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Once you are accepted into your program, you will be contacted by St. °µÍø½ûÇø’s Designated School Official (DSO) to submit your financial information. International applicants can be admitted academically but must also show the information necessary to obtain a visa. You can calculate your expected tuition expenses via this link (Note: for graduate and adult students, expenses vary for each degree program.)

F-2 Visas for spouse and dependents 

You will also need to consider the cost associated with dependents (F-2 visas). To qualify for F-2 status, a spouse or unmarried minor (under age 21) child must establish to the satisfaction of the consular officer and the immigration officer at the port of entry that:

• The person is the spouse (as evidenced by a valid marriage certificate) or child (as evidenced by a valid birth certificate) of the F-1 principal;
• The person has sufficient funds to cover the dependents’ expenses or that other arrangements have been made to provide for such expenses once in the United States;
• The person "will be accompanying or following to join the principal alien [F-1 student]"
  • If the dependents are following to join the student, "the F-1 student is, or will be within 30 days, enrolled in a full course of study or engaged in approved practical training following completion of studies"
  • He or she intends to leave the United States upon the termination of the status of the principal F-1 student

• Complete Residence Hall and Dining Services Contract if you plan to live at the university
• Make your travel plans and email the information to your DSO.
• Complete immunization form and bring it with you to the U.S. See St. Kate’s immunization requirements.
• Plan to have about $300 USD available for immediate expenses when you arrive. 
• Pack necessary personal items

F-1 students must maintain a full course load for all Fall and Spring semesters.

• 12 credits for undergraduates
• 6 credits for graduates

If you need to drop below full-time, contact your DSO. **Always consult with your DSO before dropping a class. Reasons for dropping below full-time within the first year:

Do not work off campus without authorization from your DSO and/or USCIS. 

Do not let your passport and/or I-20 expire.

Maintain good standing with your academics.

• Undergraduates should maintain at least a 2.0 GPA
• Graduate students should maintain at least a 3.0 GPA

On-campus Employment:
International students are allowed to work in on-campus positions as long as they follow the guidelines below.

• A student may be able to work on-campus in one or more positions that are paid by St. °µÍø½ûÇø. This does not require a new I-20 nor DSO intervention unless the student needs a SSN (see information below on how to acquire a Social Security Number).
• On-campus employment can include positions that are off-campus, but educationally affiliated with the university.
• On-campus employment does not include work with contractors such as building maintenance or construction.
• Students new to the university may not begin working more than 30 days before the actual start of classes.
• During the Fall and Spring semesters, students are allowed to work up to a maximum of 20 total hours per week. During semester breaks, students are allowed to work over 20 hours per week. Recognized semester breaks include Winter break, Thanksgiving/Fall break, Spring break, and Summer break.
• International students cannot work in jobs considered federal work-study positions.
• Once the program end date on a student’s I-20 has passed, they are no longer eligible to work.

Find on-campus employment through

Off-campus Employment:
All international students must obtain work authorization from their DSO to be employed off-campus. These descriptions apply to any type of off-campus employment:

• Paid internships (including those required by an academic program).
• Employment during the summer, winter break, or spring break.
• Employment that receives a stipend, bonus, etc.
• Positions where the individual receives a benefit instead of pay (for example, getting free rent in exchange for babysitting or being a caretaker of an apartment building).

For international students who plan to work, they will need a Social Security Number (SSN) to be used on their I-9. SSNs are used to track income for tax and benefit purposes.

F-1 or J-1, applicant should submit the following as part of their application for a SSN:

• A completed Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card;
• At least two documents that establish the applicant's age and identity including a passport and one additional document establishing identity
• Form I-94 (or CBP I-94 record printout if admitted with an electronic I-94)
• Form I-20 or Form DS-2019
• Proof of employment authorization, depending on the source of authorization
• A letter from their DSO
• A letter from their employer confirming their position.

Letter from the DSO:

A letter - typed or handwritten - on school letterhead from the designated school official (DSO). The letter must identify:

• Student by name
• On-campus employer and nature of the on-campus employment (e.g., waiting tables in the cafeteria, stocking shelves in the library, monitoring lab experiments, receiving a scholarship or reduced tuition fees in exchange for teaching or other services, etc.)
• Must include the DSO's original signature, printed/typed name, telephone number, and date. The Social Security Administration (SSA) cannot accept a letter that does not have an original DSO signature or that lists more than one student.
• In lieu of this separate letter, a DSO may sign off on the information provided in the letter from the employer (described below). The sign-off must contain the DSO's signature, printed name, telephone number, and date.

Letter or documentation from the on-campus employer:

• A recently issued pay slip or pay stub from the F-1 student's employer; or
• Letter from the on-campus employer on the employer's letterhead that provides employment verification, namely:
  • Identity of student employee
  • Nature of the job the student is, or will be, engaged in
  • Anticipated or actual employment start date
  • Number of hours the student is expected to work
  • Employer identification number (EIN)
  • Employer contact information, including the telephone number and the name of the F-1 student's immediate supervisor
  • Original signature and signatory's title
  • Date
  • If the employer is the DSO, the letter verifying employment must come from a separate source, e.g., the department or payroll official that issues the paycheck and is responsible for wage reporting.

International student process .

Social Security Administration