Skip to content

Incoming Students

Congratulations on your admission or re-entry admission to UW-Madison! We are glad you chose to become a Global Badger! You can find more information on steps to follow to Become a Global Badger here!
 
Step 1Will you attend as an F-1 or J-1 student? Over 90% of our students come on an F-1 student visa. You can review our F/J comparison chart 
Step 2: Which situation describes you? The most common options are listed in order below.   
Step 3Click the link below that describes your situation. Read the instructions. Submit your request. 
 

F-1 New Student – Request an Initial Attendance I-20

  • You are outside the U.S. applying for an F-1 student visa (citizens of Canada and Bermuda do not need to apply for an F-1 student visa, but you still need an I-20). Re-entry admission students are eligible.  


F-1 Visiting International Student Program I-20 Request

  • This request is only for Visiting International Student Program (VISP) students. If you are not a VISP student, please complete the F-1 New Student request. 
  • You are outside the U.S. applying for an F-1 student visa (citizens of Canada and Bermuda do not need to apply for an F-1 student visa, but you still need an I-20). Re-entry admission students are eligible. 


F-1 SEVIS Transfer-in Student – Request a Transfer Pending I-20

  • You study at a U.S. secondary or post-secondary institution as an F-1 student. Your current F-1 I-20 SEVIS record is in “active” status. The transfer of your current SEVIS record must be completed before the end of your 60-day grace period. Your last date of enrollment or I-20 program end date must be 5 months or less from the semester start date for which you are admitted.  
  • If you are on Optional Practical Training (OPT) or OPT STEM Extension, your last date of employment or maximum 90th day of unemployment must be 5 months or less from the start date of the semester for which you are admitted at UW-Madison 
  • You can be inside or outside of the U.S. If you are outside the U.S. and your current F-1 visa is expired, you will need to apply for a new F-1 visa with your UW-Madison I-20 
 

F-1 Change of Education Level Student 

  • You studied at UW-Madison as an F-1 student. Your current F-1 I-20 SEVIS record is in “active” status. The update to your current SEVIS record must be completed before the end of your 60-day grace period. Your last date of enrollment or I-20 program end date must be 5 months or less from the semester start date for which you are admitted.
  • If you are on Optional Practical Training (OPT) or OPT STEM Extension, your last date of employment or maximum 90th day of unemployment must be 5 months or less from the start date of the semester for which you are admitted at UW-Madison 
  • You can be inside or outside of the U.S. If you are outside the U.S. and your current F-1 visa is expired, you will need to apply for a new F-1 visa with your Change of Education Level I-20.  
 

J-1 Exchange Student Request –Request an Initial Attendance DS-2019 

  • You are outside the U.S. applying for a J-1 student visa as an exchange student. You are on an official exchange program through UW Study Abroad or Wisconsin School of Business International Programs.
 

J-1 New Student – Request an Initial Attendance DS-2019 

  • You are outside the U.S. applying for a J-1 student visa for a degree-seeking program.  Re-entry admission students are eligible.  
 

J-1 SEVIS Transfer-in Student – Request a Transfer DS-2019  

  • You study at a U.S. post-secondary institution as a J-1 student. Your current J-1 DS-2019 SEVIS record is in “active” status. This is a long process and requires you to meet with an ISS advisor at UW-Madison and your current DS-2019 sponsor. The transfer of your current SEVIS record must be completed before your DS-2019 program end date. Your last date of enrollment or DS-2019 program end date must be 5 months or less from the semester start date for which you are admitted.  
    • If you are outside the U.S., you must apply for a new J-1 visa with your UW-Madison DS-2019.  
 

Change of U.S. Visa Status to F-1 or J-1 

  • You are currently in the U.S. with a visa status that is not F-1 or J-1 student. You must coordinate your change of status with an ISS Advisor at UW-Madison 
    • Examples of current status: F-2, J-2, H4, L-2  

J-1 Change of Education Level Student 

  • You study at UW-Madison as an J-1 student. Your current J-1 DS-2019 SEVIS record is in “active” status and it is before your program end date. 
  • You can only move up in education levels. It is not possible to change your education level to a lower degree level, or to move from non-degree (exchange or visiting student) to degree-seeking (to earn a degree from UW-Madison) 
 

International Student Orientation (ISO) & ISS Check-in 

All incoming students are required to complete ISO & ISS Check-in within 15 days of the I-20 or DS-2019 program start date. This is step 10 in the Becoming a Global Badger webpage.