Obtaining your I-20 and F-1 Visa

Once you deposit, you will get a link to set up your Terra Dotta F-1 student portal. Terra Dotta is your international student portal at Lake Forest College. You'll use it to submit required documents, view training material, and receive important updates from the International Student Support office. During your program you will use Terra Dotta to submit F-1 related requests, manage your immigration documents, and more. 

Confirm your admission and submit required documents to receive your I-20. You can find a step-by-step guide on this process in your Terra Dotta F-1 student portal. 

Documents you will need: 

• Copy of passport identification page 
• Financial Aid Award letter 
• Proof of financial support 
• Affidavit of support (if applicable) 
• Transfer verification form and copy of current visa (if currently in F-1 status at another U.S. school) 

All first-year students need to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for maintenance of your SEVIS record. If you have an active SEVIS record at another institution that you will transfer to Lake Forest College, you do not need to pay the SEVIS fee again. 

Do not attempt to pay the SEVIS fee before you get your I-20. You need your SEVIS ID, which is only produced after your I-20 is created. Your SEVIS ID is on the upper right-hand corner of your I-20 (N00XXXXXXXX). Lake Forest College’s School Code is listed on the first page of your I-20. 

Pay the fee with a debit/or credit card and print a copy of the I-901 fee payment receipt to take to your visa interview.

Pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee at fmjfee.com

Once you have your Form I-20 from Lake Forest College, you are ready to start your F-1 student visa application. The DS-160 is the online non-immigrant visa application for the U.S. You will need to complete the DS-160 online and pay the visa application processing fee. 

The steps are listed below. 

Citizens of Canada and Bermuda do not need F-1 visas. Students from these countries request F-1 status at the port of entry. All students are required to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee for I-20s in “Initial Status”. 

U.S. entry visas are issued by U.S. consulates worldwide. You are recommended to apply at the location closest to your permanent residence. Find the instructions of your local U.S. consulate for student visa applications. The specific procedure to schedule an appointment and appointment wait times vary by consulate. Some locations require two appointments. In general, an in-person interview is required and biometrics (fingerprint and eye scan) are collected. 

Submit the DS-160 and schedule the earliest possible F-1 student appointment. If the available appointment is later than 1 week before the first day of classes, please request an expedited appointment request letter on your Terra Dotta portal and request an Emergency or Expedited appointment from the US consulate or embassy. Do not give up on this and keep asking, as many consulates will deny emergency appointments until it is very close to the I-20 start date. Lake Forest College cannot intervene on securing any earlier visa appointment for students, as U.S. consulates only accept requests from the visa applicant themselves. 

Prepare your documents

• Form I-20 (printed, and ink signed/dated) 
• SEVISI-901 fee receipt 
• DS-160 barcode page 
• Valid passport 
• Stamped financial documentation 
• Acceptance letter 
• Any evidence of temporary intent in the U.S. or ties to your home country, such as family responsibilities, property, or job offer in home country, if applicable. 

Review these tips for your visa interview. 

• If your visa is approved, you will likely find out immediately Your passport will be kept for visa stamping. It will be returned within 7–14 days, depending on the embassy and delivery method. Track your passport through the visa application portal or courier service.  
• If your visa is denied, you’ll be told the reason (often under section 214(b) – failure to prove intent to return). Talk to the International Student Office about next steps. 
• If your visa is going through Admin Processing/Refused, this means additional review is needed, not a denial. This process may take a few weeks to several months. Stay in contact with us and check your case status regularly.