Exceptions to the Visa Requirement
All students must have a valid passport to enter the United States. However, the following individuals are NOT required to have an entry visa:
- Canadian citizens who are entering the United States from the Western Hemisphere
- Citizens of Bermuda
Please note: Landed immigrants (non-citizens) of Canada/Bermuda are required to have a valid passport AND visa.
If you are from one of the countries listed, you may apply directly to an immigration inspector at a port of entry or pre-flight inspection center for admission as an F-1 or J-1 student as long as you have paid the SEVIS fee at least three business days prior to your travel and have the receipt in hand along with your passport and I-20 or DS-2019 Form. All other procedures are the same as those followed by students subject to visa requirements, except that you do not need to present a visa.