Immigration & Visa Process
Do not use a tourist visa to enter the United States to study at Smith. If you do not already have a U.S. visa valid for study in the U.S., Smith College will need to sponsor you to obtain one. The most common visa students use is the F-1 student visa. For information about other visas for studying at Smith, please contact us.
Getting Your F-1 Student Visa
Collect Documents
You must request an F-1 Visa to enter the United States for the purpose of study at Smith as a full-time student in a degree program. In order to obtain an F-1 student visa, you will need to collect a series of paperwork from our office and other places to apply for your visa at home.
Below are the documents you'll need, in the order you will collect them.
Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your entry date into the U.S.. If you do not already own a passport or will need to renew it, please apply for one as soon as possible. The ISSO will need a copy of the picture page in your passport when you send in your documents to us—that way we can ensure that the visa paperwork we issue matches your passport exactly.
For those receiving aid from the college, you will need to bring your award letter to your visa appointment. Student Financial Services will mail this to you in early May, along with your Certification of Finances.
When you are admitted, you will receive a copy of Smith’s Certification of Finances. For those receiving financial aid from the college, it will have your aid package preprinted on the form. For those not receiving financial aid, the ISSO will send out a blank form to you in late April or early May. The form must be completed, signed, and sent to the ISSO by June 1 to ensure timely processing. We will mail back a copy of your completed Certification of Finances for your visa interview.
When you fill out your Certification of Finances, make sure you provide a complete and legible address, including a postal code and telephone number so that we can send the I-20 to you using a courier service.
You’ll send the ISSO financial documentation to ensure that you and your family can cover the costs of Smith College. Be sure to keep a copy of them for yourself as well, as they may be reviewed during your visa appointment.
Once we have your Certification of Finances and any accompanying financial documents, showing that you and your family have the resources to pay for your Smith education, we will create and mail you your I-20, a Certificate of Eligibility for your F-1 visa.
All I-20 forms for the entering class, including early admitted students, will be issued in late May and early June, provided our office has received all necessary paperwork from you.
Once you have received your I-20, you will need to pay a one-time online payment of $350. This is known as the “SEVIS fee” and payment of this fee activates your account in SEVIS (Student Exchange Visitor Information System). Pre-payment of this fee is required to ensure that your visa appointment goes smoothly. In most countries this payment can be made online at www.fmjfee.com.
Please note: If your financial aid package includes a "SEVIS fee grant," this will be awarded to you upon arrival at Smith. It will be processed as a credit on your financial account, reducing the amount that you will need to pay in each of your first two semesters. You are responsible for the up-front cost of your SEVIS I-901 fee, regardless of Financial Aid status.
Contact International Students and Scholars
125 Wright Hall
Smith College
Northampton, MA USA
Phone: 413-585-7598 Email: interstu@smith.edu
Open office hours: Schedule a meeting with Dean Caitlin or with Claire Seely when it’s convenient for you!