I. Transferring to your school

· Once you have decided to enroll, your university will send you relevant paperwork and instructions.

· Check your school’s website for information or reach out to the international admissions officer.

· Documentation I. (most likely required)

•  Standardized test scores (SAT, TOEFL)
•  Academic transcript
•  Financial documents detailing scholarship information

· Documentation II. (suggested you prepare but differs by institution)

•  Letters of recommendation
•  Essays detailing interest in the school or what you contribute

II. Securing a US student visa:

· Upon acceptance, your university will enroll you in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and provide you with visa-related documents.

· Fill out the SEVIS-generated document Form I-20 for an F or M visa or DS-2019 for a J visa.

· Pay the SEVIS fee at least three days before submitting an application to for a US visa here and make sure that the details on your I-20 or DS-2019 match. Make sure you get a receipt even if someone else, including a third party, pays for you as you need to show it at your visa interview.

· Complete the online DS-160 which can be found here. Make sure you prepare a recent photo according to these guidelines found here. Once you’ve completed the form, digitally sign it by clicking the “sign application” button and make sure to print your confirmation page with a barcode, barcode number and application ID and bring it with you to your visa interview.

· Pay the visa application fee called the Machine Readable Visa Fee, or ‘MRV fee.’ For more information, please click here. Make sure to print your MRV fee receipt and bring it to the interview.

· Make an appointment with the US Embassy in Riyadh (966-11-4883800) or Consulates in Jeddah or Dhahran. Be sure to bring the following documents:

•  Passport valid for at least six months beyond your stay in the US
•  Signed SEVIS Form I-20 or DS-2019 (including individual forms for spouse/children)
•  Form DS-7002 (for J-1 Trainee and Intern visa applicants only)
•  SEVIS fee receipt
•  DS-160 application confirmation page with barcode and application ID number
•  MRV fee payment confirmation receipt
•  A printed copy of the visa interview appointment letter
•  1-2 photographs (according to the regulations and on photo quality paper)
•  Transcripts and diplomas from previous institutions
•  Test scores (TOEFL, SAT, etc.)
•  Financial and/or scholarship documentation

o If you bring any derivatives (spouse or children), be sure to also bring the following:

•  A copy of your marriage and/or birth certificates
•  A copy of the principal applicant’s visa or official USCIS documents confirming the principal’s status in the US
•  A copy of the personal data page from the principle applicant’s passports.
•  Be on time for your interview and be prepared to answer any potential questions and be willing to have your fingerprints scanned. Your interviewer will notify you of your eligibility or wait time.

III. Arriving in the US:

· When traveling to the US, be sure to bring the following documents:

•  Passport
•  SEVIS Form I-20 or DS-2019 (you will need it every time you re-enter)
•  Scholarship/financial documentation
•  Designated School Official (DSO) contact information and 24-hour emergency contact number from your institution
•  For exchange students, you will need a letter from your home university indicating your intention to return

· Be prepared to fill out the Customs Declaration form (CF-6059) provided by a flight attendant before you arrive.

· You will also need to complete an Arrival/Departure Record I-94 form before you arrive either on paper or online. Make sure you keep hold of this form as you will need it when you leave the US.

· You must follow your visa dates otherwise you will be in violation of your status in the United States of America.