Information for New Yale College Students

Accept Your Offer of Admission

All new students are sent an admissions letter with a reply form to accept the offer. Your first step in the visa process is to accept the offer of admission!

Financial Certification

Please complete and submit the Financial Certification Form. If you are receiving financial aid from Yale, include your financial aid letter along with any other documents of financial support.

If your total family contribution for 2012-13 is less than $2000, you do not need to show any documents of financial support in addition to your financial aid letter.

Obtaining an Immigration Document

After receiving your completed Financial Certification Form and supporting documentation, OISS will issue your immigration document (I-20). This generally takes 2-3 weeks. Yale College admissions will mail this document to you via courier service to the address listed on your Yale application.

Applying for the Student Visa

After you receive your I-20, you will be ready to apply for your U.S. visa. Instructions on how to apply for a U.S. F-1 student visa can be found on the OISS Web site:

Canadian Student?
Canadians do not need to obtain a U.S. student visa stamp. Learn more.