Visa Information and Instructions

Use the following information to determine your immigration status and which forms you need to submit in order to register for Summer Term courses at Boston University. We encourage you to contact us with your questions.

I am coming to the U.S. to study full-time at Boston University this summer.

International students who are coming to the United States for the purpose of studying full-time at Boston University during the summer must have an F-1 student visa. In order to apply for a student visa, you must obtain an I-20 from Boston University.

The International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) will provide you with an I-20 after you submit the following registration materials by mail or fax to the Summer Term office:

• International Student Data Form
• Summer Immigration Document Application
  
• Letter from your financial sponsor stating your name, their name, their relationship to you, and their willingness to cover all of your education expenses at Boston University for the duration of your summer study (this letter is not necessary if you will be the one paying for your expenses)
• A letter from your financial institution stating that you (or your sponsor) have sufficient funds to cover your summer expenses
• Registration form for Summer 1 and/or Summer 2
  (Note: International students must be registered for eight credits if studying for one summer session, and 12 credits if studying for both sessions)
• Copy of valid passport
• Health Immunization Record*

The Summer Term office will send you your I-20 by courier (FedEx or DHL) within approximately ten days of receipt of your completed registration materials. When you receive your I-20, you will be officially registered for summer courses, and will have the materials you need to apply for your student visa. To apply for the F-1 student visa, please follow the instructions provided by the International Student and Scholars Office.

I am currently in the U.S. and enrolled in another program or at another university in F-1 immigration status and will not continue in that program.

Current F-1 students whose current I-20s will expire or whose programs will end before enrolling in Summer Term must also apply for an I-20 from Boston University. See above for necessary registration materials.

I am currently in the U.S. and enrolled in another program or at another university in F-1 immigration status and intend to return to the same school in the fall.

Current F-1 students enrolled full-time in an academic program in the spring, and who will be enrolled in the same academic program in the fall, do not need a new I-20 from Boston University to study during the summer. They can study either part-time or full-time during their summer break from their current institution.

To register for Summer Term courses, international students with valid I-20s and valid F-1 student status must submit the following registration materials by mail or fax:

• International Student Data Form
• Registration form for Summer 1 and/or Summer 2
• Copy of valid passport (including copy of data page, passport expiration, F-1 visa, and I-94)
• Copy of current I-20
• Health Immunization Record*

I will be traveling in the United States during Summer Term and want to take a course.

Students may not study under a visitor immigration classification if their main purpose for being in the country is to study at Boston University for the summer. If the main purpose for being in the country is travel or tourism, you may take one course at Boston University during the summer. However, it is recommended that all students study full-time under the F-1 student status.

To register for Summer Term courses, visitors must submit the following by fax or mail:

• International Student Data Form
• Registration form for Summer 1 or Summer 2 (up to four credits)
• Copy of valid passport (including a copy of data page, passport expiration, and I-94)
• Health Immunization Record*

*Health Immunization Record

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts requires all full-time or part-time international students to submit proof of immunization against the following communicable diseases: measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), tetanus, hepatitis-B and (bacterial) meningitis. Your health care provider can provide proof of vaccination against these diseases, with dates of your immunization, or they can complete the Immunization Record form. This information must be received before you can complete your course registration.

If you are not sure which instructions apply to you, please contact us - we're happy to help you with your questions.