your trip to the United States is not for the sole purpose of study and you will be a tourist taking a class that will not occupy most of your time in the country, a tourist visa might be appropriate. If you choose to study in the United States as a tourist, you do so at your own risk.

If you are unsure what status is appropriate for your visit to the United States and are not eligible to apply for F-1 or J-1 status, ISSS advises contacting your local U.S. consulate or embassy to ask what the most appropriate status for your case is and what requirements you must meet.

You must pay your tuition in full or sign up for a payment plan by the payment deadline set by the Office of Student Accounts to be eligible to move into on-campus housing (if applicable) and to remain enrolled in your classes. Please familiarize yourself with our payment policies, as well as what constitutes financial good standing, on the Tuition, Fees, and Billing page. All degree-seeking students can view their bill and pay online at MyNewSchool.