Admitted F-1 and J-1 Students

Students admitted to full-time, in-person programs of study at Georgetown are eligible for F-1 status. Non-degree exchanges study in J-1 status. Degree seeking students may be required by their funding sponsor to apply for J-1. This F-1 & J-1 Summary Chart (PDF) details the conditions of each U.S. student visa type.

To apply for a U.S. student visa, each student must first obtain a Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status: F-1 Form I-20 or J-1 Form DS-2019. Students who transfer active F-1 or J-1 status from another school must request a Georgetown immigration document even if they do not need a new U.S. visa in their passport.

Students upload their immigration document request to the Office of Global Services (OGS). Best practice is to request this form at least two months before studies begin. The final request deadline is one month before the start of classes, but requesting near this deadline may not allow time to obtain a U.S. visa.

Students who receive a Form DS-2019 from a non-Georgetown sponsor (e.g. Fulbright, IIE, AMIDEAST, etc.) should share their information via the J-1 Report as an International Student Form.

Georgetown allows enrollment regardless of U.S. immigration status. Many non-U.S. citizens identify as international students but do not pursue F-1 or J-1 status because they hold another status in the United States.