International Student Admissions FAQs

Boston University has an International Student Scholar Office (ISSO) (bu.edu/isso) to advise new international students. FAQs during COVID times can be accessed at http://www.bu.edu/isso/news/continuity-of-services-covid19/

ISSO office is located at

888 Commonwealth Avenue, 2^nd Floor
Boston, MA 02215
P 617-353-3565  F 617-358-1170

FAQs for international students are available at http://www.bu.edu/isso/getting-started/new-student-faq/

The student advisor for GMS students is Christine Xiong. Her email address is cxiong@bu.edu.

Expenses for the current year can be found here: https://www.bumc.bu.edu/osfs/cost-of-attendance-bot/graduate-medical-sciences/ .  New rates for next year will be posted later in the spring semester

In order to be eligible for F-1 visa sponsorship, a student needs to be enrolled as a full-time on-campus student, in a minimum of 12 credits per semester.  Regulations only allow four of those 12 credits to be taken in an online course.  

For information on Boston University’s English Proficiency Testing, please see the International Applicants page.

If an individual is currently in the US on a F2 visa (spouse or dependent of student on an F-1 visa) , they can study only on a part-time basis (8 credits or lesser) as long as they meet English requirements and legal status. If the individual is in an immigration classification other than F-2 such as B-1 (visitor for business)/B-2 (visitor for tourism), and WB (visa waiver for business)/WT (vis waiver for tourism), the individual may still be eligible to enroll in part-time coursework at BU as long as legal status is maintained. If the F-2 visa student wants to study full-time, they have to be accepted into an academic program that requires their presence on-campus for at least 8 credits in summer and 12 or more credits in Fall/Spring semesters. They will need to apply for F-1 as outlined in answer to Question #1.

Canadians citizens are exempt from U.S. visa requirements and thus do not need to obtain a visa foil from a U.S. embassy or consulate in Canada before entering the U.S.  

A visa is required for any Mexican citizen visiting the United States. In addition, an entry permit is required for Mexican visitors traveling beyond the immediate border area.  

Yes. Students from Iran/Persia can study in US.  

The student must accept the admission and pay the deposit fee (approximately between $250 and $500) . Occasionally, the department may grant an extension upon request from the student. The required documents to be submitted by the student are

International Student Data Form

• Copy of biographical page of current, active passport
• Copies of all immigration document if currently in U.S (I-94 Entry date stamp)
• Financial Document demonstrating ability to pay for estimate of expenses at Boston University. If sponsored by a relative, the relative must fill out http://www.bu.edu/isso/files/pdf/Sponsor-Cert-Form.pdf A current bank statement from sponsor with enough funds to support the estimated expenses. The funds MUST be liquid and not in a retirement plan.
• Official TOEFL/DuoLingo/IELTS score or evidence undergraduate studies were completed at an educational institution with English medium instruction. OR a waiver letter from a department about English requirement for the candidate because they conducted a skype interview. BU TOEFL Institutional code is 3087
• Upon receipt of all the above documents, as the next step, the Graduate affairs coordinator adds the following documents and submits the whole packet to ISSO electronically.
• Confirmation letter of acceptance into a Masters/PhD program
• A FedEX priority ship airbill to deliver I-20 letter to the applicant
• ISSO then reviews the packet in a queue system and approves sponsorship and sends I-20 form to student OR asks for revised documents for further administrative processing. ISSO can decline admission if financial documents demonstrate insufficient funds to pay for tuition and expenses.

Check out http://www.bu.edu/provost/awards-publications/award-opportunities/#graduate

If the prospective student will be funded by their government, an organization, a company, etc., the sponsor must submit a letter of sponsorship on official letterhead which states that the document should say that the funding is valid specifically for Boston University. It should specify exactly which expenses will be covered (i.e., academic fees, living expenses, health insurance, financial support for family members, travel, etc.). The length of the financial support should be specified.  

The funds have to be liquid.  

I-20 is an important form/letter that proves that a student is legally enrolled in a program of study in US. It is issued by ISSO to the international student between 30 and 120 days in advance of course start date which is listed on the letter. The student can enter the US only 30 days before the course start date. The student takes the I-20 form, pays a $160 I-901 SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) fee and applies to their local US consulate for F-1 student visa. They will be interviewed at the consulate and then granted the F-1 visa for the duration of their study in US. Once the F-1 visa is issued, the student buys a plane ticket and shows their current passport, I-20 and F-1 visa at the immigration counter at the airport. A Customs and Border Protection official will provide an admission stamp or paper form I-94 arrival/departure record to the student.

ISSO reviews requests for sponsorship in a queue system and communicates with the GMS coordinator about missing information. The whole process can take anywhere between one month and three months. Once GMS admissions office submits the student’s paperwork to ISSO, the student can contact ISSO for updates by emailing issogac@bu.edu

ISSO sends the student a letter via email which looks like the one below:

From: <issogac@bu.edu>
Date: Wed, Apr 3, 2019, 7:41 PM
Subject: Important Message from Boston University ISSO: Your Immigration Document Has Been Sent
To: <JaneDoe@gmail.com>
Dear Jane Doe,

Congratulations on your acceptance to Boston University!  You will be joining a dynamic community of international students and scholars participating in world class teaching, learning and research.

We have issued your immigration document, the Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Status (SEVIS Form I-20 or SEVIS Form DS-2019).  You should receive your document in approximately seven days. Please wait to receive your document before initiating your visa application.

If you are currently outside the United States, please refer to the ISSO website to learn about the US visa application process and other important information that will assist you as you prepare to travel to Boston.

If you are currently studying in the United States, please review the information for students who are currently studying at Boston University or who will transfer their SEVIS Record to Boston University.

As an international student starting a new program at Boston University, you are required to check-in with the ISSO at the beginning of your academic program.  Specific information about international student check-in will be sent to you via email as your program start date approaches.

If your plans should change and you will not be enrolling at Boston University this semester, please notify your department as soon as possible and return the SEVIS Form I-20 or DS-2019 to the ISSO.

The staff of the ISSO is pleased to provide you with information, advice and assistance on any visa or immigration matter that relates to your activities at Boston University.  If you have any questions regarding your immigrations status, please visit the ISSO website.

We are pleased that you have selected Boston University for your studies and we look forward to welcoming you to campus.

ISSO Staff
International Students & Scholars Office

Boston University Global Programs
888 Commonwealth Avenue, 2^nd Floor
Boston, MA 02215
P 617-353-3565  F 617-358-1170
bu.edu/isso

The J-1 Exchange Visitor Program is administered by the US Department of State (DOS) and is intended for educational, scientific, and cultural exchange. J-1 students are expected to return to their home country once the exchange program concludes. In some cases, the student may be subject to a two-year home residence requirement. In addition, they could also be temporarily barred from returning to the US as a J-1 research scholar or J-1 professor.

F-1 status allows for part-time on campus employment (less than 20 hours). They cannot work Off-Campus in the first year of study.

The student can enter US only 30 days before the start of semester displayed on their I-20. If a student wants to be enrolled in Summer Term courses over the summer ISSO will need to issue a separate non-degree I-20 for the summer session that they will attend.  A student must be registered for 12 credits if they attend 5/21 to 8/9/2019  and 8 credits if they attend 7/1 to 8/9/2019.  If a student will be beginning a degree program over the summer they will need to be registered for 12 credits.

They will need to submit all documents in step 1 again if the department agrees to accept them later in Fall semester in the same year. 

The visa needs to be transferred to the new institution.  

The student will need to take the following steps to transfer their SEVIS Record to Boston University:

Print, review and complete Section 1 of the SEVIS Transfer Form. This form will collect immigration related information to confirm the student’s eligibility to transfer their SEVIS record and determine when your SEVIS record will be released to Boston University.

Contact the Designated School Official (DSO) at the school that currently sponsors your F-1 status and ask them to complete Section 2 of the SEVIS Transfer Form.

Return the completed SEVIS Transfer Form to the ISSO at Boston University via email attachment, fax or mail. Please find contact information on the SEVIS Transfer Form.

The ISSO will issue a “Transfer Pending” I-20 to you after the SEVIS “Transfer Release Date” noted in Section 2A of the SEVIS Transfer Form provided we have received all required documents.

Work with your new BU school or college to register for fulltime coursework for your first semester.

Complete the SEVIS Transfer process by reporting to the ISSO at Boston University no later than 15 days after the start date indicated on your Boston University Form I-20. Failure to report to the ISSO by this deadline will jeopardize your F-1 student status.

For questions regarding the F-1 transfer process the student should contact ISSO staff via email at issogac@bu.edu 

They need to submit International Student Data form, financial documents and immigration papers such as passport biographical info, GCA Entry date stamp/visa and acceptance letter.  

http://www.bu.edu/shs/getting-started/health-info-for-international-students/

Via Student Link -> Money Matters -> Health Insurance  

Write to your department coordinator to request deferral. It can only be allowed just once.