New F-1 Students
The University of Florida International Center (UFIC) is here to assist students with maintaining your F-1 Visa Status while making a smooth transition to American culture and student life at the university. Every year the University of Florida hosts over 6,000 international students on its beautiful campus. If you plan to attend UF on the J-1 visa, please visit Exchange Visitor Services for more information, as that unit is responsible for processing the Form DS-2019 for students seeking the J-1 student visa status.
One of the primary services provided by the UF International Center is to process the documentation for new incoming international students to obtain a student visa to study in the U.S. Our International Student Services unit is responsible for processing the Form I-20 for students seeking the F-1 student visa. UFIC will begin the process once the student has been formally admitted by the University of Florida.
UFIC is a separate department from the International Admissions Office. The evaluation of the admission application, foreign transcripts, credentials, credits and/or funding decisions are made exclusively by the Office of Admissions and the academic departments. Information about the admissions application process may be accessed via the University of Florida Admissions website: http://www.admissions.ufl.edu/. Undergraduate students may contact the Office of Admissions (https://www.admissions.ufl.edu/contacts) with inquiries about the status of their application; graduate students may contact the academic department to which they applied for admission. UFIC works with international students once admission is granted.
F-1 Non-Degree Certificate Students
To study as an F-1 student in a non-degree certificate program, the certificate program must be full time and approved as one that qualifies for F-1 student enrollment. The program must lead to the attainment of a specific educational or professional objective and culminate in a certificate with the seal of the University of Florida. The application process is through the academic department. For more information, click here.