With the exception of Canadians, international students must apply for a student visa to study in the United States.
Canadian students only need a passport and a I-20 or DS-2019.
After receiving your I-20 or DS-2019:
Receipt of a I-20 or DS-2019 does not guarantee issuance of a visa. Receipt of an F-1 or J-1 visa does not guarantee entry into the U.S. The Customs and Border Protection officers will determine admissibility after reviewing immigration documents.
Learn more:
Some students applying to U.S. universities report being asked by a third party to pay an I-20 processing fee. This is a fraudulent. There is no I-20 fee.
Proceed with caution when enlisting a third-party application service. It may not be honest and is most likely not an authorized representative of the university.
If you are in the U.S. on visa status other than F-1, view the requirements, documentation and procedures for changing to an F-1 visa.