F-1 Visa Admitted Student Checklist

Congratulations on your admission to De Anza College! Below is a checklist to use as guidance as you apply for your visa and prepare for arrival in the U.S. 

Step 1

Review your student status checklist in the ISP admission portal for additional items that may be required after admission, including the I-20 Request Form.

Step 2

Once you receive your I-20, pay for the SEVIS fee at fmjfee.com

Step 3

Apply for your F-1 visa. Visit the U.S. State Department's student visa website for more information.
Note: Canadian citizens do not need to apply for a visa, but must pay the SEVIS fee and will need to show proof of payment at port of entry to the United States.

Step 4

Schedule your F-1 visa interview with the U.S. Embassy. To locate a U.S. Embassy near you, please visit usembassy.gov/

Step 5

Arrange for housing: De Anza College does not have on-campus housing. You may contact the ISP Homestays Program to arrange a homestay, or you can rent your own place. Please visit the Housing Resourcews webpage for more details.

Step 6

Review health recommendations: We recommend that all F-1 students stay up to date on routine health screenings and vaccines as outlined by the CDC and California Department of Public Health. 
 
In order to participate in some programs or services, including student housing, you may be required to submit proof of certain screenings or immunizations, such as a negative TB test and MMR vaccines. These can be obtained using your F-1 student health insurance at the Health Services office on campus or a local in-network provider.
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Step 7

Purchase your plane ticket to San Francisco (SFO) or San Jose (SJC) airport. 

    • Try to arrive a few days before the mandatory orientation date in order to rest and recover from jet lag before the busy orientation schedule.
    • You can arrange for airport pick-up service through ISP Homestays or you can take a taxi or a shuttle bus to your destination. Ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft are also available at both airports.

Step 8 

Attend mandatory orientation events and register for classes.  For more details about orientation, see our orientation web page. 

Step 9

Join us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram to meet new and current students and to receive updates about orientation, campus activities, on-campus jobs and much more!

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