Pre-College Programs

Visa and Immigration Guide

  • The F-1 visa allows a student to temporarily live in the United States for a defined period of time while studying at a school, college, seminary or conservatory.

    The requirements for an F-1 visa are:

    • Must apply and be accepted into a course of study at a SEVP-approved school in the United States. USC Summer Programs is a SEVP-approved school.
    • Must be enrolled as a full-time student at the SEVP-approved school in the United States.
    • Must be proficient in English or be enrolled in courses leading to English proficiency.
    • Must have proof of sufficient financial funds to support study in the United States.
    • Must have ties to the home country that show an intent to return after studying in the United States.
    • Must live outside the United States when applying for the F-1 visa.

  • The I-20 form confirms a student’s acceptance at a U.S. school and, therefore, confirms their eligibility for the F-1 visa. Once an I-20 form has been issued, the student will use it to apply for an F-1 visa.

    For USC to issue an I-20 form, the student must first submit a valid passport and a document of financial support. Because the visa process can be lengthy, we strongly suggest submitting all documents in the application portal as soon as possible and no later than March 30, 2026.

    Students who do not submit their passport and financial support document by the March 30 deadline will be dropped from the program.

    I-20 processing generally takes 10 business days. Once the student receives the I-20 form, they may then make an appointment with the nearest U.S. embassy.

    Canadian citizens do not need a visa; however, they will still need an I-20 to enter the United States and will, therefore, still need to undergo the I-20 request process.

Once the deposit has been submitted, new tasks to be completed will appear on the Status Page within the application portal. One of these tasks will be labeled “International Student Form.” Complete the form and submit the required documents, as instructed.

International students (non-U.S. citizen, non-U.S. permanent resident) will fall into one of three status categories. Students should check the categories below to understand which documents are required of them and when these documents are due: 

  • Category #1: International student planning to enter the U.S. on an F-1 student visa and a USC I-20.
  • Category #2: International student with a valid visa status other than F-1. These students DO NOT need a USC I-20. Please note: B1/B2/F2/ESTA are NOT valid statuses for full-time study.
  • Category #3: International student currently studying in the U.S under another institution’s I-20. These students DO NOT need a USC I-20.

All submitted images must be clearly legible and complete (no cut-off edges).

Students in this category will need to submit the following documents within the International Student Form in order to obtain a USC I-20.

  1. Passport
  2. Financial Document (see below)

Students should upload their documents as soon as possible, so that they may receive their I-20 as soon as possible. They will need the I-20 form to apply for an F-1 visa. USC Summer Programs does not have any control over embassy wait times, which can sometimes take three months or more. The final deadline to submit the passport and financial support documentation is March 30, 2026. Failure to provide these documents by the deadline will result in the student’s program cancellation. 

Once submitted, please wait at least 10 business days for USC’s Office of International Services to process the I-20. Students will be notified when it is ready via their personal email.

  • The U.S. government requires international students on a student (F-1) visa to provide proof of the ability to pay the program’s tuition and fees. Documentation must show that the student has the funds to cover the cost of the program, estimated at $12,208. Example documentation includes a recent savings or checking account bank statement, or a signed bank letter verifying the ability to pay the program’s tuition and fees. Please follow these instructions exactly as outlined. Any deviation, such as not supplying an English translation or currency conversion, will lead to processing delays.

    When submitting a bank statement, please refer to the following requirements:

    • If the bank statement is not in English, provide a translation.
    • Funding should be in U.S. dollars. If not, use a website like xe.com to convert currency amounts, take a screenshot of the page and include it with the bank statement. Please enter the exact amount of money shown on your bank statement into the conversion tool (see the image below).
    • Funds must be readily available. Your bank statement must show the total balance of the checking or savings account at that current point in time. (No investments, stocks, mutual funds, non-USC income letters.)
    • Statement must be no older than three months from date submitted.
    • Online bank statements must indicate the account holder and identify the type of account.
    • Please combine all documents (the statement, the translation, the currency conversation, if applicable) into one PDF.
    Two screenshots show currency conversions on xe.com comparing correct and incorrect examples. The top section, marked with a green checkmark, shows a conversion of ¥100,000.00 Chinese yuan to $13,925.354 U.S. dollars, indicating a correct and properly scaled conversion. The bottom section, marked with a red “X,” shows a conversion of ¥1.00 Chinese yuan to 0.13925354 U.S. dollars, representing an incorrect way to make a money conversion.
    In the “Amount” field, enter the amount shown on the bank statement (or letter from the bank) and convert that amount to USD so that the amount shown on the bottom displays the total bank funds in USD. Please do not simply enter a “1” in the “Amount” field.
    Two screenshots show currency conversions on xe.com with two incorrect examples. The top section, marked with a red “X,” shows a conversion of $13,000 U.S. dollars into ¥92,562.19 Chinese yuan. The bottom section, marked with a red “X,” shows a conversion of $1.00 U.S. dollars into ¥7.12 Chinese yuan.
    Make sure to enter your country’s currency into the “Amount” field, rather than USD.

    When submitting a letter from the bank, please refer to the following requirements:

    • The letter must be printed on bank letterhead and signed by a bank representative.
    • Please use the sample letter below as a guide.

  • [Official Letterhead]

     

    [Date]

    To whom it may concern:

    We hereby declare that our client [Full Name] who is the [Relationship] to [Student’s Name] has enough funds with us, free of any restrictions as of today, to cover the cost of [Student’s Name]’s educational expenses of at least $12,208.

    This letter aims to provide information and is not intended to be legally binding. It cannot be construed as an engagement, undertaking, commitment, guarantee, liability or responsibility of any kind whatsoever on our part.

    Signed,

    [Bank Information]

    • Verify that the information in the I-20 form is correct
      • Verify the name, birth date, country of birth and country of citizenship
      • If the information is correct, print the entire document, read the information and then sign and date in the provided spaces on page 1.
      • If a mistake is found, mark it and notify visa.sp@usc.edu immediately. We will correct the mistake and send the corrected I-20 to the student as soon as possible.
    • Pay mandatory SEVIS I-901 fee
      • Every international student who wishes to begin an “initial” program of study is required to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee.
      • Students will need information from their I-20 when paying the fee.
      • Print the fee payment receipt to present at the visa interview and at the U.S. Port of Entry.
    • Complete the DS-160 visa application
      • Be as accurate as possible with any questions asked and do not submit the application until it is complete.
      • When finished, print the confirmation page with the barcode.
      • To obtain the most accurate information on the visa application and interview process, international students should review the website for the U.S. consulate/embassy where they will schedule the visa interview.
    • Schedule and complete a visa interview at your U.S. embassy/consulate
      • Appointment wait times can be lengthy. Please check the estimated wait time for a visa interview at any U.S. embassy or consulate by visiting the U.S. Department of State website.
      • Bring the following documents to the visa appointment:
        • All three pages of the signed USC I-20
        • Confirmation receipt showing completed non-immigrant visa application form DS-160 with the assigned ID number
        • Passport valid for at least six months after the proposed date of entry into the U.S.
        • Visa processing fee payment receipt (this fee is paid and receipt is issued when students go to the U.S. embassy/consulate to apply for the student visa)
        • SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
        • Proof of funding for the amount listed on I-20
        • Use these interview tips during the visa interview.
    • Upload the following documents into the application portal. These tasks will be on the Status Page checklist until completed.
      • PDF of the F-1 visa
      • PDF of the SEVIS payment receipt
      • PDF of the signed I-20 (first page)

    For more information about the visa process, please visit USC’s Office of International Services website.

Though most students will need to enter the U.S. on an F-1 visa, there are other acceptable immigration statuses in which a student may study at USC Summer Programs. Students in this category will need to submit the following documents within the International Student Form.

  1. Passport
  2. Valid visa*

* Please note: A “B” visa is a tourist visa and is not acceptable for study at USC Summer Programs. An “F-2” visa is only eligible for part-time study and is not acceptable for USC Summer Programs.

The final deadline to submit documentation for Category #2 is March 30, 2026. Failure to provide these documents by the deadline will result in the student’s program cancellation.

Students who are already in the U.S. with an F-1 visa that was obtained with another school’s I-20 need not request a new USC I-20. Category #3 students will need to submit the following documents within the International Student Form.

  1. Passport
  2. Permission letter signed by a school official on school letterhead or with the school logo. See the example letter below to see what information needs to be included in the permission letter.

The final deadline to submit documentation for Category #3 is March 30, 2026. Failure to provide these documents by the deadline will result in the student’s program cancellation.

  • [Official Letterhead]

     

    [Date]

    To USC Summer Programs,

    This letter confirms that [Student’s Name], who has been accepted for the University of Southern California Summer Programs from [Start Date] to [End Date], is able to attend the program based on their current SEVIS I-20 issued by [Name of Current School]. The current high school year will end on [End Date] and the next school year will begin on [Start Date]. This student is in good standing and has met all the academic, financial and personal responsibilities to the school. The student will graduate with their class in [Graduating Year].

    The student’s immigration data is listed below:

    Full Name: ––––––––––––––

    Preferred Name: ––––––––––––––

    Date of Birth (mm/dd/year): ––––––––––––––

    Passport Country: ––––––––––––––

    Passport #: ––––––––––––––

    SEVIS #: ––––––––––––––

    Sincerely,

    [Signature of High School Official]

    [Name of High School Official]

    [Title of High School Official]

    [Phone and Email of High School Official]

  • Students may enter the United States up to 30 days before the program start date listed on the USC I-20. 

    Students should ensure that the following documents are in their carry-on luggage and ready to present to the immigration officer at the airport:

    • Passport
    • Visa
    • Form I-20 (if visa is F-1)
    • Canadian and Bermudian citizens must proactively show their I-20 at the Port of Entry to avoid being stamped in as a tourist. The officer will not ask to see it; the student is responsible for showing the document during the checkpoint.
    • SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt (if visa is F-1)

    Please check the U.S. Department of State’s travel information for the latest information on U.S. entry restrictions and requirements

  • Upon a traveler’s entry into the U.S., immigration officials may attach a paper I-94 to the traveler’s visa. If they do, please keep this form safe, as you may need it to leave the country. USC Summer Programs will make copies of the paper I-94 and/or the stamp in the passport during check-in.

    However, most travelers will not receive a paper I-94, as this process has become mostly electronic. In this case, after entering the U.S., travelers may go to the DHS website, download their I-94 and bring it to check-in.

  • All international students at USC must undergo the International Student Verification process (ISV). The USC Summer Programs staff will help students through this process at check-in. ISV ensures that the student has entered the country with the correct visa status. 

    If it is found that the student has entered the country on an incorrect visa status, the student will be required to undergo a Deferred Inspection by Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

    Staff will also help students:

    • Verify their DUO MOBILE access
    • Secure or verify a U.S. phone number

    What to Bring to Check-In:

    • Passport
    • Visa (or proof of valid immigration status, including current institution permission letter)
    • Signed I-20 (if under an F-1 visa)
    • I-94
    • NetID and password