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Initial International Students

As an initial international student coming from your own home country, the information below will help you plan for your study at TWU.
 
The F-1 Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) involves many moving parts. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Study in the States website offers interactive tools to navigate the international student process, including how to apply for an F-1 student visa & pay the required SEVIS fee. Explore Study in the States 
The I-901 SEVIS Fee payment is required before you can obtain an F-1 Student Visa.
 
International students have 2 deadlines:
 
  1. ADMISSIONS APPLICATION DEADLINE 
Semester Start Date Preferred Deadline Final Deadline
Fall semester April 1 June 1
Spring Semester August 1 November 1
Summer Semester* March 1 April 1
*only applies to academic programs that are eligible to begin in the Summer
  1. IMMIGRATION DEADLINE
Accepted students must submit all required immigration documents by the following dates
Semester Start Date Deadline
Fall Semester August 1
Spring Semester December 1
Summer Semester* May 1
*only applies to academic programs that are eligible to begin in the Summer
Applications for admission to TWU are processed as they are received, without regard to semester deadlines. International students on an F1 Visa that have been admitted to TWU, must also satisfy all of the immigration admissions requirements through the International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) office in order to begin their program of study. If the immigration deadline has passed, students who are out-of-the-country may be accepted to TWU but will need to defer admission to the next available semester for which they have submitted all required documents to ISSS. Those documents must be validated and approved.

TWU ISSS will make every effort to process your Form I-20 in time for you to obtain an F-1 visa. However, based on the varied Visa processing times of individual countries there is no guarantee you will obtain a visa in time to begin your studies in your preferred semester. Please be as proactive in this process as possible, and be aware that you may have to defer to the next available semester.

Which degrees at TWU are eligible for the OPT STEM extension?
STEM eligible degrees are:
BIOLOGY
Biology BA 10204 26.0101 UD BIOL Biology BA
Biology BS 10204 26.0101 UD BIOL Biology BS
Biology MS 10204 26.0101 GM BIOL Biology MS
Medical Technology BS 10212 51.1005 UD BIOL MedTech BS
Molecular Biology PhD 10216 26.0204 GD BIOL MolecularBiol.PHD
Biotechnology PSM 10226 26.1201 GM BIOL Biotech.PSM
CHEMISTRY/BIOCHEMISTRY
Biochemistry BS 10602 26.0202 UD CHEM Biochemistry.BS
Chemistry BA 10604 40.0501 UD CHEM Chemistry.BA
Chemistry BS 10604 40.0501 UD CHEM Chemistry.BS
Chemistry MS 10604 40.0501 GM CHEM Chemistry.MS
Environmental Chemistry BS 03.0104 Envchemistry.BS
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
Environmental Science BS 03.0104 Envscience.BS
MATHEMATICS/COMPUTER SCIENCE
Computer Science BS 11604 11.0101 UD CSCI CompSci.BS
Mathematics BA 11608 27.0101 UD MATH Math.BA
Mathematics BS 11608 27.0101 UD MATH Math.BS
Mathematics MA 11608 27.0101 GM MATH Math.MA
Mathematics MS 11608 27.0101 GM MATH Math.MS
Informatics BS 11614 11.0104 UD MATH Info.BS
Health Informatics BS 11616  51.2706 MATH InfoHlth.BS
NUTRITION/FOOD SCIENCES
Nutrition BS 45024 30.1901 UD NFS Nuition.BS
Nutrition MS 45024 30.1901 GM NFS Nutrition.MS
Nutrition PhD 45024 30.1901 GD NFS Nutrition. PhD
Once you have been accepted to TWU, International Student & Scholar Services will receive a copy of your acceptance letter, and email you additional details in order to validate your F1 admission and issue your Form I-20.

Next Steps
  1. Gather required documentation:
    • copy of your passport
    • appropriate financial resources - the total amount for financial documents may vary from year to year based on updates to tuition and cost of living. The most updated certification of finances document is accessible when you log in to request your initial I-20. 
      • Upload your documents via the International Student Portal. To access your International Student Portal, please click this link: https://international.twu.edu/. Find the LOGIN option on the upper right corner of the screen when using a PC/Desktop computer. Login as a new student using your TWU student email and password. You will find your Initial I-20 request and International Student Orientation module for completion.
Flowchart for I-20 issuance
Your Initial Attendance I-20 will be emailed to you. Please print and sign it on page 1. You may use this as your original to request an F-1 visa.
International students wanting to change their current visa status (B-1, H-1, F-2, etc.) to F-1 must submit a Change of Status Request. In order to change status, your current visa must be valid. This change of status must be approved before beginning a program of study as an F1 International student. 
TWU supports various scholarship opportunities specifically intended for international students. Initial students are eligible for merit-based scholarships for the first year of study. They are not eligible for need-based scholarships. Explore Scholarship Opportunities
As per TWU policy, all new (initial) international students, newly transferred international students, and those considered to be international students who were born in, resided in, or traveled to a country other than the United States are required to have completed the screening process for tuberculosis (TB Blood testing only) prior to registering for class and take and receive a negative TB test result before beginning classes. TB tests must be conducted in the U.S. Explore Tuberculosis Screening

Initial international students should plan to arrive at least 4-5 business days before the start of classes in order to have the TB test administered and receive the results.
Orientation is mandatory for all new (initial and transfer) international students to TWU. More details regarding International Student Orientation, arriving on campus, placement tests, and health insurance will be provided once you are accepted to TWU.
Once you have been admitted to TWU and received your Form I-20 from the ISSS office, click here to learn more about Getting Started at TWU