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All international students admitted to eligible degree programs within the Johns Hopkins University schools may request visa documentation in the form of an I-20 [Certificate of Eligibility for F-1 Student Status]. In some cases, students may be eligible for a DS-2019 [J-1 student].  To understand the difference between F-1 and J-1 visa types, click here.   An I-20 or DS-2019 is required in order to schedule a visa appointment for an F-1 or J-1 visa stamp. *Part-time and online programs are not eligible for visa sponsorship.

Overview
Required Documents
Financial Requirements
Estimated Expenses

Overview of the I-20/DS-2019 Request Process

To request an I-20 [F-1] or DS-2019 [J-1] visa documentation, follow these steps: 

  1. Accept your JHU admission offer and pay any required deposits 
  2. Wait for an email from the Office of International Services [OIS] which will include the instructions for requesting an I-20/DS-2019 [typically this email is sent within 5 days of completing step 1]
    • Students in Advanced Academic Programs [AAP] will receive an email from OIS after AAP initiates the visa sponsorship process on their behalf. The I-20/DS-2019 request eForm for AAP students is called the “Student Visa Document Request”
  3. Submit the New International Student eForm via iHopkins [or Student Visa Document Request eForm for AAP students]. You’ll need your passport and financial documents. If transferring from another US school, current U.S. immigration documents are also required
  4. OIS will review your request within 10 business days and, if all required documentation is provided, OIS will create your visa document [I-20/DS-2019] and notify you by email when it is ready  

Documents Required for the I-20/DS-2019

Passport: Should be valid for at least six months into the future. If bringing dependents [spouse/children] copies of their passports will also be needed.

Financial Documentation: Must meet or exceed the estimated student expenses for the first year of study. For J-1 status, funding documentation is required for the entire degree program. Financial documents must:

  • Be issued within the past 3 months  
  • Be liquid assets available for immediate withdrawal
  • Include an affidavit of support, if the account is not in your name. The affidavit must include the signature of the account holder [typed signatures are not accepted]     
  • Documents must be in English, or an English translation must be provided. If an unofficial translation is provided, attach the Certification by Translator Form

Carefully review the detailed breakdown of acceptable and unacceptable financial documents, as well as funding requirements for your specific program, before submitting your I-20/DS-2019 request.

If transferring from another U.S. school: must also provide a copy of your current I-20/DS-2019, your I-94 and your F-1/J-1 visa stamp. Carefully review Transferring to JHU before submitting an I-20/DS-2019 visa documentation request. Students in J-1 status should reach out to OIS for guidance on transferring to JHU.  

English Language Proficiency (required for students requesting J-1 status):  Provide documentation to fulfill option 1 or 2 from this list of acceptable English Proficiency documentation.

Dependent Information: if you will have dependents [spouse/children] accompanying you in F-2/J-2 status, complete the Dependent Request eForm. A copy of the biographical page[s] of your dependent[s] passport is required. You may also be required to show additional funding.

Financial Documentation Requirements

Before submitting your I-20/DS-2019 visa documentation request, carefully review the acceptable financial document types below and ensure that the documents you plan to submit meet requirements. To be eligible for an I-20/DS-2019, financial documents must be an acceptable type as well as show the full funding amount required for your academic program.  

Acceptable Financial Documents

A list of acceptable financial documents is below. All financial documents must also meet these requirements:

    • Be issued within the past 3 months
    • Be liquid assets available for immediate withdrawal
    • Include an affidavit of support, if the bank account is not in your name. The affidavit must include the signature of the account holder [typed signatures are not accepted]
    • Documents must be in English, or an English translation must be provided. If an unofficial translation is provided, attach the Certification by Translator Form

Acceptable document types include:

  • Bank statement/letter: Personal or parents’ checking/savings accounts
  • Educational loan approval letters: Loans must be officially approved, and documentation must confirm that the loan is fully underwritten and prepared for disbursement. Conditional approval letters are not acceptable unless the condition is directly related to obtaining an I-20 or DS-2019 student visa document
  • Sponsorship letters: From JHU, government, or private organizations [must specify amounts and duration]
  • Investment or brokerage accounts: Mutual Funds, Investment Funds, Stock Market Accounts; accepted only if documentation confirms funds are liquid and immediately accessible.
  • Time/Term/Fixed deposits must be available for withdrawal by the program start date
  • Other: Ordinary deposits, savings deposits, passbook deposit/savings, demand account/deposit, collection savings

It is acceptable to submit multiple forms of financial documents; however, limit bank statements to a single page.

Unacceptable Financial Documents

OIS cannot accept the following financial document types for I-20/DS-2019 issuance:

  • Income verification: Pay stubs, salary letters, or tax forms
  • Property or asset documents: Real estate holdings, tax assessments, other assets, or similar
  • Conditional loan letters: Loans not yet fully approved
  • Retirement accounts & Life Insurance Policies: 401(k), pension funds, etc. PF/PPF [Indian Retirement Accounts] are also not accepted
  • Bank accounts belonging to a business/company without an individual’s name included on the account
  • Deposits not available for withdrawal upon the program start date
  • Savings Optional Deposits, Bonds, Trust Fund accounts
  • Personal Credit Cards/Lines of Credit  

Estimated Expenses By Program

The tuition figures below are an estimate used for I-20/DS-2019 issuance purposes only. Refer to your JHU school for the current tuition amounts.

Estimated living expenses are based on the number of months in the academic calendar for each specific academic program and include health insurance costs [for example, nine-month academic year programs vs. 11- or 12-month programs, etc.]. Actual living expenses will vary.

For dependent spouses and children, add $7,200 per dependent to your total expenses.

Select the school you plan to attend to see the total funding amount required for I-20/DS-2019 issuance.

Advanced Academic Programs

Estimated Expenses

Film and Media; Biotechnology;
Applied Economics; Financial Economics		 Communication; Global Security Studies:
Government; Public Management
Tuition  $33,600 $30,000
Living & Other Expenses  $25,800 $25,800
TOTAL $59,400 $55,800
Add $7,200 per dependent family member

 

Bloomberg School of Public Health

Estimated Expenses

Full-Time MPH & MPH/MBA Full-Time MBE All Other Degree Programs
(MSPH, MHS, PhD, etc.)
Tuition $85,700 $68,600  $68,600
Living & Other Expenses $25,300 $27,300 $21,300
TOTAL $111,000 $95,900 $89,900
Add $7,200 per dependent family member
Carey Business School

Estimated Expenses

FT MBA & Accelerated MBA 12-month MS Marketing, Finance, Business Analytics, & Info Systems 15-month MS Finance 9-month MS Real Estate & Health Care Mgt 9-month MS Finance & Marketing 9-month MS Management
Tuition $75,000 $91,500 $64,300 $76,000 $78,500 $65,000
Living & Other Expenses $21,300 $27,300 $21,300 $21,300 $21,300 $21,300
TOTAL $96,300 $118,800 $85,600 $97,300 $99,800 $86,300
Add $7,200 per dependent family member

 

Krieger School of Arts & Sciences (KSAS) and Whiting School of Engineering (WSE)

Estimated Expenses

Bachelors/Masters  Doctoral (KSAS)/Masters CBID  Doctoral (WSE)
Tuition $66,700 $66,700 $66,700
Living & Other Expenses $21,300 $27,300 $21,300
TOTAL  $88,000 $94,000 $88,000
Add $7,200 per dependent family member

 

Peabody Institute

Estimated Expenses

Degree Programs
BM/MM/DMA/PC		 Diploma Programs
AD/GPD
Tuition $66,700 $58,000
Living & Other Expenses $21,300 $21,300
TOTAL $88,000 $79,300
Add $7,200 per dependent family member

 

School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS)

Estimated Expenses

Degree Seeking New Students Summer Academy Summer Programs Certificate Programs
MA/MIPP/PhD/DIA MIEF (1 year) MIEF (2 year) MASCI
Tuition $64,900 $90,000 $64,900 $82,400 $4,600 $12,470 $32,400
Living & Other Expenses $25,800 $28,300 $25,800 $30,800 $3,500 $4,500 $12,900
TOTAL  

$90,700

  

$118,300

 $90,700 $113,200 $8,100 $16,970  $45,300
Add $7,200 per dependent family member

 

 

School of Education

Estimated Expenses

Masters:
Counseling Programs		 Masters-ITGL Doctoral
Tuition $20,500 $63,400 $51,900
Living & Other Expenses $21,300 $27,300 $27,300
TOTAL $41,800 $90,700 $79,200
Add $7,200 per dependent family member

 

School of Medicine

Estimated Expenses

All MS/MA, PhD and MD
Tuition $66,600
Living & Other Expenses $27,300
TOTAL $93,900
Add $7,200 per dependent family member

 

School of Nursing

Estimated Expenses

MSN: Entry into
Nursing
Practice		 PhD
Tuition $71,800 $44,200
Living & Other Expenses $27,300 $27,300
TOTAL $99,100 $71,500
Add $7,200 per dependent family member