Congratulations on your decision to attend Pratt Institute!
Most new international students will need to apply for SEVIS I-20 from Pratt Institute. With your I-20, you can then pay required U.S. government fees, apply for and receive your F-1 student visa, and finally make travel plans.
Students who already currently hold an I-20 at a U.S. school should apply for a SEVIS transfer.
STEPS TO ACCESS I-20 APPLICATION (OIA STUDENT PORTAL)
Once you are admitted and have paid the enrollment deposit, you will be provided a “OneKey” to login to Pratt systems. Once your OneKey is activated, you should set up and monitor your Pratt email address. Within three business days, you will receive an invitation from OIA to access our OIA Student Portal to apply for your I-20. All correspondance from OIA will be sent to your Pratt email address.
While waiting to gain access to the OIA Student Portal, deposited students are advised to review our I-20 financial statement requirement. For the I-20 application you will need to upload a copy of your passport, your financial statement, and, if the statement is not in your name, an affidavit of support. You can prepare the appropriate financial documentation in advance, so you are ready to submit your I-20 application immediately once you get access.
International students who will study on another type of immigration status (such as Fulbright J-1, F-2, H-4, J-2, E, etc.) do not need to apply for an I-20, and should notify OIA@pratt.edu of their alternative status.
Sponsored students requesting a DS-2019 for J-1 student status at Pratt should provide documentation of an appropropriate external sponsorship to OIA@pratt.edu.
DEADLINES FOR COMPLETE I-20 APPLICATION
Students who need a new F-1 visa: January 3, 2025 (three weeks before orientation)
Students with a valid F-1 visa: January 17, 2025 (one week before orientation)
Current F-1 status holders in the U.S.: January 17, 2025 (one week before orientation)
Visa-exempt students from Canada/Bermuda: January 17, 2025 (one week before orientation)
Submitting a complete I-20 application by the deadline above does not guarantee successful arrival for the Spring 2025 semester, but it is OIA’s final complete I-20 application acceptance deadline for your attempt. For equity reasons, OIA does not accept any requests for expedite and processes completed applications in the order they are received.
Please note that visa wait times, procedures, and processing times vary widely between consulates and may change rapidly given the new presidential administration starting January 20. Consulates do not accept intervention from the school for student visa applications.
COMPLETE I-20 APPLICATION PROCESSING
New I-20s are processed within 5 business days* of a complete I-20 request.
Transfer I-20s are processed within 5 business days* of the SEVIS transfer release date plus OIA receipt of a complete I-20 request.
For equity reasons, OIA does not accept any individual requests for expedite and we process applications in the order they are received. We do not process I-20s nor respond to emails during non-business day closures.
*Pratt offices including OIA will be closed for Winter Break starting December 20, and will reopen January 2. We are also closed on January 20 for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. All holidays and important dates in the semester can be found on the Academic Calendar.