Graduate International Admitted Students

Here are a few important deadlines and details to help you prepare for your first semester on campus.

You can begin the process of receiving your I-20 once you have accepted your admission and have paid your deposit in your Application Access Page. I-20 documents are typically created and sent within seven–10 business days after you have paid your deposit. After your I-20 has been created, it will be sent electronically to your email account. Physical I-20s are no longer being sent and the electronic I-20 is sufficient for your visa appointment. If you are from Iran, we cannot ship your documents express; your documents will be sent via United States Postal Service, unless you have provided us an alternative address outside of Iran for shipping. 

Students must pay a $300 non-refundable tuition deposit. A deposit is required for all students. For international students, it is also necessary to receive an I-20 to apply for a visa. You can pay the deposit by logging into your Application Access Page.

Please note, this is not an additional fee, it is an advance payment that will be applied toward your first semester tuition bill. For international students, the deposit is refundable upon request if you are unable to secure a visa and elect not to defer your admission. See the FAQ below for how to request a refund.

Why Do We Require a Deposit?

Your deposit allows your academic department to plan ahead and deliver the best academic experience possible. It also signals your commitment to Illinois Tech and enables our faculty to prepare for your arrival.

Financial support documents must be submitted to the Office of Global Services using your Application Access Page. We cannot create your I-20 until all immigration requirements have been received and approved by this office. Please allow at least two weeks from the date we receive your documents for processing. Read complete details on the PDF files:

Financial Affidavit of Responsibility

You will receive an email once your I-20 is ready to download. After downloading the I-20, please take note of the SEVIS ID number listed at the top of the form. Use your SEVIS number to secure your visa appointment as early as possible.

Go here to learn more about obtaining a U.S. Visa from the U.S. Department of State – Bureau of Consular Affairs

Current visa wait time information is available at the United States Department of State website. The United States Department of Homeland Security requires a one-time SEVIS fee for all F-1 and J-1 visa applicants. Learn more about detailed payment instructions and answers to frequently asked questions at fmjfee.com/i901fee/index.jsp.

THE VISA INTERVIEW
To assist you in the preparation, we would like to offer you helpful tips for the process based on input from NAFSA Association of International Educators, the United States Department of State, and Illinois Tech faculty. You may also find detailed information at the following websites: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/study.html and https://educationusa.state.gov/

To schedule your interview, you will need the following information:
Full college name: Illinois Institute of Technology
College address: 3300 South Federal Street, Chicago, IL 60616
College code: CHI214F00379000

12 POINTS TO REMEMBER

1. Ties to your home country: Under United States law, all applicants for nonimmigrant visas, such as student visas, are viewed as intending immigrants until they can convince the consular officer that they are not.
2. English: Anticipate that the interview will be conducted in English and not in your native language.
3. Speak for yourself: Do not bring parents, family members, or friends with you to the interview.
4. Know the program and how it fits your career plans: Be prepared to articulate the reasons why you will study in a particular program and your selected institution in the United States. You should also be able to explain how studying at Illinois Tech relates to your future professional career when you return home.
5. If you are pursuing a professional master's degree or a non-thesis master of science degree, you should be prepared to explain that your assigned adviser is an academic adviser only, and that the degree is coursework only and will not include a research component.
6. If you are pursuing a master of science degree with thesis or a Ph.D. and you are NOT entering as a research assistant, you should be prepared to explain that your assigned adviser is an initial academic adviser and that research topics for a thesis and a research adviser are selected after successful completion of at least one semester of coursework and possibly after a qualifying examination (depending on the program). If you are asked about potential research topics, you should be prepared with information about the research currently being done by faculty members in your department since these are going to be your choices for research topics at Illinois Tech.
7. If you are pursuing a Ph.D. degree and you are entering as a research assistant, your assigned adviser IS your research adviser, and you should be prepared to discuss the projects that your adviser has indicated you will be working on. In this case, you should come prepared to present a copy of your research adviser’s biography, which some embassies request. You can find adviser and faculty biographies at Lewis College of Science or Armour College of Engineering.
8. Be brief: Because of the volume of applications received, all consular officers are under considerable time pressure to conduct a quick and efficient interview. Keep in mind that you will have 2–3 minutes of interview time. Bring additional documents as described above but only present them if requested.
9. Additional documentation: It should be clear to the consular officer what documents you are presenting and what they signify. Not all countries are equal: Applicants from countries suffering economic problems or from countries where many students have remained in the United States as immigrants will have more difficulty getting visas.
10. Employment: Your main purpose in coming to the United States is to study and complete your degree, not for the chance to work before or after graduation.
11. Dependents remaining at home: If you have a spouse or children and they are remaining in your home country, be prepared to address how they will support themselves in your absence.
12. Maintain a positive attitude: Do not engage the consular officer in an argument.
     

Note: visa denials or delays—If your visa is denied or issuance is delayed due to additional administrative processing, and you need a letter of support from Illinois Tech, please direct your written request to your graduate admission specialist.

If your F-1 student admission eligibility is unable to be determined by United States Customs and Border Protection (CPB), you will have 30 days to mail original documents, including the Form I-94, to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). You can avoid 30-day admission by carrying proper valid documents upon entering the U.S. These include: (1) passport, (2) I-20, and (3) F-1 visa.

CBP determines your F-1 student admission eligibility based upon the issuance of your Form I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status), your passport, and your F-1 visa. A CBP officer who is unable to verify admission eligibility will issue a Form I-515A, or temporary entry into the United States. The Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, which CBP issues in conjunction with the Form I-515A, has a limited validity period of 30 days from the date of issuance. This means that you are admitted to the United States for only 30 days.

As indicated on the Form I-515A instructions, SEVP must receive original documents from you within the 30-day admission period. You must mail the documents, including the Form I-94, to SEVP at the address listed on the Form I-515A to meet the Form I-94 expiration deadline (30 days). This will allow you to avoid termination of the SEVIS record and the need to file with USCIS for reinstatement.

If SEVP does not receive the required documentation by the Form I-94 expiration date, your SEVIS record status will terminate on the next day. After termination, the only options are to (1) leave the United States or (2) file for reinstatement to F-1 status. Reinstatement costs $290 and takes from two and a half to four months for approval. While pending reinstatement you may not work on or off campus and may not accept tuition and stipend payments for research, teaching, or graduate assistantships.

To avoid I-515A 30-day admission, you are advised to carry proper valid documents with you upon entry to the United States. This includes the following:

1. Passport
2. I-20 (Returning students must also have a valid travel signature on the third page. New students do not need a travel signature.)
3. F-1 visa
   
   Upon proper admission in F-1 status, the I-94 will indicate D/S, Duration of Status. This means that you may remain in the United States as long as your I-20 and SEVIS record are valid.

Illinois Tech’s Office of Global Services assists international students as they prepare to begin graduate studies at the university. For complete information about international student pre-arrival procedures, arrival in the United States, transportation to campus, and check-in requirements, please visit the Office of Global Services or contact the office directly at global@iit.edu or 312.567.3680.

All international students must check in within two business days upon arrival to Illinois Tech. Please submit a “New Student Check-In” request in the ISSS Portal to be processed by the Office of Global Services staff.

Arriving in the U.S. 

International students must arrive on campus no later than the start date listed on their I-20. International students are allowed to arrive as late as the deadline to add or drop courses. Please refer to the official Illinois Tech Academic Calendar for specific dates.

If you do not expect to arrive by the add/drop deadline, then you will need to defer your admission and I-20 to the following semester (if eligible). There are no exceptions for an international student to arrive after the add/drop deadline. A late visa appointment is not an excusable reason for a late arrival. 

All international students on F-1 or J-1 visas are required to purchase Illinois Tech's student health insurance policy. Spouses of students and/or minor children can purchase insurance, if desired. For more information, visit the Student Health and Wellness Center or contact the office directly at student.health@iit.edu or 312.567.7550.

Students are required to submit proof of immunization against certain communicable diseases to the Student Health and Wellness Center. Individuals who are not properly immunized or who do not have proof of immunization may receive the required immunizations at the Student Health Center for a nominal fee. For more information, visit Student Health and Wellness Center or contact the office directly at student.health@iit.edu or 312.567.7550.

Complete information about orientation activities will be posted on the Graduate Orientation (GO) website near the beginning of the semester. Questions about orientation should be directed to soar@iit.edu.

You will be contacted by your individual college about academic advising and course registration. Keep in mind you cannot receive academic advising or register for courses until your deposit is paid. International students are encouraged to register for courses while working on the I-20 process. The I-20 is not a requirement for registration, and so the I-20 does not prevent you from registering for your courses.

For additional assistance with registration, please contact your academic department. 

English Language Services offers Communication for Academic and Professional Success (CAPS) courses for international graduate students. CAPS courses focus on building multilingual students’ communications and critical thinking skills in unique interdisciplinary classroom environments. This opportunity allows for students to begin studying their academic program of choice in addition to receiving additional support for a successful transition. If required to take English language courses as a condition of your admission, this will be communicated in your official admission offer to the University. For more information, please view the English Language Services’ Graduate Courses page. 

Tuition is due on the first day of classes each term. To learn more about tuition and fee rates, payment methods, and payment plans, visit the Student Accounting Office website or contact that office directly at sa@iit.edu or 312.567.3794.

Your admission to Illinois Tech was contingent on your completion of a bachelor’s degree.  

Upon enrollment at Illinois Tech, you must present, either electronically from your institution or sealed documents physically:

• All original, final transcript(s) and/or individual mark sheets from your bachelor’s institution
• All diploma(s) and/or degree(s) with an official English translation, if necessary  

You have two options for submitting these documents; please select only one option:

• Have your attending institution send them electronically to Illinois Tech.  
• You may bring physical sealed documents to the Office of Graduate Admission in Perlstein Hall, room 206, where staff will scan and retain an electronic version of these documents for evaluation.

You will retain a “Final Docs” hold on your student account until these documents are submitted. This may prevent your course registration and restrict your ability to obtain your Illinois Tech transcripts.

Final documents should be submitted as soon as they are available to you but must be submitted before you apply for graduation. Failure to provide the required documents will result in a hold of your Illinois Tech graduation diploma, your academic transcripts, and possible further action by Graduate Academic Affairs. 

You must present official, original transcripts and degree certificates issued by your institution. If the transcripts are in their original language (non-English), please include a professional English translation.

Please read transcript policies and information, if you are from one of the countries listed below:

Transcripts from Institutions in Iran 

You must present original, official transcripts and degree certificates in Farsi, stamped and signed by the issuing institution and accompanied by word-for-word English translations. If your original transcripts are issued by the institution in English, a corresponding Farsi version is not required.  

NOTE: Translations must be made by a professional translator but may be stamped by the Ministry of Education. For English translation services, we recommend consulting http://www.atanet.org.

Transcripts from Institutions from Pakistan 

You must present all original mark sheets for all terms and the original degree diploma for all degrees. Please note that attested copies will not be accepted.

If you have received a three-year degree, or are part of a sandwich program, you must present any and all mark sheets from your pre-diploma courses or master’s degree. All mark sheets must contain all marks for all attempts at each examination. Any failures MUST be shown; consolidated transcripts cannot be accepted. If the statements of marks include abbreviated paper titles, or numbered papers without titles, please provide complete course titles.

Transcripts from Institutions in Ghana, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone 

You must have your academic transcripts sent directly to our office by your institution. Please use the following mailing address:

Office Of Graduate Admission 
10 West 33rd Street, Room 206 
Chicago, IL 60616, USA 

You must present all original mark sheets for all terms and the original degree diploma for all degrees. Please note that attested copies will not be accepted.

If you have received a three-year degree, or are part of a sandwich program, you must present any and all mark sheets from your pre-diploma courses or master's degree. All mark sheets must contain all marks for all attempts at each examination. Any failures MUST be shown; consolidated transcripts cannot be accepted. If the statements of marks include abbreviated paper titles, or numbered papers without titles, please provide complete course titles.

NOTE: Exceptions for consolidated transcripts are for any IIT (Indian Institute of Technology) institution and Anna University.

Who is eligible for a refund (international students only)?

International students who are unable to secure a visa and choose not to defer their admission may request a refund of the $300 tuition deposit.

How to request a refund:

Please email grad.admission@iit.edu with the following information:

• Your Illinois Tech Applicant ID
• Proof of visa denial from the U.S. Embassy
• Your bank information, including:
  • Bank Name
  • Bank Address
  • Account Number
  • Routing Number
  • SWIFT Code

Processing Time:

Refund requests will be reviewed and processed within 30 days after all required documentation is received.