This page contains helpful pre-arrival information, from paying the SEVIS fee and applying for your student visa to making travel arrangements and arriving in Houston.

Information on I-901 SEVIS Fee Requirement for F-1 and J-1 Students

All non-immigrant students and exchange visitors coming to the United States on F-1 or J-1 visa status must pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee, which funds the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) and SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System). This fee is separate from the visa application fee and will not be refunded if the visa application is denied.

The SEVIS fee is currently $350 for F-1 visas and $220 for J-1 visas.

Who must pay the SEVIS fee

You will need to pay the SEVIS fee if:
• You are seeking initial F-1/J-1 status.
• You are returning to F-1/J-1 status under a new, initial SEVIS record

Once paid, the I-901 SEVIS fee is non-refundable unless paid by mistake, even if your visa is denied or you choose not to come to the United States. If your visa is denied and you reapply within 12 months, you will typically not need to pay the fee again.

F-2/J-2 dependents are not required to pay the I-901 SEVIS fee.

For more information, please see https://www.ice.gov/sevis/i901/faq.

Procedures for payment of the SEVIS fee

Currently, individuals can pay the fee by credit or debit card online, by check or money order mailed to SEVP, and by using Western Union Quick Pay. Please note that students and exchange visitors from certain countries cannot pay by credit card online.

Online payments can be made at https://www.fmjfee.com. When paying the fee, please list your name exactly as it is on your I-20/DS-2019.

For more information about the I-901 SEVIS fee, please see https://www.ice.gov/sevis/i901.

For frequently asked questions, please see https://www.ice.gov/sevis/i901/faq.

Applying for your Visa

Coming from abroad

Upon receiving your I-20 or DS-2019, you must apply for your F-1/J-1 visa at a U.S. consulate or embassy (*See exception for Canadian citizens below). We recommend visiting the website of the U.S. Embassy/Consulate where you wish to apply for your visa and follow the procedures for documentation, scheduling your interview, etc. We also have some tips for the visa application process, including a list of helpful videos at https://oiss.rice.edu/visa-tips. In general, you will need to present:

1. A valid passport.
2. A “Certificate of Eligibility” for a temporary stay in the U.S. (Form I-20 or DS-2019 issued by Rice University or another sponsor institution).
3. Financial documents to prove you have the funds required for at least a year’s stay in the U.S. as indicated on the I-20 or until the end of your program as indicated on the DS-2019.
4. Proof of payment of the I-901 SEVIS fee (see more information above).
5. Completed visa application form (DS-160) – indicate your name as stated on your passport and your I-20/DS-2019 to ensure your name on your visa stamp will be displayed correctly.

*Canadian exception: Canadian citizens are not required to obtain a visa stamp in their passports to enter the U.S. on an F-1 or J-1 visa. Instead, they are adjudicated at the Port of Entry when they cross the border into the United States. Please make sure to present your I-20/DS-2019 at the Port of Entry and specify to the officer that you are seeking F-1 or J-1 visa status. Make sure to pay your I-901 SEVIS fee in advance, as the payment cannot be made at the Port of Entry.

Upon clearing immigration, check your I-94 record to ensure it grants F-1 or J-1 status for “D/S” (duration of status). For dependents, it should show F-2 or J-2 status for “D/S.” If it is incorrect, contact OISS immediately. You can download/print your I-94 admission record by visiting https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home.

Coming from another U.S. institution

If you are transferring an existing F-1/J-1 SEVIS record to Rice from another school in the U.S. but will be traveling internationally before starting your program at Rice, show the Immigration Officer your I-20 or DS-2019 from Rice upon re-entry to the United States. You do not need to go to the U.S. consulate unless your student visa has expired.

Changing visa status to F-1/J-1 from another visa category

If you are already in the United States on a different visa category and wish to change your status to an F-1 or J-1 visa, you have two options: 1) travel and apply for a new visa abroad, or 2) request a change of status from USCIS without departing the United States. Please remember that each process has pros and cons, so we recommend speaking with an OISS advisor about which process is most appropriate for you.

Administrative Processing

Only two outcomes are possible at the end of the visa appointment: the consular officer will either issue or refuse the visa. Sometimes, the consular officer may determine that additional information is required before the visa can be issued, and the application must go through further administrative processing. If you need administrative processing, the consular officer will let you know about it at the end of the interview. Although your visa application will be refused at that time, you may be determined to qualify for the visa once the case-specific administrative processing is completed. Therefore, in the case of administrative processing, a visa refusal may not be the final answer. The duration of the administrative processing will vary based on the individual circumstances of each case. For more information, please see the U.S. Department of State's webpage on administrative processing.

Date of Entry to the U.S.

U.S. immigration regulations permit new students to enter the U.S. up to 30 days before but no later than the program start date listed on your I-20/DS-2019. Please be sure to consider this date carefully when making travel plans to the United States. In addition to the mandatory international orientation, please keep in mind any other orientations you may be required to attend by your academic department or First Year Programs.

Late Entry

Entry to the U.S. after the program start date is not guaranteed and is at the discretion of the Port of Entry Officer at the airport and your academic department. In addition, arrival after the registration deadline, typically at the end of the second week of classes, is not permitted even with academic approval. Students who cannot enter the U.S. by the program start date on the I-20/DS-2019 due to visa delays must contact their academic department to request a late arrival approval letter, which they may be asked to present at the U.S. Port of Entry. Please note that OISS will not change the program start date on the I-20/DS-2019.

As a reminder, a late arrival approval letter does not guarantee entry to the U.S., as students should be entering by the program start date listed on their immigration documents. Upon entry, students must immediately complete the immigration check-in process with OISS, which is detailed at https://oiss.rice.edu/orientation.

Students unable to arrive by the registration deadline or by any earlier deadline set by their academic department should discuss options for deferral to a future term with their academic program.

Traveling to the U.S./Houston

Booking your Flight

Houston has two airports – George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and Hobby Airport (HOU)

Arrival Date – Please consider the following requirements when making your travel plans:
1. Your arrival date may not be more than 30 days before the start date indicated on your I-20 or DS-2019 (F-1 students may refer to the Earliest Admission Date as listed on their I-20).
2. Your arrival date must be in time to attend the mandatory international orientation (see our Orientation website for dates/times) and/or any other Rice orientations you must attend.
3. Your arrival date must fall within the validity dates on your visa stamp.

Connecting flights – Plan for longer between flights due to U.S. entry procedures if you don't fly directly to Houston. It can take a long time to go through immigration and customs at your initial U.S. port of entry.

Arriving at the Airport

At the airport where you enter the U.S., an immigration officer will inspect your passport, visa, immigration documents (I-20/DS-2019), admission documents from Rice, and letters indicating how you will be financially supported when living in the United States. Keep these items readily available, and do not pack them in your luggage. After arriving in the U.S., you can access your I-94 admission record at https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home. The I-94 record is very important because it shows your admission status.

The customs officials may inspect your baggage for illegal materials or have CBP canines sniff for drugs. Additionally, electronic devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops, may be opened/unlocked and searched by the officials. If you are uncomfortable with having your electronic property assessed, leaving these items in your checked luggage may be advisable.

Check with your airline or travel agency about restrictions on your airplane carry-on luggage. You must put objects such as knives, sharp scissors, razors, and some liquids in your checked baggage. A list of Prohibited and Restricted Items is available at https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/know-before-you-go/prohibited-and-restricted-items.

Transportation from the Airport

Ground transportation for George Bush Intercontinental Airport: https://fly2houston.com/iah/ground-transportation.
Ground transportation for Hobby Airport: https://fly2houston.com/hou/ground-transportation.

Taxis and other forms of transportation are known to be very safe and reliable in Houston, as opposed to many other major cities in America. Still, avoid bus, metro, and railway stations at night if you're unaccompanied.

Rice University is located at 6100 Main Street, Houston, TX 77005. It is across from Hermann Park and the Texas Medical Center. For directions to campus, please consult http://www.rice.edu/get-to-rice.

Housing

Temporary Housing – Hotels

It is recommended that hotel reservations be made in advance. Ask if there is a discount for Rice students and staff.

• Hotels near Campus: https://campustravel.com/university/rice-university/
• Hotels near George Bush Intercontinental Airport: https://www.fly2houston.com/iah/other-hotels
• Hotels near Hobby Airport: https://www.fly2houston.com/hou/hotels

Permanent Housing

For Rice on-campus housing, please see https://housing.rice.edu/.

Please see our Housing website for off-campus housing resources, including information about utilities.

Please note that apartment scams are, unfortunately, very common in the United States. Please always make sure any apartment posting is legitimate before paying any fees or deposits! For more information, please see the Federal Trade Commission website on rental scams.

What to Bring

Clothing

Houston weather is hot and humid in the summer and generally mild in the winter, though we occasionally have freezing temperatures. Temperatures are above 90° F (32° C) for much of the summer, but buildings are usually air-conditioned and can get quite cold indoors. Clothing needs range from light summer cotton to medium-weight winter coats, jackets, and sweaters. Rain can be expected at any time of the year. A light raincoat and umbrella are useful. An all-weather coat or jacket is ideal for the winter.

Completed Health Data Form

Obtain all the required immunizations and get a recent physical examination by a qualified health professional before coming to Rice. The Rice University Health Data Form must be completed and submitted to the Rice University Student Health Services before you can register for classes. Please contact the Student Health Services directly with any questions about your Health Data Form.

Health Insurance

Standard Rice health insurance plans (Aetna and Wellfleet) have an effective start date of August 1 or January 1. If you will be arriving earlier or starting your program in the summer, you must secure an alternate insurance plan that will cover you until your school plan becomes effective. You may select a plan from any insurance company for this interim period. However, we recommend Atlas Insurance as a good option, as it has the flexibility of enrolling for the number of days you need, and some plans may also meet the minimum requirements for specific visa categories, such as the J-1. For more information, please visit http://www.internationalstudentinsurance.com/travel-medical-insurance/.

Money

Make sure to bring sufficient funds in U.S. currency to cover larger initial expenses, including items like the annual health insurance fees, hotel or other temporary accommodations, housing deposits, utility deposits, food, books and supplies, transportation, etc. In addition, to open a bank account and have your money available immediately, you must deposit cash or initiate a wire transfer from an account overseas. For information on opening a bank account in the U.S., please take a look at the Banking website. Rice's Bursar's Office has many payment options for paying your student bill. Please visit their website for detailed options, including an option specifically for international payments using Flywire.

Credit Card

We recommend you apply for a credit card in your home country before coming to Houston, as it will allow you to charge for many initial expenses. In the U.S., you may not be able to get a credit card before you have established your credit history, and many international students' credit card requests get turned down because of this. Also, many people use credit or debit cards instead of cash. For information on opening a bank account in the U.S., please see the Banking website.

Electric Outlet Converter

The U.S. uses Types A and B electrical outlets. Make sure that you have converters/adapters for any electronic devices you bring that will need to be used or charged immediately. For more information, please consult https://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/.

Miscellaneous Information

Prices

In the United States, the price of an item in a store is typically the cost before sales taxes. In Houston, the sales tax rate is 8.25%. This amount will be added when you pay.

Tipping

Gratuity (tip) is usually not included in restaurants in the United States. It is standard for the customer to add an additional amount (usually about 15-20%) for the waiter/waitress. Tipping is also customary for other service providers, such as hairdressers, taxi drivers, bartenders, and food deliveries.

Measurements

The U.S. does not use the metric system, which is common in most other countries worldwide. To learn more about the United States customary units, please see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_customary_units.

Please also see our onboarding webpage at https://oiss.rice.edu/onboarding