Graduate and Professional School Students

Pre-Arrival Information

  • When you accept your offer of admission to your academic program, Dartmouth will set you up in the institutional student system.
     
  • International students will receive instructions to claim your Dartmouth credentials so that you can access the OVIS (Office of Visa and Immigration Services) iDartmouth system and begin providing the information needed to prepare your immigration documents.
     
  • For Master's degree and professional school graduate students, you will be asked to provide evidence of sufficient funding to cover your personal contribution.  If you are receiving any financial aid or scholarship funding, your award must be finalized by your program's financial aid office before OVIS can process your Form I-20 request. 
     
  • OVIS will review your information and will prepare your Form I-20 in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's SEVIS system (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System), which will be mailed to you at your Dartmouth email account.
     
  • When you receive your Form I-20, follow the instructions to pay the SEVIS fee before you apply for your F-1 visa stamp at a U.S. consulate or embassy.  Note that Canadian students are visa-exempt, but are still required to pay the SEVIS fee before seeking admission to the U.S. in F-1 status.
     
  • You can enter the U.S. up to 30 days before the program start date listed on your Form I-20. You must have a valid passport, valid F-1 visa stamp in your passport, and valid Form I-20 to enter the U.S. in F-1 status. Canadian citizens are visa-exempt and must have a valid passport and Form I-20 to enter.

Evidence of Funding for F-1 Students

OVIS is required under the F-1 regulations to verify that each international student requesting a Form I-20 Certificate of Eligibility has sufficient funding to cover the period of their stay at Dartmouth.  The funding documentation we require will also be required by the U.S. Consulate or Embassy at the time of the visa application. 

To obtain your I-20 in a timely manner, please follow the funding evidence guidelines below when submitting your request for a new or extension Form I-20 document:

Dartmouth College funding

  • Dartmouth College financial aid or scholarship award letter on Dartmouth letterhead and issued within the last 3 months stating the amount and type of funding.
    • Note for undergraduates: if you are receiving financial aid, you must upload your most recent financial aid award letter
    • If the award does not cover the total program costs, you will need to show proof of funding that covers the remaining amount.

Personal funds

  • Bank statement(s) that contain:
    • Name on the account and account number
    • Name of financial institution
    • Account balance and currency
    • Date/issuance within last 3 months
    • Evidence of liquid assets that can be converted to cash
    • English translation (unofficial translations are acceptable)

Family or friend funds

  • The sponsor's bank statement(s)
  • Letter(s) indicating the relationship between you and the sponsor(s), the amount of support and the length of support
  • Loan Certificates or Letters
    • Must indicate your name and the amount of approved loan
    • Conditional loan approvals may be accepted only if the condition is the receipt of your Form I-20
    • Loan applications are not acceptable as proof of funding

Home government support

  • Evidence of support should be presented in English, on government/agency letterhead, and detail the amount and period of support to be provided

Other organization support

  • Evidence of support should be presented in English, on agency letterhead, and detail the purpose of the support, amount of support, and period of funding

Documents that are NOT acceptable as evidence of funding:

  • Financial documents/bank statements older than 3 months

  • Income or salary statements

  • Funds that are not immediately accessible

  • Assets that are not in liquidated form (real estate, car, etc.)

  • Stocks or bonds

  • Life insurance policy statements

  • Tax return forms or documents

Dependent Funds

If you will bring a spouse or child(ren) as your F-2 or J-2 dependent(s), you will need to provide additional proof of funds.

  • Spouse: $5000 per year
  • Child: $3500 per year, per child

SEVIS Fee

  • Visit Immigrations and Customs Enforcement for information about the SEVIS fee.
  • Students or exchange visitors issued an initial Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 are responsible for paying the SEVIS fee. There are exceptions, such as transferring from one SEVIS institution to another, or changing academic levels within a SEVIS institution.
  • The SEVIS fee is paid after the student receives the Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 and before the student goes to the Consulate for a visa and to the U.S. port of entry.
  • The fee is paid online or by check, or money order mailed to SEVP.
  • The fee receipt is required at the Consulate for purposes of obtaining the visa and at the port of entry.

Obtaining a Visa

  • OVIS will provide a cover letter with your Form I-20 or Form DS-2019. Complete instructions for obtaining the visa will be included in that letter.
  • A visa stamp is the "key" to enter the "door" of the United States. It is different from Form I-20 or the Form DS-2019, which are required for a visa application.
  • Canadian citizens do not need a visa stamp but are inspected at the U.S. Port of Entry for admission in F-1 or J-1 status.
  • For all others, a valid visa stamp is required for inspection, admission, and entry to the United States.
  • Applications are made after receipt of the Form I-20 and after the SEVIS fee has been paid.
  • Contact the U.S. Consulate for a visa appointment.
  • Please also refer to the F-1 Visa Application Process page on the OVIS website. 

Arrival to the U.S. and COVID-19

When planning your arrival to the U.S. and to Dartmouth, please be sure to review the most up-to-date information from both the CDC and Dartmouth to ensure you are able to comply with all applicable guidance for travel and admission to the U.S., and for beginning your program at Dartmouth.

Arrival in the U.S. and at Dartmouth

  • Upon arrival in the U.S. an I-94 record of arrival will be created to document your admission. When you are in the U.S., you can access your I-94 record on the U.S. Customs & Border Protection Agency's website to confirm you were properly admitted in the correct status.

  • Once you are in the U.S. you must complete and submit the F-1 Check-in e-form in iDartmouth. This will allow us to register you in SEVIS for the term and to activate your F-1 status.

  • Your OVIS advisor will schedule your SEVIS check-in and orientation session. Check-ins are not done on a walk-in basis. 

  • Graduate students will also participate in orientations hosted by the professional schools and the Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies. These orientations are separate from the OVIS check-in.
     
  • You cannot complete a Form I-9 or receive stipend payments from Dartmouth until you have checked in with OVIS.

OVIS Orientation Schedule for New Students

Here is the schedule for OVIS Orientation. We will be updating for confirmed date/time when it's available. 

OVIS Orientation Schedule 2023

Program OVIS advisor Date Time Location 
UG Class of 2027 (F-1) Keriann Niles Laura Hoffsis  Rosie Nelson 8/30 9 AM to noon Filene Auditorium
UG Exchange (J-1) Keriann Niles Christian Potter TBD    
FYSEP Meet & Greet Keriann Niles 8/8 4:30 PM Filene Auditorium
Comparative Literature Laura Hoffsis Christian Potter 9/6 11 AM to noon Reed Hall (TBD)
Computer Science MS/PhD Laura Hoffsis Christian Potter 9/6 1 - 2 PM Engineering & Computer Science Center, Room 116
Integrative Neuroscience Susan Ellison 8/24 2:30 PM OVIS
Master of Healthcare Delivery Science Susan Ellison 8/14 1:00 PM Byrne/Tuck
QBS PhD Susan Ellison 8/24 TBD Zoom
Thayer BE duals (1st year) Keriann Niles  9/13 4:00 PM MacLean 132
Thayer BE 5th years Keriann Niles 9/14 9:00 -10:00 PM MacLean M001
Thayer MEM Keriann Niles 9/14 1:00 -2:30 PM MEM Space - Murdough 332
Thayer MS/MEng/PhD Keriann Niles 9/14 4:00 - 5:00 PM MacLean 132

Prior to your Orientation Session, please submit the Check-in e-form below. 

English Language Resources at Dartmouth

English Language Conversation Group

The English Conversation Group meets Wednesdays throughout winter term from 1-2 PM. Classes begin Wed 1/18/23. An additional zoom class is being offered on Tuesdays at 4 PM.

A virtual conversation group for those who wish to practice their English speaking skills. Open to all international members of the Dartmouth community and their families.

  • Contact for Zoom info: English.Conversation.Group@Dartmouth.edu
  • Wednesdays, 1:00 -2:00 p.m., during Dartmouth terms 
  • Open to all international members of the Dartmouth community and their families

Rassias Center

Community Language Programs (CLP)