International Student Services

International Student Services (ISS) provides support to SNHU students in immigration, transition support and intercultural learning. We work in tandem with International Admission, Campus Involvement, Advising, Career Services, Residence Life and other units on campus.

ISS offers the following services for international students:

  • Immigration advising on maintaining legal status
  • Travel documents
  • Enrollment certification
  • Applying for Social Security Number and driver's license
  • Health insurance coverage
  • Local transportation
  • Income tax workshops
  • Practical training, workshops and counseling for cross-cultural integration

For more information about your transition to SNHU, check out our International Resources.

We also provide opportunities for intercultural learning to the broader campus community by partnering with the student-led International Student Association, various campus departments and the greater Manchester community. These events and initiatives include International Education Week, International Women’s Day, the International Gala, intercultural competency training workshops, International Friends, Thanksgiving Hosts, the International Student Advisory Board and a variety of other opportunities for people of all backgrounds to engage in mutual learning and understanding.

For more details about what ISS offers students on campus, visit our my.SNHU ISS page and login with your mySNHU credentials.

ISS is in the William S. and Joan Green Center for Student Success (or “the Green Center”) in Suite 108 and is a department within the Division of Student Affairs.

Obtaining Your Visa

The first step toward becoming a student at SNHU after you’re accepted is obtaining your student visa. Most students request an F-1 visa, with a smaller number requesting J-1 visas – which are usually reserved for short-term exchange students. Follow these steps once you are admitted:

1. Receive your I-20 (for F-1 visas) or DS-2019 (for J-1 visas) from International Admission

Upon acceptance, you will need to submit a color copy of your passport, proof of financial support and a financial affidavit form. (Instructions for these can be found under Step 3C of our admission requirements.) Before moving to the next step, take a look at your document to make sure all information is accurate.

2. Pay your SEVIS fee

Student need to pay the I-901 SEVIS fee in order to apply for a visa and schedule an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate. You can find out more about this process on the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement website for the I-901 fee.

3. Locate your closest embassy or consulate

Search the U.S. government’s database for consulates and embassies to find the best location to have your visa interview.

4. Apply for a visa

Both F-1 and J-1 students will need to complete the Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application (DS-160).

5. Schedule an appointment for your visa interview

The process for scheduling an interview varies by U.S. embassy or consulate, depending on the country from which you are applying. You can find country-specific information on the travel.state.gov website.

6. Gather required documents and prepare for the interview

Like scheduling the interview, required documents vary by country, but you are typically asked to bring your passport, at least one passport-sized photo, an I-901 receipt, your I20 or DS-2019 and financial documents, among others. Review the travel.state.gov website to make sure you have all of the documents you need for the interview.

7. Alert SNHU of the result

After you sit for your scheduled interview, it may take a while to be notified of the results. Unfortunately, we’re not able to check on the status of your visa on your behalf. The student is usually notified of the result before SNHU is, so make sure you let us know when you’ve received your visa.

Embassies in the United States

The Electronic Embassy: Access a resource with a list of all the Embassies in Washington DC.