Pre-departure Steps

International students who are or will be in F-1 or J-1 visa status are required to show proof of adequate funding for at least one year before a Form I-20 or DS-2019 can be issued. Financial requirements are calculated based on the cost of tuition and fees, living expenses, and miscellaneous expenses for one year (or two semesters).

All submitted financial document(s) must:

• Be no more than six months old
• Be in the form of a liquid asset (i.e. immediately available funds)
• Be in English and/or accompanied by a translation
• List the following information: 
  • Date
  • Account holder's name (if the provided documentation is not in the student's name, a signed Affidavit of Support must also be provided)
  • Account balance and/or award amount 
• Be 10MB or less (acceptable document file formats are PDF, JPG, PNG, BMP, OR GIF)

Accepted financial documents include: 

• Bank statement or letter (must list type of currency if not USD and type of account, i.e. savings, checking)
• Loan certificate or letter (must indicate when funds will be dispersed, if they have not been already)
• Letter on government agency/sponsor's letterhead 
• Assistantship, Fellowship, or Scholarship award letter and/or contract.

Please note that all amounts are shown as estimates and are subject to change - additional program fees may apply. For the most up-to-date information and a complete breakdown of tuition and fees, please refer to the Bursar office Tuition & Fee Rates website.

International graduate students are eligible for graduate assistantships, which are generally awarded by academic departments and university offices based on the students' academic merit, experience, and availability of funds. Some academic departments are able to offer more assistantships, while others do not have any assistantships at all. Contact the individual academic departments to find out their policy for awarding assistantships.

You can calculate the value of a 1.0 or 20 hours assistantship by multiplying the monthly stipend by the number of months in your contract (4.5, 9 or 12), and adding to this amount the amount of tuition $31,197 (plus additional costs depending on your degree) for Blacksburg students or $32,863 (plus additional costs depending on your degree) for DC area students (plus additional costs depending on your degree) and $3,114, the value of the health insurance subsidy that covers 88% of your health insurance costs. If the total is equal to or greater than the estimated cost of attendance for your program, no further financial certification is necessary.

A limited number of on-campus hourly wage jobs are available for students. International students are limited to 20 hours of work per week by immigration regulations. Students may apply for these jobs after arrival.

The New International Student Intake Form could take up to 20 minutes to complete. However, if you are unable to complete the entire form at once, you have the option to "Save Draft" at the bottom of the form so that you may return to complete it at another time.

In order to submit the New International Student Intake Form, you must follow these steps:

• Create your Virginia Tech User ID/Personal Identifier (also known as your PID). For more information about setting up your PID, please visit the applicable page below:
• Undergraduate Students: You're In, Now What?
• Graduate Students: Getting Started as a Student
• Your PID will be the first part of your official VT email address. For example, if your VT email address is hokiebird@vt.edu, then your PID will be hokiebird.
• Once you have created your PID, you will then need to set up your 2-Factor Authentication before attempting to log in (see "important note" below regarding setting up your 2-Factor Authentication).
• Once you have set up your 2-Factor Authentication, navigate to the IntlHokies Portal.
• Select the large, orange “Login” button, which will automatically direct you to a login page.
• On the login page, enter your PID and password and complete the 2-Factor Authentication process.
• Once you successfully log in, the “IntlHokies Services Home Page” opens. Locate the New International Student Intake Form in the "Admissions" section of the menu to the left.

IMPORTANT NOTE:Virginia Tech uses 2-Factor Authentication, which is mandatory for all students, faculty, and staff, and it is required to log in to the IntlHokies Portal. To set up your 2-Factor, go to https://it.vt.edu/projects/2factor.html. If you need additional assitance setting up or using 2-Factor, you can submit a request through 4Help or call 4Help directly at +1-540-231-4357.

• Copy of your passport ID page
• Proof of sufficient funds 
  • Sufficient funds will need to cover educational and living expenses for your first year.
• Dependent information (if applicable) 
  • If you have any dependents (spouse and/or children), you will need to provide the passport ID page and additional funds required for each dependent you plan to bring to the US with you. 

If you will be transferring your SEVIS record from another U.S. institution, you will need to provide the following additional items: 

• Current SEVIS ID number
• Copy of your most recent Form I-20 or Form DS-2019
• Copy of your most recent Form I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record)
• Anticipated date of last attendance at your previous institution OR the end date of your current OPT authorization period (whichever is applicable)
• The full name and email address of your previous International Student Advisor and/or Designated School Official (DSO) at your previous institution who will be facilitating the release of your SEVIS record  - they will be sent an electronic "Transfer In" form to complete, so be sure that you have completed any "Transfer Out" requirements, as well. See below for the applicable school/program code, required by your previous school to transfer your SEVIS record: 
  • F-1 undergraduate transfers: WAS214F01228002
  • F-1 graduate students (admitted to Blacksburg campus) transfers: WAS214F01228001
  • F-1 graduate students (admitted to D.C. area campus) transfers: WAS214F01228003
  • J-1 transfers: P-1-00071 

If you are inside the US in another status besides F-1 or J-1, you will only need to provide the following:

• Your most recent Form I-94 so that we can confirm your current status and update your student record accordingly; additionally:
  
  • If you confirm via the form that you wish to maintain your current status, no additional action will be required once your form is submitted.  
  • If you confirm via the form that you wish to change to F-1 or J-1 status, you will be contacted by one of our Cranwell International Center's International Student Advisors to discuss your options. 

We ask that you please allow 10 business days for the Cranwell International Center to process your request.

If you are issued a Form I-20, your document will be sent to you as a password protected document via your VT email account where you can download, print, and sign it. 

If you are issued a Form DS-2019, your document will be mailed to you or it can be picked up in-person; an International Student Advisor will reach out to you about shipping and/or pick-up options once your request is procecssed.  

You can pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee by going to the following website: 

https://www.fmjfee.com/i901fee/index.html

The purpose of this fee is to support the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) and the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), which keeps track of students and exchange visitors, ensuring that they maintain their status while in the US. We recommend that students pay the fee as soon as possible, as failure to pay this fee could result in the denial of your visa. 

The current fee amount is $350 USD for F-1 students and $220 USD for J-1 students - there are no additional fees for dependents. 

You will need to make an appointment at a U.S. Consulate/Embassy to apply for the required F-1/J-1 entry visa. Below are a few helpful links regarding the visa process: 

• U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs “Student Visa” website - since the procedure can vary by US Consulate/Embassy, be sure to consult the instructions on your home country’s specific US Embassy or Consulate website.
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Study in the States “Student” website - the “Prepare to Travel to the United States” section will be most helpful, with instructions regarding the visa application process and document preparation for your arrival to the US.
• Exchange Visitor Program Welcome Brochure, published by US Department of State (J-1 students ONLY)

Once you have obtained your visa and are preparing to make travel arrangments, please note that students who have been issued an "Initial Attendance" Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 cannot enter the U.S. more than 30 days before the program start date listed on their immigration document, so be sure to plan accordingly. Additionally, be sure that you follow all necessary and required precautions while traveling during the COVID-19 pandemic. You will need to confirm any travel requirements and/or restrictions with your chosen airline(s). 

When your travel day comes, make sure that you have the following documents in your carry-on (do not place them in your checked luggage): 

• Passport
• Form I-20 or Form DS-2019
• Evidence of financial support
• Evidence of student or exchange visitor status, such as transcripts or admission letter
• Paper receipt for payment of SEVIS I-901 fee (if applicable)
• The contact information for Cranwell International Center

You can visit the U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement website for more information on what students can expect at a U.S. Port of Entry, as well as information about immigration documents.  

• Roanoke Regional Airport (ROA) is the closest airport to Virginia Tech; ROA is located about 38 miles (61 km) from campus. ROA is a local airport that only receives domestic flights within the US; the nearest international airports are:
• Dulles International Airport (IAD) - located in Washington D.C. (254 miles / 409 km from campus).
• Regardless of which airport you choose, make sure you allow 3-4 hours between connecting flights from your Port of Entry (the airport to which you first arrive in the US) to your next flight to allow for important immigration processing with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). 

Once you have arrived at your final airport destination, you will need to arrange for ground transportation to campus.

From Roanoke Regional Airport (ROA):

• < href="https://smartwaybus.com/" target="_blank">Smart Way bus service: This service drops students off at the Squires Student Center on campus. Smart Way is an affordable and convenient choice for most students who plan to arrive Monday through Saturday. The bus does NOT run from the airport on Sundays. Be sure you are aware of scheduled stop times prior to arrival at the airport. Travel time to campus is just over an hour.

From Dulles International Airport (IAD):

• If you plan to arrive via IAD, please visit their Parking and Transportation website for available options.
• Virginia Breeze Bus Lines - You may also choose to use the Virginia Breeze Bus service. This service drops students off at the Squires Student Center on campus. Tickets can be purchased online ahead of time.

Local Transportation

Blacksburg Transit (BT) buses can take you around campus, Blacksburg and nearby town Christiansburg. Download the BT app to check bus schedule and routes ahead of time. BT service is currently free to Virginia Tech students.