Incoming Students

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 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