Admissions: International Students

F-1 Student Visa Information

The University of San Diego School of Law is pleased to welcome attorneys, judges, and government officials from around the world to our LL.M. programs.  International students should plan to enter the United States on a valid F-1 student visa and must maintain their visa status at all times.

F-1 visa applicants are processed through the Student Exchange and Visitor Information (SEVIS) system, which is a web-based program that maintains information on international students (F/M visas) and exchange visitors (J visas), and their dependents, residing in the United States.  SEVIS helps U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers to quickly verify that students presenting themselves at our ports of entry are actual students and exchange visitors.

Please do not use a tourist visa to enter the United States to study. You will not be able to enroll in classes with a tourist visa and will have to return to your country to apply for a student visa.

The F-1 Student Visa Process

How do I obtain an F-1 student visa?

After you are admitted to an LL.M. program at the University of San Diego School of Law, please follow these steps to obtain an F-1 student visa:

• Submit to the Graduate Programs Office all documents required to receive a Certificate of Visa Eligibility (Form I-20), including proof of financial resources sufficient to cover the cost of attendance for one year
• Receive an original, signed Form I-20 from the Graduate Programs Office
• Once the I-20 is issued, the Office of International Students and Scholars will send you additional instructions
• Pay the SEVIS fee online
• Use the SEVIS number on the Form I-20 to make an appointment at the U.S. Consulate Office in your country
• Bring the following documents to your visa appointment: Form I-20, proof of SEVIS fee payment, financial documents, passport, and all other supporting documents required by the Consulate
• Receive an F-1 student visa from the U.S. Consulate

What Documents Are Required to Receive a Form I-20?

The following documents must be submitted to the Graduate Programs Office in order to receive an I-20:

• A completed Certification of Finances form documenting your ability to cover the estimated cost of attendance for one year, plus any required supporting bank documentation as explained below
• A copy of your current passport, and passports of all dependents who will accompany you, that will remain valid for at least six months after your program start date
• A completed International Student and Dependent Information Form, including full information about yourself and all dependents who will accompany you

How Do I Certify and Document My Finances?

Please provide financial certification based on the estimated cost of attendance for one year.  If you will be accompanied by dependents, you must also demonstrate your ability cover their expenses. All financial documents must be issued by the financial institution or sponsor not more than six months before your program start date.  The following types of documents may be used to support a certification of finances:

• Official documentation of scholarships and fellowships
• Documentation of personal funds on official bank letterhead
• Documentation of support from an employer on the employer’s official letterhead
• If someone else (such as a spouse, parent, or friend) will be supporting your education, you must submit a letter of support in the form of a legally binding affidavit, such as a notarized letter, that is accompanied by original documentation of funds on bank letterhead

All documents must be originals in English.  Photocopies are not acceptable.  The University will not issue a Form I-20 without appropriate documentation.

When Should I Apply for my F-1 Student Visa?

• You may apply for your visa up to 120 days prior to your program start date
• Visa processing times vary among U.S. Consulate Offices, and some offices experience frequent delays of weeks or even months in visa processing
• We encourage you to apply for your student visa as soon as possible to allow sufficient time for processing
• You may not enter the United States with your F-1 visa more than 30 days prior to the start date of your program

Where Can I Find More Information About the Form I-20 and the F-1 Student Visa?

More information about the F-1 student visa is available from the Office of International Students and Scholars.

• You may contact the Office of International Students and Scholars by email or telephone at (619) 260-4678 for additional information
• You may also contact the Graduate Programs Office by email or telephone at (619) 260-4596

What is the Cost of Attendance?

Federal regulations require that all international students enrolling at the University of San Diego School of Law provide proof of sufficient funds to cover the cost of tuition and living expenses during their academic program.

LL.M. – Fall 2009 – Spring 2010: Individual Student
Tuition Expenses (25 credits)	$31,875.00
Living Expenses (room & board)	$10,000.00
Other Expenses (including mandatory health insurance)	$5,300.00
Total Expenses (Fall and Spring Semester)	$47,175.00
Estimated expenses based on 10 months. All fees are in U.S. dollars and are subject to change.

 

LL.M. – Fall 2009 – Spring 2010: Individual Student + Spouse
Tuition Expenses (25 credits)	$31,875.00
Living Expenses (room & board)	$10,000.00
Other Expenses (including mandatory health insurance)	$5,300.00
Dependent Living Expenses - Spouse ($800.00/month)	$8,000.00
Total Expenses (Fall and Spring Semester)	$55,175.00
Estimated expenses based on 10 months. All fees are in U.S. dollars and are subject to change.

 

LL.M. – Fall 2009 – Spring 2010: Individual Student + Spouse + Child 1
Tuition Expenses (25 credits)	$31,875.00
Living Expenses (room & board)	$10,000.00
Other Expenses (including Mandatory Health Insurance)	$5,300.00
Dependent Living Expenses - Spouse ($800.00/month)	$8,000.00
Dependent Living Expenses - Child 1 ($250.00/month)	$2,500.00
Total Expenses (Fall and Spring Semester)	$57,675.00
Estimated expenses based on 10 months. All fees are in U.S. dollars and are subject to change. An additional $1,750.00 must be demonstrated for each additional dependent child.

 

J.D. – Fall 2009 – Spring 2010: Individual Student
Tuition Expenses (full-time)	$39,800.00
Living Expenses (room & board)	$12,000.00
Other Expenses (including Mandatory Health Insurance)	$5,300.00
Total Expenses (Fall and Spring Semester)	$57,100.00
Estimated expenses based on 10 months. All fees are in U.S. dollars and are subject to change.