Academics
With an array of undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as summer, international, and precollege offerings, Berklee College of Music provides options for students of all levels to explore and achieve their artistic, academic, and career potential.
The following information is for admitted international students coming to Berklee's Boston or NYC campuses, and continuing students who were studying in Valencia for their first semester and are coming to Berklee's Boston or NYC campuses.
International students who wish to study at Berklee will need to obtain an I-20 from Berklee and an F-1 visa from the US embassy or consulate in their country of residence.* Both an I-20 and F-1 visa are required to enter the US and begin studying at Berklee.
Applying for an I-20 and F-1 visa will take several weeks. It is very important to send in your I-20 request forms and supporting financial documents as early as possible. You will not be able to begin your studies at Berklee until you have obtained both a Berklee I-20 and an F-1 visa.
*Canadian and Bermudian citizens: note that you are not required to apply for an F-1 visa at a US consulate or embassy. You will need to present your passport, I-20, I-901 SEVIS fee receipt, and supporting financial documentation at the US port of entry in order to be admitted to the US in F-1 status.
What is an I-20?
Officially called a “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status(Opens in a new window),” the I-20 is a document issued by Berklee to show that you have been admitted to a full-time program at Berklee, and that you have sufficient financial resources to cover your educational and living expenses. Your I-20 will be issued once you submit a complete I-20 Request Packet and an advisor creates a record for you in the US Department of Homeland Security’s SEVIS(Opens in a new window) (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) database. You will need your I-20 along with your F-1 visa and passport to enter the US. You will also need your I-20 for other official purposes, such as applying for a US Social Security number or driver’s license, or to complete employment verification paperwork for on- or off-campus employment.
Your I-20 is not a visa. You need an I-20 to apply for an F-1 student visa and enter the US as an F-1 student. The I-20 is issued by your school, and visas are issued only by US embassies and consulates outside the US.
Important Items on Your I-20
Program End Date (page 1, under "Program of Study"): this is your I-20 expiration date. This date indicates how long you may stay in the US as long as you are enrolled and maintaining valid F-1 status. The program end date is based on an estimate of how long it typically takes to complete your program of study. The program end date can be adjusted if it takes you more or less time to complete your program.
Earliest Admission Date (page 1, under "Program of Study"): this is the earliest date you may enter the US as an F-1 student.
Travel Signature (page 2, under "Travel Endorsements"): if you plan to travel and return to the US during your enrollment, you must have a valid travel signature on page 2 of your I-20. The travel signature confirms that you are enrolled and maintaining F-1 status. The travel signature expires one year after the date that it was issued (note: the date is formatted as month, day, year–see an example here). Your I-20 will already have a travel signature when it is issued to you. When it is time for a new travel signature, review the information on the Travel, I-20, and F-1 Visa page (login required).
What is an F-1 visa?
The F-1 visa is the sticker that the US consulate or embassy places on a page in your passport and it is issued specifically for entry into the US. The visa, along with your I-20, allows you to request admission to the US as an F-1 student when you arrive at the US port of entry.
Visas are only issued by US consulates and embassies abroad. It is neither possible nor necessary to renew your visa while you are in the US. However, if you leave the US after your visa has expired, you must apply for a new F-1 visa in your country of residence before you can re-enter the US.
The visa does not need to remain valid while you are in the US; the F-1 visa might expire before your status expires, or your status might end before your visa expires. The length of time you are permitted to stay in the US is not related to the F-1 visa expiration date; rather, it is determined by your I-20 program end date and compliance with the F-1 regulations. The "Traveling to the US" section on this page has more information about F-1 regulations.
Canadian and Bermudian citizens: note that you are not required to apply for an F-1 visa at a US consulate or embassy. You will need to present your passport, I-20, I-901 SEVIS fee receipt, and supporting financial documentation at the US port of entry in order to be admitted to the US in F-1 status.
What is F-1 status?
Your immigration “status” in the US is the visa category officially granted to you by the immigration officer at the port of entry. You need an I-20 and F-1 visa in order to request admission to the US in F-1 status.
When you are admitted to the US in F-1 status, it means that you are legally in the US and have benefits and restrictions specified under the F-1 visa regulations. Once admitted to the US in F-1 status, you will remain in F-1 status as long as your I-20 is valid and your SEVIS record remains active. The "Traveling to the US" section on this page has more information about maintaining F-1 status.
Canadian and Bermudian citizens: note that you are not required to apply for an F-1 visa at a US consulate or embassy. You will need to present your passport, I-20, I-901 SEVIS fee receipt, and supporting financial documentation at the US port of entry in order to be admitted to the US in F-1 status.
If you have been accepted and have paid your tuition deposit for one of Berklee's undergraduate programs, graduate programs, or the Music and English Intensive Program (MEIP), follow the important steps and submission deadlines below to request your I-20.
If you are currently studying at another US school and would like to transfer your SEVIS record to Berklee: follow steps 1–3 below to request a Berklee I-20. The I-20 Request Packet includes a question where you can indicate that you plan to transfer your SEVIS record to Berklee. Your Berklee I-20 can be issued once we have your application and supporting documents, and your SEVIS record has been released to Berklee from your current school.
Submit your I-20 request packet and supporting documents to Berklee by the following deadlines:
Fall Undergraduate Program
July 1
Spring Undergraduate Program
December 1
Summer Undergraduate Program
April 1
Music and English Intensive Program (MEIP)
June 1
Step 1: Download and Complete the I-20 Request Packet
The I-20 request packet includes an estimate of expenses, a checklist for all required documents, and instructions for submitting your I-20 request packet and supporting materials to Berklee.
In order for Berklee to issue an I-20, students are required to submit documentation proving they have access to a minimum amount of funding for their program and living expenses. The same documentation must be presented at an F-1 visa interview. Refer to pages 2 and 3 of the I-20 request packet for detailed information about the proof of funding requirements.
Download the I-20 Request Packet:
For students entering Berklee in the fall 2025, spring 2025, or summer 2025 semester: I-20 Request Packet
Step 2: Submit the I-20 Request Form
First, review the checklist on page 1 of the I-20 Request Packet to make sure you have all of your required documents. Then use the I-20 Request Packet Submission Form to submit your documents to Berklee.
Once your I-20 request packet has been approved, we will email your I-20 within 10 business days to the email address that you provided on the I-20 Request Packet Submission Form. Review, print, and sign your I-20, then present it at your visa interview and at the US port of entry. A digital copy on your phone or other device is not acceptable for visa or travel purposes; you must provide a hard copy.
If you are transferring your SEVIS record to Berklee from another US school: your Berklee I-20 can be issued once your I-20 request packet has been approved and your SEVIS record has been released to Berklee from your current school.
Step 4: Pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee Online
After you receive your Berklee I-20, you will use the information on your I-20 to pay the I-901 SEVIS fee(Opens in a new window). This $350 USD fee is paid directly to the US Department of Homeland Security and is used to cover the costs of operating the SEVIS system. Instructions for how to pay the I-901 SEVIS fee(Opens in a new window) will be included in the email with your I-20.
The I-901 SEVIS fee is required each time a student is issued a new SEVIS ID number. Students typically retain the same SEVIS ID number throughout their academic program. A new SEVIS ID number is issued only if a student's SEVIS record is terminated (e.g., for taking a leave of absence) and the student requests a new I-20 to return to the US to resume their studies.
Students transferring their SEVIS record from another US school to Berklee do not have to pay the SEVIS fee again, as their SEVIS ID number will not change.
You must pay the I-901 SEVIS fee before scheduling your visa interview appointment. We recommend that you pay it at least three days prior to your visa interview. Do not attempt to pay the fee until you receive your I-20. (Note: the SEVIS I-901 fee is separate from the DS-160 visa application fee.)
About the school code: you will need to enter the school code shown in the "School Information" section on page 1 of your I-20. Enter the first three letters of the school code in the first box; skip "214F"; enter the next five digits in the next box; enter the following three digits in the last box.
For Canadian and Bermudian citizens: you are required to pay the I-901 SEVIS fee even though you do not need to apply for an F-1 visa at a US consulate or embassy. The I-901 SEVIS fee payment is verified at the US port of entry. We recommend that you pay the I-901 SEVIS fee at least three days prior to entering the US. You will need to present your passport, I-20, I-901 SEVIS fee receipt, and supporting financial documentation at the US port of entry in order to be admitted to the US in F-1 status.
Make sure you keep a copy of your fee payment receipt.
Once completing steps 1–4, students must then apply for an F-1 student visa, which is a requirement for attending Berklee if you are not a US citizen or US Permanent Resident. (Canadian and Bermudian citizens are not required to apply for an F-1 visa at a US consulate or embassy. They can request to be admitted in F-1 status at the US port of entry by presenting their Berklee I-20, I-901 SEVIS fee receipt, passport, and supporting financial documentation.)
You may apply for an F-1 student visa at the nearest US embassy or consulate in your country of residence after you receive your I-20 and pay the I-901 SEVIS fee.
Canadian and Bermudian citizens: you are not required to apply for an F-1 visa. However, you will need to present your passport, I-20, I-901 SEVIS fee receipt, and supporting financial documentation at the US port of entry in order to be admitted to the US in F-1 status.
If you currently have a valid F-1 visa in your passport: you do not need to apply for a new F-1 visa if you used it to enter the US in F-1 status in the past, even if you have been outside the US for more than five months and/or if it shows a different school name or SEVIS ID number. Make sure the visa expiration date is after the date you plan to enter the US.
Follow the instructions on the website of your local US consulate or embassy to schedule an interview for your F-1 visa. Typically, visa interviews are scheduled through USTravelDocs.com(Opens in a new window).
Verify the required application documents and application procedures on the website of your local US consulate or embassy where will have your visa interview.
You must enter the name of the contact person or organization in the US in the "US Point of Contact Information" section of the DS-160. Enter the person's name shown under "School Official to Contact Upon Arrival" in the "School Information" section on page 1 of your I-20. Enter the "School Address" shown in the "School Information" section.
To make sure you are prepared for your interview, verify the required application documents and application procedures on the US embassy or consulate website(Opens in a new window) where you will have your visa interview. All supporting documents must be printed, physical copies. Digital copies are not acceptable for visa interview purposes.
The following documents are typically required for a visa interview:
Your Berklee I-20, printed and signed by you on page 1.
A printout of your I-901 SEVIS fee payment receipt for your current SEVIS ID number.
Your passport, valid for at least six months beyond the date you plan to travel to the US.
Letter of acceptance for your semester of entry. A printout of the letter from your Admissions portal is sufficient.
Financial documents used when submitting your I-20 to Berklee.
A letter of support, found on page 6 of the I-20 Request Packet, must accompany all financial documentation that is not from your own personal account.
A printout of your scholarship award letter, if applicable.
Proof of ties to your home country/country of residence. Examples include the following:
Official letters, issued by a bank or other governing bodies, proving that you or your family own a business.
Deeds or papers showing that you or your family own property.
If you or your family have made numerous visits to the US, passports (even expired ones) that prove that you or your family have returned home after each visit.
Proof of membership in a professional organization.
A letter from a prospective employer stating that a position may be offered to you upon your return or that professionals with your academic qualifications are needed.
A letter from your current employer stating that you will resume work with them after your time in the US.
About the Visa Interview
The interview will be brief, typically 2–3 minutes. Prepare your documents in advance and keep your answers concise. Answer all questions truthfully. Only answer what the officer asks you.
The interview will be conducted in English. You should practice your English conversation with a friend or family member before your interview, but do not use a prepared script during your interview.
The officer may ask about future employment, family or other relationships, educational objectives, long-range career plans and goals, and career prospects in your home country/country of residence. Be prepared to explain how studying in the US relates to your future professional career in your home country/country of residence and your intent to depart the US at the conclusion of your studies or practical training.
What to do if your visa application is denied: in the event that you are denied a student visa, you are entitled to receive in writing the reason why you were denied. Ask the officer for a list of documents that you could present at a future interview to help you overcome the denial.
Items 1 and 2 listed below are required; an immigration officer may request to see items 3, 4, and/or 5. Keep all of the following documents in your carry-on bag:
Printed copy of your Berklee I-20, signed on page 1
Passport with valid F-1 visa*
I-901 SEVIS fee payment receipt
Printed copy of your Berklee acceptance letter
Printouts of the financial documents you used to request your I-20
*Canadian and Bermudian citizens: note that you are not required to apply for an F-1 visa. However, you will need to present your passport, I-20, I-901 SEVIS fee receipt, and supporting financial documentation at the US port of entry in order to be admitted to the US in F-1 status.
When can I use my I-20 and F-1 visa to enter the US?
The earliest date you can enter the US as an F-1 student is printed under “Earliest Admission Date'' in the Program of Study section on page 1 of your I-20.
Use your I-20 and F-1 visa to enter the US only when you are ready to stay in Boston or New York for the semester. Immigration regulations do not allow F-1 students to use their I-20 and F-1 visa to enter the US more than 30 days prior to their program start date.
Do not enter the US on a tourist visa (B-1/B-2) or using the ESTA. You will not be permitted to study.
What if I can't report to campus by the program start date shown on my I-20?
Contact your Enrollment Officer at eo@berklee.edu immediately if an emergency arises and you cannot enter the US by the program start date shown on your I-20.
What if I need to enter the US before the earliest admission date shown on my I-20?
If you plan to take a short trip to the US (campus tour, visiting family or friends, etc.), you should enter the US as a tourist with the ESTA or tourist visa (B-1/B-2). However, you must exit the US and re-enter in F-1 status before reporting to Berklee on the program start date shown on your I-20. You will not be permitted to study if you are in the US in tourist status.
What will happen when I go through US immigration?
Show the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer your passport, F-1 visa stamp*, and I-20. The officer may ask you a few questions about Berklee College of Music, Boston Conservatory at Berklee, or Berklee NYC, and they may request to see your financial documents and acceptance letter. Answer all questions truthfully, and only answer what the officer asks you.
The immigration official may stamp your passport; however, it is no longer required, and many ports of entry have discontinued stamping passports. Instead, you can look up your US entry information via your electronic I-94 record(Opens in a new window).
Do not enter the US on a tourist visa or using the ESTA. You will not be permitted to study.
*Canadian and Bermudian citizens: an F-1 visa stamp in your passport is not required for entry. Present your passport, I-20, I-901 SEVIS fee receipt, and supporting financial documentation at the US port of entry in order to be admitted to the US in F-1 status.
What is an electronic I-94 and where can I find it?
Every nonimmigrant entering the US on a sponsored visa (F, J, H, etc.) will have an electronic Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record(Opens in a new window) created by the US Department of Homeland Security upon entry. This record is proof that you have been legally admitted to the US in a particular visa status for a specified duration of time. For F and J visa holders, the amount of time is indicated by the notation “D/S,” which means you can be in the US for the “Duration of Status” of your program.
A new I-94 record is created each time you enter the US Visit the I-94 Website(Opens in a new window) and select “Get Most Recent I-94” to look up your most recent arrival record. Select “View Travel History” to look up all arrival/departure records for your passport.
The seven points below provide a basic summary of the immigration regulations that apply to F-1 students in the US International Student Services will discuss the F-1 regulations in detail during international student orientation. Study in the States also has an overview (Opens in a new window)of the F-1 regulations.
US immigration regulations are complex and nuanced; do not rely on advice from your friends, classmates, teachers, or parents. Berklee International Student Services (ISS) are experts in the field of F-1 regulations and should be your first stop if you have questions about your immigration status.
How to Maintain F-1 Status
Your immigration status is dependent on your student status. You will remain in valid F-1 status as long as you maintain your enrollment, make the expected progress toward your degree, and are otherwise in compliance with the F-1 regulations.
You must enroll in and complete at least 12 required credits per semester, for two semesters each year. Read about the Part-Time and Vacation Semester (login required) policies for F-1 visa holders.
You may not work off-campus without explicit permission from the US government. This includes gigs, remote/online work, teaching, earning income from content created and uploaded while in the US, etc. You can read detailed information on the Gigs, Online Work, and Volunteering page (login required), and you will learn more during international student orientation.
F-1 regulations limit off-campus employment to students who have been enrolled for at least two semesters and have maintained their immigration status and academic standing. However, F-1 students may work on campus through Student Emplyoment as soon as their first semester. Go to F-1 Employment Options (login required) to read more.
Do not let your I-20 expire while you are enrolled. The I-20 expiration date is the same as the program end date shown under the "Program of Study" section on page 1. If you will need more time to complete your degree requirements, contact International Student Services at least one month before the expiration date to request an extension.
Changes to your US or home country address must be updated in your my.berklee.edu account within 10 days of moving.
Berklee International Student Services will send important information about your immigration status to your Berklee email address. The College and Conservatory use email as the official form of communication. It is important to check your email regularly and carefully read email communication sent to you from International Student Services.
You must complete US federal and Massachusetts state tax forms each year that you are in the US in F-1 status, even if you did not work or earn income in the US. Around mid-February each year, International Student Services will email you with tax information and provide access to free tax preparation software designed exclusively for F-1 students. Read more about taxes for F-1 students (login required).