International Student Information
VISA Information
International students must follow the same graduate admissions process as all other applicants by the final deadline in order to be considered for admissions. The visa process is only for students who have been admitted to the Milken Institute School of Public Health and have accepted their offer. Students who fail to apply or complete their visa paperwork in a timely manner are at risk of not being able to begin their academic journey with GWSPH on time.
International admitted students who accepted their offers of admission must submit their complete visa request and financial certification paperwork by the following deadlines to request an I-20 or DS-2019 from GW. If you have any questions, please contact us via email at gwsphadmit
gwu [dot] edu (gwsphadmit[at]gwu[dot]edu).
Deadline to submit I-20/DS-2019 request paperwork for Summer Admission:
- April 1* (Initial - Outside US)
- May 1* (Transfer - Inside US)
Deadline to submit I-20/DS-2019 request paperwork for Fall Admission:
- June 1* (Initial - Outside US)
- June 30* (Transfer - Inside US)
Deadline to submit I-20/DS-2019 request paperwork for Spring Admission:
- November 1* (Initial - Outside US)
- December 1* (Transfer - Inside US)
*Please note that dates are subject to change based on international visa regulations.
Please note: we will not process any documents until you have accepted admission into a degree program and have paid the deposit.
Steps to Obtain an I-20 or DS-2019 Form
- Visa Request Form
The Visa Request form (PDF) provides details about your immigration status and funding sources.
To complete the form correctly, ensure that you:
• Are using a current version of the form. Older versions will not be accepted.
• Provide your permanent address outside of the U.S.
• Share your birth city and birth country
• Enter the correct semester, year, school, degree, and program in which you are enrolling.
• Sign and date the document. If funding is provided by a sponsor, the “Official Certification by Family of Individual Sponsor” section of the Visa Request form must be completed and signed by both you and your sponsor.Please fill out all questions thoroughly and carefully. The Source of Funds table on page 2 must be completed for the duration of your program (two years for a Master’s program, and five years for a Doctoral program).
- Proof of Financial Support
To receive an I-20, all F-1 students are required to prove that they can financially support themselves during their studies in the US due to DHS regulations. We ask that students do this by demonstrating funding equal to or greater than the estimated cost of attending GW, as detailed on the Visa Request Form.
Students may show a combination of types of funding, including scholarships, personal funding, and sponsored funding. All intended funding must be included on the Source of Funds table on the Visa Request Form.
Financial documents must meet the following requirements:
- Must be in English. If documents are not in English you must include an official English translation.
- Indicate the currency of funds.
- Have an issue date that is no more than 12 months from the time you plan to begin your studies.
- Be on official letterhead (a self-typed note is not acceptable).
The Financial Document Checklist provides a list of the types of financial documents we can and cannot accept as proof of funding for an I-20 request.
Self-Support or Individual Funds:
If you are using personal funds in your name, you must show that you have sufficient funds for the entire length of your program (two years for a master’s program or five years for a PhD program).All funds must be in cash (e.g., checking or savings accounts) and not subject to withdrawal restrictions. Funding in stocks and other long term investments will not be accepted.
If you do not have sufficient funds for the entire duration of your program, a sponsor must agree to provide support for the remaining amount.
Individual/Family Sponsored Funding:
If a family member or other individuals will provide your funding, your sponsor must show they have sufficient funds for at least one year of your program.Bank documents should include the name of the account holder, the liquid funds currently available in the account, the currency, and be dated within the past twelve months.
If you have more than one individual or family sponsor, each sponsor must complete and sign their own copy of page 2 of the Visa Request Form.
Funding From GW:
If you are offered funding from GW, you will be provided with a funding letter via email. You should submit a pdf copy of this letter as part of your funding documents.If the funding is sufficient to cover all of the expenses for the duration of your program, you will not be required to submit additional proof of funding. If the funding package is less than the full amount, you must have your own funding or funding from another sponsor to make up the difference. Please note that a completed Visa Request form (PDF) is required even if you are being fully funded by GW.
Loans:
Loans in your name only are considered Self-Support or personal funds. Loans with a co-signer are considered Family/Individual Sponsored funding.Loans must be fully sanctioned and approved for at least one year. Loans that are considered to be personal funds must include language stating that the loan is renewable.
*Government Sponsorship: If sponsored by your government, please disregard the bank statement requirement. In lieu of the bank statement you will need to provide the official guarantee form as issued by the government sponsor. The guarantee form will need to include: your legal name, program name (i.e. PhD in Epidemiology), and should clearly articulate the expenses that will be covered (i.e. tuition, living expenses, etc).
Below is an estimated table of the Cost of Attendance** for 2025-2026. Cost is subject to change.
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**Cost of attendance reflects the estimated cost of tuition per year, living expenses, books, fees, and health insurance. You must show this full amount regardless of living arrangements. This estimate does not include dependent costs.**
**Students joining within the Summer 2025 semester should showcase a yearly cost amount of $71,827.**
- Passport
You must submit a clear scan of the biographical page of your passport. Please ensure that the entire machine-readable zone is visible and legible.
The passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the start date of the program (this is required for entry into the U.S.)
Passport scans of all dependents must also be provided, if applicable.
- Transfer Documents
Upon admission, you will need to submit a GW SEVIS Transfer-in Form. The following steps will assist you in having your SEVIS transferred to GW:
- You should fill the student portion of the form and sign it.
- To request a SEVIS transfer, you will need to grant GW access to your I-20. Therefore, please give your GW transfer form to your current international advisor. The GW Transfer form must be completed by the school official and submitted to gwsphadmitgwu [dot] edu (gwsphadmit[at]gwu[dot]edu) email address. Note: the SEVIS release date (Question #8) must be indicated on the form.
- Once submitted to GW to the email address noted above, an official will determine if you are eligible for a SEVIS transfer.
- After your SEVIS transfer release date, GW will be able to access your SEVIS record. Thereafter, GW will create a new I-20 for you.
*GW's SEVIS School Code is WAS214F00020000. Please use this code upon submission.
Additional Requirements: International applicants currently in the United States must also submit:
- A legible copy of your current United States Visa
- A legible copy of your most recent I-94 entry card
- If you were in F-1 or J-1 status in the past, copies of your previous I-20 or DS-2019 and accompanying I-94's are needed.
Students on F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT) should also submit:
- A copy of the Employment Authorization Card (EAD)
- OPT Forfeit Letter (expressing the date the student will stop working and transfer the I-20 can be issued).
- Dependent Information Form
If you are planning to bring a spouse or dependent with you to the U.S., you must complete the Dependent Information form (PDF).
Additional funding must be provided for your dependents according to the instructions listed on the Visa Request Form.
- Submit Visa Request
Submit all completed visa request documents via email to gwsphadmit
gwu [dot] edu (gwsphadmit[at]gwu[dot]edu). Documents should be submitted together as a PDF packet.If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our office via email at gwsphadmit
gwu [dot] edu (gwsphadmit[at]gwu[dot]edu).
E-Delivery of Your I-20 or DS-2019
Once your I-20/DS-2019 has been approved, the International Services Office will email you at your GW email address with your I-20 and a Welcome Packet. Please make sure that you have access to your GW account and are checking it regularly. You will need to print out and sign the I-20 document to take with you to your visa interview.
Resources
- Visa Application Materials
Here are the relevant forms and materials for the visa application process:
- The International Services Office (ISO)
The ISO is the university’s student immigration and international student support center. If you have any questions regarding student immigration issues, please refer to their website and contact them directly.
- The Graduate Enrollment Management Office
The Graduate Enrollment Management Office has information for prospective graduate students at GWU, including information regarding international student admissions requirements and funding. Please refer to their website for all information regarding international student funding that is not part of your admissions package.
- EducationUSA
EducationUSA is a U.S. Department of State network of over 430 international student advising centers in more than 175 countries and territories. It provides international students with valuable knowledge on applying to U.S. colleges and universities.
- Study in the States
Study in the States is a U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) website that helps explain the visa process and informs about rules and regulations of student visas.
- 10 Points to Remember When Applying for a Student Visa
The National Association of Foreign Student Advisors (NAFSA) created this article which may be helpful to review when preparing for visa interviews.