Students
There are many types of international students at UIC studying on different visas. The exact visa you need often depends on a combination of your academic program and funding source. OIS will help you figure out, based on your situation, which type of visa you will need and how to obtain it. If you already hold an immigration status that allows for study in the U.S., OIS can explain how to report that status to our office.
Send your questions about obtaining your visa or reporting your status to the New International Student Team at newintl@uic.edu.
Common immigration statuses for UIC international students
While most international students studying at UIC do so on an F-1 visa, there are specific situations that necessitate a different immigration status. The tabs below outline the basics of the most common international student statuses at UIC and scenarios in which they might be appropriate. In all cases, admitted students work with OIS to either obtain UIC-sponsored immigration documents or report their status if sponsored by an external entity. See below for details.
F-1 Student
F-1 is the most common visa status used for study in the U.S. and at UIC. Applicants for an F-1 visa must show evidence of funding equal to one year of study in their chosen academic program and that funding can come from private and University sources. F-1 students must maintain full-time enrollment and are eligible for limited work authorization both during and after program completion.
J-1 EV Student
The J-1 Exchange Visitor Student status is less common but is most often used for students in specific educational exchange programs such as UIC Exchange, Fulbright, LASPAU, and others. General, degree-seeking students may also qualify for J-1 EV Student status if 51% or more of the funding for their entire program comes from non-personal sources such as government programs or agencies. J-1 EV Students must maintain full-time enrollment and are eligible for limited work authorization both during and after program completion. J-1 EV Students may be subject to the Two-Year Home Residency Requirement and/or the 12-Month Bar.
F-2 Dependent
F-2 dependents are eligible to study in postsecondary degree programs while in the U.S. so long as the number of credits taken per term is below the full-time study requirement for F-1 status. If an F-2 dependent wishes to study full-time in a postsecondary academic or vocational program, they must obtain a change of status prior to enrolling full-time.
J-2 Dependent
J-2 dependents are eligible for full-time, degree-seeking study in the U.S. as long as the primary Exchange Visitor continues to maintain their valid J-1 status.
H-4 Dependent
H-4 dependents are eligible to study full-time or part-time in postsecondary degree programs so long as the primary H-1B visa holder maintains status. However, H-4 dependents are not eligible for F-1 work authorization benefits such as on-campus employment or practical training. Additionally, H-4 dependent children do “age out” of status eligibility at 21.
Pending U.S. Permanent Residency
Students with approved or pending U.S. Permanent Residency (green card) are eligible to study in postsecondary degree programs in the U.S. Students in pending status may wish to maintain their underlying status by enrolling according to that status’ regulations until permanent residency is approved. However, final guidance on this matter should come from the attorney or agency handing the permanent residency case.
Other statuses
Individuals in the U.S. in other statuses may be eligible to enroll at UIC in degree-seeking programs. If you are unsure about your eligibility to study, please contact the individual or entity that advises or sponsors your current status, or reach out to the New International Student Team at newintl@uic.edu.
How to obtain your UIC Form I-20/DS-2019 or report your current visa status to OIS
Click your academic program below to view your steps to obtain a visa or report your current U.S. visa status to OIS.
UIC Undergraduate or Graduate Student
Once you are admitted to an undergraduate or graduate degree program at UIC, you may begin the process of obtaining the UIC Form I-20 or DS-2019 necessary to apply for your F-1 or J-1 student visa. If you already hold an immigration status valid for study in the U.S., you must report that to OIS as well.
- Download and complete the Declaration & Certification of Finances (DCF) for International Students. All admitted international students must complete the DCF, even those not pursuing sponsorship from UIC. The DCF must be signed by you and your financial sponsors (if applicable) and cannot be substituted by any other affidavits of support.
- Gather your evidence of funding. If you are requesting immigration sponsorship from UIC, you must show evidence of funding according to your proposed visa status. Students requesting a Form I-20 for F-1 visa status are required to show evidence of funding for one academic year. Students requesting a Form DS-2019 for J-1 visa status are required to show evidence of funding for the entire duration of the exchange program. Funding may come from multiple sources but must meet the account type and documentation requirements linked below. Learn more.
- Copy your passport biographical page. If you currently hold a valid U.S. visa, copy those pages as well.
- Complete the SEVIS Transfer Verification Form (TVF), if needed. The TVF is only necessary if you are currently in the U.S. in valid F-1 or J-1 status and wish to transfer your active SEVIS record to UIC.
- Upload your OIS Documents to your Application Summary Page. Gather all required documents noted above and create PDFs of each. Upload your OIS Documents to the checklist located on your undergraduate or graduate application summary page.
Fulbright Students
Prospective Foreign Fulbright Students wishing to join UIC should apply for the program through their home country’s Fulbright Commission or the U.S. Embassy in their home country. Please visit the Fulbright website for more information on getting started. OIS does not issue immigration paperwork for inbound Fulbright students since sponsorship in the J-1 Exchange Visitor status is provided directly by Fulbright.
UIC Exchange Program Student
Students participating in the UIC Exchange Program typically study on a J-1 visa. If you are applying to be an incoming exchange student, you will receive detailed instructions on how to request an initial DS-2019 after your home institution coordinator submits the required program nomination form.
UIC Global Program Student
Students admitted to non-degree and degree programs through UIC Global will apply for and obtain their UIC Form I-20 as part of the UIC Global admission process.
International MD Students
International students admitted to the MD program through the College of Medicine will receive instructions on how to prepare and submit documentation for I-20/DS-2019 issuance after admission is finalized.
Tutorium for Intensive English Student
If you plan to study an intensive English program at the Tutorium, you must obtain a UIC I-20 from OIS and F-1 visa prior to the program start date. You can submit your OIS Documents at the same time as your Tutorium application, or after admission. However, know that OIS cannot review your documents until you have been officially admitted as a Tutorium student. If you already hold an immigration status valid for study in the U.S., you must report that to OIS as well.
- Download and complete the Declaration & Certification of Finances (DCF) for International Students. All admitted international students must complete the DCF, even those not pursuing sponsorship from UIC. The DCF must be signed by you and your financial sponsors (if applicable) and cannot be substituted by any other affidavits of support.
- Gather your evidence of funding. If you are requesting immigration sponsorship from UIC, you must show evidence of funding according to your proposed visa status and program length. Funding may come from multiple sources but must meet the amount and account types outlined on the Tutorium website.
- Copy your passport biographical page. If you currently hold a valid U.S. visa, copy those pages as well.
- Complete the SEVIS Transfer Verification Form (TVF), if needed. The TVF is only necessary if you are currently in the U.S. in valid F-1 or J-1 status and wish to transfer your active SEVIS record to UIC.
- Upload your OIS Documents to your Application Summary Page. Gather all required documents noted above and create PDFs of each. Upload your OIS Documents to the checklist located on your Tutorium application summary page.
International student funding and financial documentation requirements
If you are requesting a UIC Form I-20 or DS-2019, you will need to submit evidence of funding as part of your OIS Documents. The amount of funding you need to show will vary depending on your academic program and whether or not you are applying for F-1 or J-1 status and the documentation must meet specific requirements. Even if you are not applying for UIC sponsorship, it can be helpful to view the estimated cost of tuition, fees, and living expenses for an average student in your program.
Applying for your visa
Once you have received your I-20 or DS-2019 from UIC you can take the next step which is to apply for an F-1 or J-1 visa at the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
Arriving to UIC
Once you have obtained your student visa or reported your current immigration status to OIS, you can start planning your journey to Illinois. Before You Leave Home will help with your pre-departure to-do list and Arriving in the U.S. discusses what to expect at the U.S. Port of Entry. All new members of the UIC international community are required to complete an Immigration Check-In with OIS after Arriving to UIC. F-1 and J-1 international students are not allowed to register for classes until the immigration check-in is complete.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about obtaining an initial UIC Form I-20/DS-2019 or reporting your immigration status to OIS.
How long does it take to process my OIS Documents and obtain my UIC Form I-20/DS-2019?
Remember that OIS can only begin reviewing your documents after your admission has been confirmed. Once you are admitted and have submitted your OIS Documents, they will be reviewed within five business days. After the review period, you will either receive feedback through your Application Summary Check-list on required edits to your OIS Documents, or you will receive an email outlining your options for receiving your Form I-20 or DS-2019.
Can I submit my OIS Documents before I am fully admitted?
Yes, you are welcome to submit your OIS Documents prior to admission. However, please remember that OIS cannot review your OIS Documents until your admission is confirmed.
I already hold a valid status that allows for study in the U.S. and do not need to request a UIC Form I-20 or DS-2019. Do I still need to submit OIS Documents?
Yes, if you already hold valid visa status other than F-1/J-1 that allows for study in the U.S., and wish to remain in that status while studying at UIC, you still need to upload certain OIS Documents:
- Declaration & Certification of Finances (DCF) – Complete page one only and sign on page two.
- Copy your passport biographical page – Including your name and personal information.
- Evidence of current status – Photocopy of your current visa stamp or I-797 Change of Status Approval Notice.
Please upload these as OIS Documents to your undergraduate or graduate Application Summary Page.
How do I request an I-20 or DS-2019 for my dependent?
A spouse or unmarried, minor child (under age 21) is eligible for a dependent visa (F-2 or J-2). Extended family members such as parents and siblings are not eligible for a dependent visa.
To request an I-20/DS-2019 for your dependent:
- When filling out your Declaration and Certification of Finances (DCF) form, complete section three, Dependent Information.
- Submit financial documents that demonstrate you have funding to support your dependents in addition to your program of study. For one dependent, you must show $6,489 for one academic year. For each additional dependent, you must show $4,635. Please note that students requesting a DS-2019 must show evidence of funding for the entire duration of the academic program.
- Passport copy of each dependent.
How do I defer my admission to a later semester?
Students may decide to defer their admission to UIC for many reasons, such as a delay in obtaining a visa or a personal situation. If you would like to defer your admission to a later semester, you must contact your academic department. Your academic department will inform you of the proper procedures to request academic deferral. The Office of International Services cannot initiate an academic deferral on your behalf.
After you have communicated with your academic department, please notify OIS of your plan by emailing the New International Student Team at newintl@uic.edu. If your request for academic deferral is approved, it will appear in the University system, at which time OIS will begin the process of deferring your immigration document (I-20/DS-2019) by reevaluating your OIS Documents.
If the financial documents you submitted are still valid (i.e. dated within six months of the reevaluation date), OIS will amend the start date on your I-20/DS-2019 to align with your new term of admission and contact you with options for receiving your new document.
If your financial documents are more than six months old, OIS will request updated financial documents before issuing the I-20/DS-2019. If you are funded through your department, OIS will request an updated letter from your department.
Please contact the New International Student Team at newintl@uic.edu if you have any questions about deferring your immigration document.