Visa Process

All international students applying for an F-1 or J-1 visa should click here for detailed instructions about how to complete the I-20/DS-2019 process and set up your visa interviews. The visa process takes a minimum of 6-8 weeks, and many consular offices may be experiencing additional delays and instituting increased social media vetting. You can view current wait times at the consulate nearest to you here. In some cases, you may also be able to request emergency, expedited visa appointments. As of September 2025, your visa interview with consular staff must occur in your country of citizenship or residence (in other words, you are no longer able to interview in neighboring countries that may have shorter visa wait times).

We encourage you to submit your documentation as soon as possible to avoid any delays. You can find more information on OGS processing times here and learn more about the timeline and required documentation for the visa process here. We also strongly recommend that you remain abreast of U.S. immigration policy and regulatory updates.

Note that you are required to provide proof of funding for the first year of your studies, including tuition and living costs. The Cost of Attendance page should be updated shortly to reflect the price-per-credit-hour rate of $2,758 for the 2026-20267 academic year.

Newly admitted international students should contact newinternational@georgetown.edu with any inquiries or requests. Note that OGS deals with a very high volume of email requests, so please allow for 10 business days for the completion of immigration requests. You can learn more about OGS processing times here.

Newly admitted international students must attend the International Student Orientation and Mandatory Immigration Session in order to activate your Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVIS) record. More information is on the OGS new student webpage.

OGS maintains a helpful collection of resources for international students for when they're already in DC, including on:

• Financial Aid & Money Matters

• Living in DC

• On-Campus Resource Directory

• Academic Support

• Self-Care and Wellness

• Professional Development and Career Resources

• Legal Resources

• Resources on Scams

• Key Terms and Definitions

Please email Kristen Robinson, Associate Director of Academic Programs, to let her know when you have obtained your visa, as well as which visa (F-1 or J-1) you have secured.

GHD requires the completion of two internships in order for all students to graduate. The first, the summer internship, takes place for 10-12 weeks the summer between students' first and second years in the program, typically in a low-to-middle-income country. International students are not eligible to work off campus during their first academic year in the program, so have to complete the second internship, the DC Internship, during their second year in the program. However, international students are eligible to work up to 20 hours per week on campus during their first year (and up to 20 hours per week either on- or off-campus during their second year). You can find more resources about student employment here.