Apply as an international student if you are not considered a U.S. citizen or permanent
resident of the United States.
New International Student Orientation is mandatory for all international students
and is very beneficial for a successful transition into West Chester University. Don’t
forget to let us know when you will arrive by reserving your place for Orientation.
Part-time student jobs are listed on West Chester University’s Career Development
Website. International student workers may work up to 20 hours per week during the
academic semester.
Information about West Chester university tuition, billing, payments and other services
are available online or by calling 610-436-2552.
Once you have paid your deposit and submitted the required documents, an I-20 will
be emailed to you via your WCU email address.
Yes, you may request that the I-20 form be sent by express mail. Requesting the document through express mail is at your expense and your credit
card will be charged upon requesting this service. If you choose this option, you will need your RamNetID, email address, phone number, mailing address and a
valid credit card (Visa, Mastercard or Discover cards only).
**Please note, we are currently NOT mailing I-20s. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic we
are able to email via secure platform, therefore your I-20 will be sent to your WCU
email account.
If you are currently studying in the U.S. with non-immigrant student status, ask your
current school to transfer your SEVIS record to West Chester University. Note that SEVIS records cannot be transferred
to West Chester University until you have been officially accepted into the university.
SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) is a result of the 1996 Immigration
Act, which mandated that a fee should be charged to all new F-1 and J-1 visa holders
in order to fund the federal student and scholar database.
For your safety, West Chester University requires all international students with
non-immigrant student (F-1 or J1) status to maintain health insurance that meets the minimum standard as determined by the U.S. Department of State. In addition, the U.S. Department of
State requires that all individuals in Exchange Visitor (J-1) status also meet the
minimum insurance requirement.
The U.S. government allows international students to enter the country as early as
30 days before the program start date indicated on your I-20/DS 2019.
West Chester University’s Global Engagement Office is the best place to get help with
complicated immigration issues. For additional information about immigration services
in the United States, visit the U.S Citizen and Immigration Services website.
- Passport (valid for at least 6 months into the future)
- F-1 or J-1 Visa (Canadian citizens exempt)
- SEVIS Form I-20 (F-1) or DS-2019 (J-1)
- SEVIS fee receipt
- Supporting financial documentation
- Proof of course registration
It is also recommended to review the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) travel
FAQs before coming into the U.S. Students must be prepared to complete forms about
items being brought into the U.S.
