• Obtaining F-1 and J-1 Visa
  • After you receive your digital I-20 or DS-2019 and pay the I-901 SEVIS fee, you can apply for a visa at the nearest U.S. embassy.

    Schedule Visa Interview

    To make an appointment at your local embassy, you must first complete the DS-160 Nonimmigrant Visa Application online. You will need your SEVIS number and The New School's school code, which you can find on your I-20 or DS-2019 and on the iGlobal log-in page.

    Processing time for visa applications can vary, and some U.S. embassies require security checks that take many weeks. We therefore recommend that you do not delay in making your visa appointment.

    The Interview

    What to Prepare and to Expect

    You will need to bring certain documents with you to the visa interview.

    Refer to the Department of State website for required and additional documents for F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors.

    Interview Tips

    It is important to understand what the interviewer is looking for during the interview. Ultimately, he or she wants to ensure that you have been accepted into a legitimate institution, have the necessary qualifications (including English language proficiency) for the program, and have adequate funds to cover tuition and living expenses. It is also vital that the interviewer feel confident that you have full intentions of returning home after the completion of your program of study. Here are a few tips for interviewing:

    • Documentation is extremely important, so be sure to have all of your papers organized and ready to be presented.
    • Be prepared to be interviewed in English and not your native language.
    • Emphasize and speak about your educational goals.
    • Provide evidence of strong ties to your home country to demonstrate your intent to return after your studies (e.g., family, career opportunities, previous travel to and departure from the United States).

    Do not mention any type of employment, as the purpose of your visit to the United States is to study and not to work.

    Visa Denials

    If you are denied a visa, contact ISSS right away.

    When a visa denial occurs, you will receive a visa denial notice from the Department of State. Once ISSS can assess the situation, the office can advise you on gathering new documentation to re-apply for the visa.

    An application may be denied because the consular officer does not have all of the information required to determine whether the applicant is eligible to receive a visa, the applicant does not qualify for the visa category for which he or she applied, or the information reviewed indicates that the applicant meets the criteria for inadmissibility or ineligibility under the law. An applicant's current and/or past actions, such as drug or criminal activities, may make him or her ineligible for a visa.

    Visa Exemptions

    The following categories of students are exempt from applying for the F-1 or J-1 visa according to U.S. federal regulations:

    • Canadian passport holders
    • Citizens of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda
    • Bahamian nationals and British subjects resident in the Bahamas
    • British subjects resident in the Cayman Islands or the Turks and Caicos Islands (as long as they travel directly from the island)
    • Natives and residents of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands

    Helpful Links

  • Contact Us & Office Hours

    72 Fifth Avenue, 3rd floor
    New York, NY 10011
    212.229.5592
    iss@newschool.edu

    Phone Hours
    Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday: 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

    Front Desk Hours
    Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday: 1:00–4:00 p.m.

    ISSS Closed Wednesday

    Virtual Advising Drop-In Hours
    Tuesday, 2:00–4:00 p.m. 
    Meeting Link

    In-Person Advising Drop-In Hours
    Thursday, 2:00–4:00 p.m. 

    One-on-One Virtual Advising
    Enrolled students sign up through Starfish.
    Non-enrolled students call the office to schedule.

    Emergency After-Hours Phone
    212.229.7001

  • Take The Next Step

Submit your application

Undergraduates

To apply to any of our undergraduate programs (except the Bachelor's Program for Adults and Transfer Students and Parsons Associate of Applied Science programs) complete and submit the Common App online.

Undergraduate Adult Learners

To apply to any of our Bachelor's Program for Adults and Transfer Students and Parsons Associate of Applied Science programs, complete and submit the New School Online Application.

Graduates

To apply to any of our Master's, Doctoral, Professional Studies Diploma, and Graduate Certificate programs, complete and submit the New School Online Application.

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