Visa Information

Students will need a student visa to enter the United States to study. Most students enter the country on an F-1 student visa. A Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status (Form I-20) is issued to students for entry to the United States. To study on an F-1 visa, students must be enrolled in a full-time degree program (at least 12 credit hours per semester at Texas Lutheran University).

For students currently living outside the United States, Texas Lutheran University will mail a Form I-20 to document that they have been admitted to TLU and have submitted the required deposit, transcripts and financial support documentation.

To apply for an F-1 visa, students will need to go to the U.S. Consulate or Embassy nearest them. They will need the Form I-20, current passport, financial support documentation, proof that they have a permanent residence outside the United States, and one or more passport-type photographs.

In some countries, this process takes longer than others. Students must be sure to allow enough time to acquire a visa and to be able to purchase airline tickets and arrive before the report date on the Form I-20.

For further information on immigration matters, consult the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS) Web site.