International Admissions FAQ

What kind of visa will I need?

Des Moines University is approved to issue a Homeland Security (SEVIS) Form I-20. Upon completing the Form I-20, you will apply for an F-1 visa, commonly called a "student visa."

What are the requirements for obtaining an I-20?

You must submit a Supplemental Application for International Students (SAIS) form at the time of application
You must first be admitted to one of DMU's degree programs.
You must be planning to be a full-time student (part-time students are not eligible).
You must have satisfactory English language skills.
You must furnish written proof that you are financially responsible.
School sponsoring student's current I-20 must complete transfer form.
Student and dependants must carry DMU's student health insurance plan.

How can I gain admission?

Click on the admissions link of the program in which you are interested.

What happens if I start as a full-time student but drop to part time?

You will be "out of status" and we must notify SEVIS.

Can I obtain a scholarship or financial aid to assist with tuition and expenses?

If your program at Des Moines University has scholarship money, you can apply. You cannot receive any federal (U.S. Government) guaranteed loans, and you cannot receive any private loans. The exception, for private loans only, is that if you have a relative or friend, who is a U.S. citizen or a Permanent Resident, and that person will co-sign your loan (guarantee repayment), there are private banks that will assist you.

Can I work while I am a student?

While you are a student, you can work only after you complete one year of a program. Even then, Homeland Security restricts you to 20 hours per week of on campus employment while school is in session; full-time during breaks and vacations.

I am already in the United States as a visitor, but I want to attend one of DMU's programs. What do I do?

The process is no different for visitors. See above: What are the requirements for obtaining an I-20?

I just want to take a few courses for my own benefit. Are there any exceptions to these rules?

No, there are no exceptions. Des Moines University must comply with Homeland Security's rules and regulations. You must be formally accepted, attend full time, be seeking a degree, possess satisfactory English skills and be financially responsible.

How can I request a change of status to a different Visa classification? Click Here

Can I register as a student while I am still in H-1B status?

Yes. Individuals who are in H-1B status and continue to fulfill all of the requirements of their H-1B employment can register as students in their â€œfree time.â€� You may not begin a degree program while still in H-1B status.
Please note that a separate requirement of being admitted to Des Moines University as an F-1 student is mandatory participation in an orientation and immigration regulations session for new students. Check your block schedule for the date and time.

When do I need to apply to change to F-1 status?

You must apply to change to F-1 status before the termination of your H-1B employment. Otherwise, you will be "out of status" and thus ineligible to change to another status. As a result, you will be forced to return home, where it may be very difficult to obtain an F-1 visa because of consular concerns about your "immigrant intent".

You will also need a letter of support from your H-1B employer which is very similar to the Sample Letter in this packet before you apply to change to F-1 status.

If I have a letter of support from my H-1B employer, do I still need to make an appointment with Diversity Services in order to apply to change to F-1 status?

Yes. We must keep track of all students who change to F-1 status. For this reason we will require you to use our address on your I-539 application form, and all correspondence from the Department of Homeland Security regarding your application will be sent to our office. Your DMU email address will be used to notify you with all correspondence regarding your application.

What documentation do I need to submit in order to change to F-1 status?

I-539 Application Fee of $200
Filing fee
I-797 Receipt showing payment of $100 SEVIS fee (see next section for details)
Form I-539 (see instructions below)
Letter of support from your H-1B employer
A photocopy of your Form I-94 (front and back)
A photocopy of your passport personal data page(s) (i.e., the page(s) with your photograph and the expiration date of your passport)
A photocopy of your H-1B visa
Your complete, original I-20, signed by you on page 1
Three photocopies of p.1 of your I-20
Evidence of financial support

What is the SEVIS fee, and do I have to pay it?

The SEVIS fee is the new charge, effective September 1, 2004, assessed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, whereby all F-1 and J-1 visitors to the U.S. must pay a fee of $100 to supplement federal government expenses involved in the maintenance and administration of the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).
If you are attempting to change to F-1 status, you will be required to pay the SEVIS fee before you can mail in your change of status application. There are two ways to pay this fee:

To Pay Online (highly recommended to pay this way instead of by mail)

Find the Form I-901 at www.FMJfee.com.
Complete the form online and supply the necessary Visa, MasterCard or American Express information. Be sure to write your name exactly as it appears on your I-20 form.
Print a copy of the online receipt.
Be sure to make copies of your receipt, and keep it with your other important immigration documents. You will need to submit a copy of this receipt along with your other change of status application material.

To Pay By Mail (this method could delay your application by weeks)

Obtain a Form I-901 "Fee Remittance for Certain F, J, and M Nonimmigrants" from www.FMJfee.com or request the form by phone at 1-800-870-3676 (inside the US).
Complete the Form I-901. Be sure to write your name exactly as it appears on your I-20 form.
Prepare a check, international money order or foreign draft (drawn on US banks only) in the amount of $100 US dollars, made payable to "The Department of Homeland Security". (We strongly suggest you use a personal check, since it is easy to trace these.)
Mail the completed I-901 and payment to the address listed on the Form I-901.
A Form I-797 receipt notice should be mailed within 3 days of processing the fee. Be sure to make copies of your receipt, and keep it with your other important immigration documents. You will need to submit a copy of this receipt along with your other change of status application material.

Remember, your change of status application cannot be mailed until the SEVIS fee is paid and you have a receipt proving payment. Should your change of status application be denied, the SEVIS fee is not refundable. However, if you apply for F-1 status again within the 12 months following your denial, you will not have to pay the fee again.

What filing fee do I need to enclose with my application?

The application filing fee is $200. Checks and money orders must be in the exact amount and payable to "Department of Homeland Security."

Where and how do I submit my application?

After making a photocopy of your entire application to keep, mail the original application to:

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Nebraska Service Center
P.O. Box 87539
Lincoln, NE 68501-7539

Send your application via "certified mail, return receipt", so that you have a record of the arrival of your application at the USCIS. The extra cost for this service, available at any Post Office or Postal Substation is approximately $2.20. Keep a photocopy of your application and your certified mail receipt.

What will happen when the USCIS receives my application? How long will it take the USCIS to approve my application?

If your application is incomplete, the USCIS will send you a "Request for Evidence". You will need to furnish whatever information or documentation is missing. If your application is complete, you should receive a Form I-797 Notice of Action/Receipt Notice from the USCIS within two to four weeks. Your Notice of Action is very important, both because it proves that you filed your application and because it provides the "LIN number" which you must use if you need to track your application's progress. If you do not receive a Notice of Action within five weeks, please notify us immediately.

Your Notice of Action will provide an estimated processing time for your application â€“ based on past experience, at least two-three months, and possibly much longer. For this reason, you may want to consider leaving the United States to obtain an F-1 visa (possibly in Canada or Mexico) and then using that F-1 visa to re-enter in F-1 status, thereby eliminating the need to apply to the USCIS to change status. Please see an adviser for more details. Please notify us if you have not received a decision from the USCIS within the estimated processing time. You should also notify us if you are planning to travel outside the US during the next few weeks.

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