Travel Documents

International Student Addendum
The International Student Addendum form is used to help colleges and universities obtain accurate financial information from students who wish to study in the U.S. This form must be completed and returned to the Office of Admissions before the Certificate of Eligibility can be authorized and issued.

Certification of Eligibility (I-20 or DS-2019)
Since you have accepted an offer of admission from Rider University, you will receive a Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student (F-1) Status or a DS2019 for Exchange Visitor Student (J-1) Status. These documents are created via the Student Exchange and Visitor Information System (SEVIS), which is a U.S. government, Internet-based, reporting and document production system. The Form I-20 is required for you to obtain an F-1 student visa at a United States consulate or embassy nearest you. Students will receive this form from the Admissions Office in late May or early June. If you are entering the United States on a J-1 visa, you will receive a form DS2019, which you must also take to a U.S. embassy or consulate as part of your visa application.

Passports
International students must obtain a passport from their home country via their government’s regulations to apply for permission to travel abroad and reenter the home country. Your passport, which is proof of identification, must be valid at all times while you are in the U.S. It is recommended that your passport be valid for at least six months from your intended date of entry into the United States. If it expires while you are in the U.S., you must renew it through your country’s consulate or embassy. If you lose your passport, report it to the local authorities immediately and file for a replacement at your consulate or embassy. Visit the State Department’s Web site for a listing of consulates and embassies in the United States at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/embassies/embassies_1214.html.

SEVIS Fee
Applicants for F-1 or J-1 student visas using documents issued on or after September 1, 2004, are required to submit form I-901 and pay the $100 SEVIS fee BEFORE filing an application for an F-1/J-1 visa at a U.S. consulate or embassy. The SEVIS fee may be paid by credit or debit card online at https://www.fmjfee.com/index.jhtml. International Students and Visa Exchange Visitors with questions should visit http://www.ice.gov/ssevis/i901/index.htm or may call (212) 620-3418.  If you choose to pay by check or money order, payment must be mailed to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program along with a completed I-901 form.