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Fall 2022 Incoming F-1 Student Update

There has not been an update since the last memo from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (pdf). Incoming students for the fall 2022 planning to take a hybrid or in-person course must be fully vaccinated. Currently CUNY will accept any vaccine approved by the World Health Organization for emergency use listing (EUL).

Students With an F-1 Visa

Incoming F-1 undergraduate and graduate students who are currently in the United States in F-1 status will be allowed to take a full course load of study online for the fall 2022 semester due to the pandemic. Undergraduate students must be registered for 12 credits and graduate students must be registered for nine credits or whatever is considered full time by your program of study.

Students Needing an F-1 Visa

Students planning to start in the spring who will register for a full course load of study online but are in their home country needing an F-1 visa will not qualify for an F-1 visa under the current Homeland Security guidelines. If your entire program of study is online and you are still in your home country, we suggest starting your program of study online for the fall 2022 semester and applying for an I-20 for spring 2023. Only incoming students with at least one hybrid or in-person course outside of the United States needing a visa will be allowed to apply if their embassy is currently open for appointments. 

Brooklyn College will be offering in-person/hybrid courses for fall 2022.

Student That Wants to Defer

Admitted freshmen who would like to defer must pay the commitment deposit and e-mail the Office of Undergraduate Admissions requesting their admission be postponed for spring 2023.

Admitted transfer students who would like to start in spring 2023 must reapply through the CUNY website for the fall. You will not have to pay the application fee again. Please e-mail the Office of Undergraduate Admissions requesting to have the fee waived.

Admitted graduate students who would like to start in spring 2023 must contact their graduate deputy for permission to start in the next admitting semester. Some programs might require you to reapply for admissions.

F-1 Visa Students

Apply F-1 Visa

International students who are admitted to the college will be asked to complete an I-20 application. An I-20 is needed for full-time degree-seeking international students applying for an F-1 visa and for current international students transferring from another educational institution within the United States.

We have compiled a guide that will assist you with your I-20 application process and ask that you read through it carefully. Complete and print the fillable forms in PDF. If you have any questions, the Office of International Student and Scholar Services is here to help.

• Guide to Applying for the I-20 and F-1 Visa (pdf)
• I-20 Application (Certificate of Eligibility) (pdf)
• Feirstein I-20 Application (pdf)
• Form for Spouse and Dependent I-20 (pdf)

Students who are transferring their F-1 student status from another U.S.-based educational institution to Brooklyn College must complete the Transfer Form and an I-20 application so we are able to process a new I-20.

• Student Transfer Form (pdf)

Below are other useful links when applying for your F-1 student visa.

• U.S. State Department F Visa Information 
• Find a U.S. Embassy