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Visa & Immigration Requirements:

  • Can you give an overview of the F-1 student visa and its regulations?

    • First, you must obtain an I-20 from Sarah Lawrence College (The I-20 Application Instructions will become available as soon as we open the I-20 Application period). Then, you must schedule an interview with a U.S. embassy or consulate to apply for the visa.  Use your I-20 to apply for your F-1 Visa at the nearest US embassy or consulate. This document, along with the electronic I-94, which you will print out when you arrive in the US, proves your lawful status in the United States. 

    •  Read the I-20 document carefully

                To find the nearest location, visit https://www.usembassy.gov/.

U.S. embassies are authorized to continue to waive in-person visa interviews on a case-by-case basis for certain first-  time  and/or renewing applicants. As a result, you may receive guidance from the U.S. embassy that does not require you to attend an in-person interview. You are encouraged to monitor embassy and consulate websites for more detailed information about this development. We recommend that you check the consulate website, in advance, to learn more about the visa application process, including the process for making an appointment or for a waived in-person interview. F-1 visa holders may only enter the U.S. up to 30 days before their program start date. More information is available from the U.S. Department of State at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/study.html and on the Study in the States website at https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/students.

  • Prior to the visa appointment, you must show evidence that the SEVIS I-901 Fee was paid. 

    • With your I-20, Todd Pettiford or Nicole Mirando  will send instructions for paying the SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) fee. For more information regarding the SEVIS fee, please see https://www.ice.gov/sevis/i901/. 

  • What to do with your I-20? 

    • Make sure all your personal information is correct: spelling of names, date of birth (in order of month/day/year), country of citizenship.

    • Sign at the bottom of page one.

    •  Please print your name and then provide your signature in blue ink.

    •  Always keep copies for yourself and for administrative use and travel.

  • Glossary of some Immigration Terminology

    • SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) 

    • Port of Entry (POE) If traveling to the US from abroad, your POE is the first airport (or land or sea border) where you arrive in the United States. 

    • Designated School Official (DSO) Designated School Officials are those members of the campus community who have been granted authority by the United States Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) to access the information on international students on-campus and maintain SEVIS records.

    • See more here

Maintaining valid F-1 status (full course load, authorized employment, etc.)

  • Can I study part-time?

    •  No. International students cannot study part-time. U.S. immigration law requires that all international students on F-1 student visas maintain full-time enrollment unless there are specific circumstances. 

  • I’m an F-1 student. Can I work off campus?

    • F-1 students are not permitted to work off campus unless they have specific authorization. They may work on campus at SLC-sponsored jobs for a maximum of 20 hours per week. Students may work full-time during summer or winter vacation if classes are not in session.

  • What day should international students arrive on campus?

    • Pre-Orientation begins on August 25 2024

    • Opening Day and New Student Arrival is August 28 2024

    •  New Student Orientation is Thursday, August 29 – Saturday, August 31 2024

  • I am a new international student on an F-1 visa. When can I enter the U.S.? 

    • New international undergraduate students can arrive in the U.S. up to 30 days before the program start date listed on their I-20 form.

  • Can I arrive early to Sarah Lawrence College?

    • If you have confirmed your participation for International Pre-orientation, you will have access to your room on arrival day. Otherwise students can arrive on Opening Day. Students cannot access their rooms prior to this date. If you wish to arrive in the U.S. early, you are responsible for your own travel arrangements, food, and lodging. If family members accompany you, they will need to find off-campus accommodation. The same applies when moving in after Winter Break.

The Hyatt in Cross County Mall and Royal Regency Hotel in Yonkers offer discount codes for guests affiliated with Sarah Lawrence. 

  • Can I stay on campus during breaks?

Students can stay on campus over the U.S. Thanksgiving and Spring Break.

Arrival & Orientation

  • Port of entry procedures

    • Proceed to the terminal area for inspection. Before you approach the inspection station, ensure that you have the following available for presentation to the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer:

» Passport

» SEVIS Form I-20

» cf-6059 Customs Declaration Form (you will receive this on the airplane and should complete it before landing).

The CBP officer will take your cf-6059 Customs Declaration Form. You will be asked about your intentions for coming to the United States. Tell them you are here as a student, be prepared to give them the name and address of Sarah Lawrence College (1 Mead Way, Bronxville, New York, New York, 10708)

Your passport will be returned to you (make sure it is stamped with F-1 D/S and not with a specific date). Your SEVIS Form I-20 might also be stamped and returned to you. You will need these documents while you stay in the United States. Please do not lose them.

***Certain items are prohibited from being brought into the US from foreign countries.Hence, you are required to declare any meats, fruits, vegetables, plants, seeds, animals,and plant or animal products in your possession. The CBP at the ports of entry will determine whether the items meet the basic requirement of what can be brought into the United States.

Helpful website - Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE): www.ice.gov/sevis/students

  • Required documents (I-20, passport, I-94 etc.)

    • Carry the following documents with you on the plane in your HAND LUGGAGE (Do NOT pack in your checked luggage):

      • Passport with your F-1 visa

      • Form I-20

      • SEVIS fee receipt notice

      • Evidence of financial resources

      • Evidence of Student status such as letter of admission

  • Does Sarah Lawrence provide transportation from the airport to the college?

    • The College does not offer transportation to the college. You can explore your options for getting to campus here. 

  • Can I move into my room early?

    • You may move into your Sarah Lawrence College room on your arrival Day—no earlier. If you wish to arrive in the U.S. prior to that day, you are responsible for your own transportation and lodging.

  • What day should international students arrive on campus?

    • Pre-Orientation begins on August 25 2024

    • Opening Day and New Student Arrival is August 28 2024

    •  New Student Orientation is Thursday, August 29 – Saturday, August 31 2024

  • Who do I contact with questions about campus housing? 

    • Please contact the office of Residence Life

  • Do I need to purchase a computer?

    • Many students choose to have their own computer for convenience. Yet, it is not necessary to have one when you begin your studies at Sarah Lawrence College. There are many computers available for student use on campus. If you would like to purchase a computer, detailed information regarding technology discounts can be found here: https://my.slc.edu/ics/Campus_Life/Resources/Discounts/

  • How do I set up my phone in the US?

    • Students are recommended to purchase cellular phones and open accounts with a wireless provider once in New York. It is also possible to purchase a pay-as-you-go SIM card to use with an open/unlocked phone.

For more information visit this page: https://my.slc.edu/ics/Campus_Life/Departments/International_Students/New_Students.jnz

  • Where can I open a bank account?

    • You will be able to open an account within the first several days you are on campus. The closest banks within walking distance of the College, namely Bank of America and Chase. TD Bank is within driving distance.

Before you leave home, check with your local bank to learn more about your country’s regulations regarding the transfer of funds overseas. Some countries do not allow for large sums of money to be wired abroad, whereas other countries have no limits. We suggest that you bring a small amount of "startup" money with you ($100 - $150 U.S. dollars) to help make your trip easier. If you have an automatic teller machine (ATM) card, find out before you leave home if you can use it in the U.S. With an international ATM bank card, your parents/sponsor can deposit money into your account at home and you can withdraw the funds at ATM machines throughout New York and the United States. If you don’t have a card that can be used overseas, check with your bank before you leave to see if it is possible to get a card that can be used in the U.S. In addition, ATM machines accept Visa and MasterCard. You may want to consider opening a bank account once you arrive in New York. More information on banking will be covered in Pre-Orientation.

Health Insurance & Living:

  • On-campus and off-campus housing options

Additional opportunities are listed, as they become available. New F-1 students may begin work after they secure a position and once they complete the on-boarding processes via the Student Employment office. 

Students will need to obtain a U.S. Social Security Number (SSN) if they intend to work. For more information about the SSN application process visit https://my.slc.edu/ICS/Campus_Life/Departments/International_Students/Employment.jnz

  • Am I allowed to work off campus? 

    • International students with visas (F-1 and J-1) are not allowed to engage in off-campus employment without prior authorization. This also includes some internships and other activities sometimes referred to as volunteer work.

Engaging in these activities without prior authorization could result in the loss of your good standing in the U.S.and disrupt your ability to continue studying at Sarah Lawrence College. During International Pre-orientation, International Student Services  will discuss employment regulations and maintaining your visa status, as well as some of the off-campus employment authorizations available to you.

  • What ISS sponsored events are offered?

    • After the term begins, International Student Services hosts a variety of gatherings and workshops on topics that may be of interest to you. Many international students find these events help them continue making a successful transition to life at the College. These are also great opportunities to reunite with your international classmates. Watch for these opportunities in your email inboxes throughout the year!

  • What is the weather like in Bronxville? What type of clothing should I bring?

  • Sarah Lawrence is located in Bronxville, New York in Westchester County, a suburban area north of New York City. This region has four very distinct seasons. Fall and Spring are mild (averaging between 45° - 75° F/ 7°-25°C), and a sweater or jacket will usually keep you warm. Winter can be as warm as fall, as rainy as spring, or it can be snowy and freezing (below 32° F/0°C). If you stay during the summer months, it may be pleasantly warm or blazing hot up to 86°F/30°C.