New & Transfer Students

After you receive your Rush admission letter, please email International_Students@rush.edu for instructions on how to complete the I-20 Request Form. International students use the Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status” to pay their SEVIS fee, apply for a student visa, enter the United States and to apply for benefits after arrival.

Document Checklist - Below is a list of documents necessary to issue your I-20.

• Admission letter
• Copy of passport biographical page
• Proof of financial support
• TOEFL scores or waiver

SEVIS – the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System – is an electronic database used by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to maintain record of international students studying in the United States. There is a one-time fee for each record maintained in the system which you will need to pay. For more information about the SEVIS fee click here.

All nonimmigrant visitors, except Canadians, are required to have a visa to enter the United States. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of State website.

Steps to take:

1. Complete the DS – 160 Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application. You will need to upload a passport format photograph for the application.
2. Schedule an appointment for your visa interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country where you live. Check expected appointment wait time here.

Documents Checklist - Below is a list of documents to bring to your visa interview

• Passport – valid for at least six months beyond the program start date
• Form I-20, printed out and signed
• Rush admission letter, printed out
• Evidence of financial support, printed out
• I-901 SEVIS fee receipt, printed out

As an F-1 student you may not arrive in the United States more than 30 days before the start date on your I-20. If you plan to enter more than 30 days before your program start date you will need to enter as a visitor. You will then need to leave the U.S. and re-enter as a student within the 30 days prior to your program start date.

After securing your travel plans, please email them to international_students@rush.edu so we can anticipate your arrival.

Arriving in the US

Everyone arriving at a port-of-entry meets with a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer for inspection prior to picking up their luggage. The officer will ask you for the following documents, so please be sure to have them on you at all times:

• University issued I-20
• A valid passport (must be valid 6 months into the future)
• A valid F-1 visa

Due to an increase in screenings at the U.S. border, we recommend you also carry the following documents with you:

• Rush University admission letter
• Evidence of financial support

Entry stamp

The CBP Officer will stamp your travel document with an entry stamp. The entry stamp you receive should have a written “F-1” indicating your recorded entry status. It will also list an Admit Until Date (AUD), indicating the date when you must leave the US. The AUD will be determined based on your date of entry into the US, as follows:

• Prior to September 15, 2026, F students will be admitted to the United States for a period known as "Duration of Status (D/S)," which indicates the F student has been admitted for the duration of their academic program noted on the I-20.
• Beginning on or after September 15, 2026, F students will be admitted to the United States for a fixed period of time, up to the length of the student's program listed on their I-20, not to exceed four years, plus an additional 30 days for departure. The specific AUD will be listed on the form I-94. 

Form I-94

Customs and Border Protection keeps an electronic record, Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record, of everyone entering or leaving the United States. Visit the I-94 Website to download your I-94. You will provide the Office of International Students a copy of your I-94 at check-in, but will also want to keep a copy for your own records.

Getting from the airport

Finding Housing

Registering for classes

Attending New Student Orientation

Beginning on September 15, 2026, the US government has new limits on F students requesting to transfer to another institution:

• Undergraduate students cannot change educational levels during the first year of study, unless granted an exception by the US government.
• Graduate students cannot change educational levels at any point during their program of study, unless granted an exception by the US government.
• Additionally, students are prohibited from the following after completion of a program of study:
  • Changing to a program of study at a lower educational level (e.g., moving from master's program to a bachelor's program); or
  • Changing to a program of study at the same educational level (e.g., moving from a master's program to a master's program).
• Students who wish to enroll in a program at a higher educational level after completing their original program of study must apply for an extension of stay. Please continue reading for details.

Here are the steps for transferring an I-20 to Rush University:

1. Be admitted to an academic program at Rush University.
2. Promptly email international_students@rush.edu for the full I-20 request form instructions. You will be required to provide a copy of your passport biographic page, current I-20, visa, I-94, proof of financial support, Rush University admission letter, and TOEFL score (if applicable).
3. Beginning on September 15, 2026, students will need to formally request an Extension of Stay (EOS) (after receiving their new I-20) when requesting to transfer between schools. This involves several steps, including paying a fee. An EOS request is subject to the approval of US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). Details will be provided when your I-20 is issued by Rush University.

Always remember, F-1 students are subject to strict timelines when your SEVIS record/immigration record is transferred to Rush. For this reason, be sure to contact International Student Services if you have any questions on timelines. 

Transfer students who are planning international travel should contact International Student Services first. While waiting for an Extension of Stay (EOS) to be adjudicated by USCIS, a student must be available to respond to a Request for Evidence (RFE) or other requests from USCIS while outside of the US. Failure to respond to an RFE may result in a denial of an EOS application.

If you will be traveling between school programs and your visa is not valid, please plan to apply for a new visa while in your home country.

If you are planning on transferring from Rush to attend another institution, please email International Student Services who will assist you in determining the possibility of doing so along with any required next steps.