The Department of State issues visas at U.S. Embassies and Consulates. A visa allows you to travel to the United States for a specific purpose. To identify the U.S. Embassy or Consulate that is most convenient for you to visit, go to the website of the embassy or consulate and follow the instructions on the site to do the following:

• Pay $350 I-901 SEVIS fee
• Complete the online Form DS-160 visa application
• Pay the $160 visa application fee
• Obtain acceptable photographs
• Schedule an appointment with a US embassy for your visa interview

You should make your appointment for your visa interview as soon as possible after receiving your Form I-20 and paying the I-901 SEVIS fee. When you come for your appointment, a consular official will electronically scan your fingerprints. You must bring the following documentation to the interview:

• Form I-20 issued by Lindenwood University
• Printed Form DS-160, “Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application,” confirmation page
• Passport valid for at least six months after you plan to enter the United States
• Two-inch by two-inch photo of yourself (learn more about photo requirements)
• Receipt for your $160 visa application fee payment
• Receipt for your $350 I-901 SEVIS fee payment

The visa interview is your opportunity to tell the consular officer about your plans while in the United States and what you will do when you have completed your studies. You should be prepared to show the following:

• Your acceptance to Lindenwood University. The Form I-20 verifies this.

• Your financial ability to pay for school and living expenses (the amount shown on Form I-20). You should bring original copies of the financial documents you provided to the Lindenwood University. These documents are evidence of the preparations you have made to finance your stay (e.g., bank statements).

• You are prepared for the academic program in which you plan to enroll. You may want to bring copies of any standardized test scores, academic transcripts, diplomas or certificates from previous study you provided as part of your application to the school where you want to enroll.

• Your stay in the United States is temporary (i.e., you are not permanently immigrating).

• The interviewing official may be interested in how you intend to use the education you receive in the United States when you return home.

This information is strictly for informative purposes only.  The visa decision is solely based on the interviewer’s opinion of the information you provide them.  The visa interview has personal and consequently unpredictable factors involved in whether your visa application gets accepted or rejected.

Consular officers would really like to see that applicants are honest.  They do not want anyone to stay illegally in the U.S.  

Interview Tips:

1. Wear dress clothes. Make sure your appearance is clean and neat. The interviewing officer will always be an American (the interpreter if required may be local). 
2. Arrive early. You don't want to miss your interview just because you got stuck in traffic.
3. Candidates should greet the officer with a smile and a "good morning" or “good afternoon”, as soon as you enter the interview booth.
4. Candidates should have a confident posture and look at the interviewing officer straight in the eyes throughout the interview.
5. Be confident in your answers, whatever you say. Make short, clear, to-the-point replies, in a clear voice. Do not tell anything that is irrelevant or not asked. By mistake, you may give some unnecessary information that may lead to your rejection.
6. Be polite, do not argue and do not ask unnecessary or unrelated questions. Do not unnecessarily elaborate your responses as this may not work in your favor.
7. Demonstrate respect in your language even if you don't feel this is being reciprocated.
8. Often times you might not understand what the interviewing officer is saying because of his/her American accent and/or the microphone system. If you do not understand one of their sentences do not feel afraid to say, 'beg your pardon; I did not understand you.'
9. If you know English, it is preferable to have the interview in the English so that you and consular officer can understand the each other. Interpreters mess up sometimes.
10. Consular officers are very smart in their profession. They can figure out true intentions of applicants most of the times because of their training and experience.
11. Be honest during the interview and while preparing the documents. The consular officer is not your enemy and he is just doing his duty.
12. Remember the purpose of the visa is to get your college degree.
13. Always reply with correct answers. All data while applying for the visa and details of the answers given in your interview are computerized and maintained. If your visa is rejected once, you can't be changing your details the next time you go for an interview.
14. Your appearance should convey who you are. If you are a student, you should look like a student. If you are an executive, you should look like an executive. Your body language should convey friendliness, but also that you are serious about your goal.

10 Points to Remember When Applying for A Student Visa - Important information from NASFA.

Documents to take with you to your Visa interview:

• Passport
• Nonimmigrant Visa Application
• Application fee payment receipt
• Photo (printed version)
• Acceptance letter
• Financial documents (bank statements, sponsor letter, etc.)
• I-20 (signed)
• Photos of your family
• Program of study information (printed off from the school’s Website)

 

Consular Officer Didn't Look at Documents

Many people complain that the visa officer did not even ask any questions nor looked at any documents and rejected their application which is not fair at all. It is not like that in reality. Visa officers are experts in their profession and they are appointed in consulates in foreign countries after extensive training. Due to their vast experience, visa officers, many times, can figure out true intentions of applicants just by looking at them. They can even figure out whether information provided in the application and/or documents may be true or fake. They don't need to talk to applicants in many cases. You may be surprised to know what things they may know, such as the value of property in a given area, income/income tax ratios, and many other things.

 

Interview Outcome

If You Get the Visa:

You will need to leave your passport at the embassy to receive the visa stamp.  It can take up to 2 weeks to receive your passport back with the visa stamp.

Once you receive your passport, immediately go through all the information on the visa stamp very carefully. Make sure there are no typographical errors in your name, passport, number, date of birth, etc. written on the visa stamp. If there are any such errors, contact the visa application center to get it corrected. Even a small error is not tolerable as it can cause trouble later on, and should be corrected as soon as possible.

 

If You Don't Get the Visa:

• That's not the end of the world! It doesn't change anything in life. Things continue to be as excellent as they were before.
• You did your best. The rejection was solely due to a whim of the interviewing officer.
• We can always apply a second time. Something to think about...

Getting to campus from Lambert St. Louis Airport:

• If you are arriving during Orientation Week, you will need to send your flight information to InternationalServices@lindenwood.edu so we can arrange a pickup for you.
• If you are arriving after the scheduled pick-up day, the University does NOT offer transportation from the airport in St. Louis to the Campus.
  • Students are responsible for getting to campus from the airport. It is roughly a 25-minute drive via Taxi or Uber and will cost around $30-$45 USD.

Checking In:

• After checking in with housing, you need to go to the CDI office to have your immigration documents verified.
  • Bring the I-20 you traveled on and your passport to check-in. We will need to scan these documents to update your immigration status within the United States.
• Students who are unable to attend the mandatory check-in and orientation sessions have 10 days after the first day of class to report to the OASIS office. Failure to do so could jeopardize your immigration and academic statuses.
• The CDI Office is in the Spellmann Center Room 3085

What the University provides for Residential Students:

• Room
• Twin XL Bed & Mattress
• Desk & Chair
• Dresser
• Closet
• Bathroom Facilities
• Laundry (located in all Residential Halls and Evans Commons) is included in cost of attendance through tuition or fees.
• WiFi and cable along with internet and cable hookup (coax cable not provided) is included in cost of attendance through tuition or fees.

What to Bring:

You may want to bring some of these items with you, or you can purchase them from local stores upon your arrival:

• Toiletries
• Medicines
• Shower curtain
• Laundry detergent
• Cleaning Supplies

View more information about housing.

International students who wish to reside on campus are required to fill out the General Housing Application through StarRez. 

Once a U.S visa is confirmed, students can pay the enrollment fee and confirm registration for on-campus housing.

Learn more on how residential life at Lindenwood University could be the perfect fit for you.

The Student Financial Services and Bursar’s Offices at Lindenwood University strive to provide assistance in billing and financial advising to our students.

Upon acceptance into Lindenwood University, students will be designated an account representative that will assist them with payments and billing. Find your account representative.

Payment for the semesters are on the 15 of the month prior to the start of the term for those students already enrolled in courses. If not enrolled in courses by that date, once enrolled you would want to contact your account representative as soon as possible to set up payment prior to arrival. 

Fall Semester payment is due July15.

Spring Semester payment is due December 15.

Books, lab fees, insurance, and one-time deposits/fees are NOT included in your personal cost and are the responsibility of the student.

The Bursar's Office has teamed up with Flywire to provide a streamlined way to make international wires for deposits and tuition payments. It’s fast, simple, and secure from any country anytime. LU also provides other payment options if you choose not to use Flywire.