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

Meet health requirements: All F-1 visa students studying within the United States must meet De Anza College's F-1 Visa Health Requirements, including

    • Proof of a blood test for tuberculosis (TB) and
    • Proof of immunity for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)

Please contact Student Health Services for any TB- or MMR-related questions.

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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