Information on acquiring or maintaining nonimmigrant student status (F-1 or J-1 student status) will be provided to newly admitted international students once they have been formally accepted to their graduate program. Applicants must first be accepted to their program of study, pay their enrollment deposit, and create their USDOne student account and email, before the Office of Graduate Admission will provide them with instructions on the F-1 or J-1 eligibility and application processes.
Frequently Asked Questions
International students admitted to the University of San Diego will be issued the Form I-20 (F-1 Certificate of Eligibility) or Form DS-2019 (J-1 Certificate of Eligibility) based on which status their admitted program of study qualifies them for. Students do not get to choose which visa status they will attend under.
F-1 Status
The F-1 student visa is the most common nonimmigrant status used by international students in the United States. The majority of international students at the University of San Diego use F-1 student status. Newly admitted students who meet the F-1 eligibility requirements will be issued the Form I-20, F-1 Certificate of Eligibility.
J-1 Status
The J-1 exchange student visa is used for students in specific educational exchange degree programs or under specific sponsorship circumstances. The following four graduate programs at the University of San Diego qualify international students for the J-1 exchange student visa:
- Master of Business Administration (MBA), international double degree with Tecnológico de Monterrey's EGADE Business School in Mexico
- Master of Business Administration (MBA), international double degree with WHU-Otto Beisheim Graduate School of Management in Germany
- Master of Science in Real Estate (MSRE), international double degree with the University of Regensburg International Real Estate Business School (IRE|BS) in Germany
- Master of Science in Conflict Management and Resolution (MSCMR) with selection by the Rotary Foundation as the Kroc School of Peace Studies Rotary Scholar (only one student selected each year)
Newly admitted students who meet the J-1 eligibility requirements will be issued the Form DS-2019, J-1 Certificate of Eligibility.
United States immigration law requires that all international students show documented evidence that they already possess sufficient funds to cover the estimated tuition, fees, and other living expenses for the first year of their studies at the University of San Diego. International students must prove this funding capability in order to receive their Certificate of Eligibility (Form I-20 for F-1 status, or Form DS-2019 for J-1 status) from the University.
International applicants should review the Estimated Cost of Attendance for the graduate program they are applying to so that they can prepare funding in advance. Note that all expenses are estimates only and are therefore subject to change. It is highly recommend that international students have additional funding beyond the minimum estimate shown.
While some scholarships are available, international students should not expect to rely on financial support from the University to meet the Proof of Funding requirement. Additionally, international students on a student visa cannot rely on off-campus employment to supplement their funding sources. International students should be ready to present evidence of sufficient funding for their first year of estimated expenses following their admission to the University.
After they are admitted to the University, have paid their enrollment deposit, and set up their USDOne student account and email, international students in need of F-1 or J-1 status to enter the United States will be provided instructions by the Office of Graduate Admission on how to receive their Certificate of Eligibility (Form I-20 or Form DS-2019) from the University. Students must submit immigration and financial information in order to receive their Certificate of Eligibility.
Once they have received their Certificate of Eligibility, the student must take that form to their local U.S. consulate or embassy as part of their visa application. Upon successful interview with the consular officer, the student will be granted the F-1 or J-1 visa stamp in their passport. Once the student has both their Certificate of Eligibility and their visa stamp, they may enter the United States within the 30 days before the program start date listed on their Certificate of Eligibility.
International students will be provided further instructions by the Office of Graduate Admission on the F-1 or J-1 eligibility and application processes after they have been formally admitted to the University.
Transferring from another institution to the University of San Diego
F-1 international students currently in the United States may be eligible to transfer their nonimmigrant record ("SEVIS record") to the University of San Diego from their current university. This applies to students who may be completing their undergraduate or graduate programs, or who are currently on post-completion OPT, and have been admitted to a University of San Diego graduate or doctoral program. This process is known as a SEVIS Transfer.
To be eligible for a SEVIS Transfer, F-1 students must be in good standing and considered to be maintaining F-1 status at their current university, and their program start date at the University of San Diego must be within 5 months of their last enrollment (Form I-20 end date) or post-completion OPT end date at their current university.
F-1 students in need of a SEVIS Transfer are still required to complete the regular F-1 eligibility requirements, including proof of funding, to receive their graduate or doctoral Form I-20 from the University of San Diego. SEVIS Transfer students will be provided further instructions by the Office of Graduate Admission on transferring their SEVIS record after they have been formally admitted to a University of San Diego graduate or doctoral program.
Current University of San Diego F-1 students
University of San Diego undergraduate or graduate students may be eligible for a Change of Educational Level Form I-20 following their admittance to a USD graduate or doctoral program. Change of Educational Level students must be in good standing and successfully maintaining their F-1 status, and their program start date for their new program at USD must be within 5 months of their last enrollment (Form I-20 end date) or post-completion OPT end date of their current program of study.
F-1 students in need of a Change of Educational Level are still required to complete the regular F-1 eligibility requirements, including proof of funding, to receive their graduate or doctoral Form I-20 from the University of San Diego. Change of Educational Level students will be provided further instructions by the Office of Graduate Admission on receiving their new Form I-20 after they have been formally admitted to a University of San Diego graduate or doctoral program.