International Student and Scholar Services NEW

Guidance and Support for Creighton’s International Community

International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) supports the international community at Creighton University throughout their time on campus. Our office offers guidance related to immigration, visas, orientation and ongoing compliance—all the resources needed to navigate life in the United States and succeed at Creighton. Whether you are preparing to arrive, currently enrolled, visiting for research or supporting a family member, ISSS serves as a central point of contact for questions related to immigration status, university requirements and campus resources. 

New Students: Obtaining a Visa

Once you are admitted to Creighton University, you will need to obtain an F-1 student visa for your initial entry to the United States.

A visa is a stamp in your passport issued by a U.S. consulate or embassy abroad that allows you to enter the United States at a port of entry. Your visa must be valid at the time you enter the United States, but it does not need to remain valid while you are here, provided you maintain your immigration status. If you remain within U.S. borders, your visa may expire; however, your I-20 must remain valid for the duration of your stay.

Your I-20 will be available for download in your New Student Portal. You will receive an email at your Creighton email address when the document is ready. Review the I-20 carefully to ensure all information is correct, then sign the document.

If you have questions or concerns about your I-20, email Global Engagement.

The F-1 student visa allows nonimmigrants to pursue a course of study in the United States. Dependents of an F-1 visa holder are issued F-2 visas. F-2 visa holders are not permitted to work or study. Once admitted to Creighton, you will receive an I-20 Certificate of Eligibility and should apply for an F-1 visa.

Important note: Visa wait times vary by country. The U.S. Department of State provides average wait times. Students should apply for a visa as soon as all required documents are available—ideally up to 120 days before the start of the semester. At the visa interview, applicants should be prepared to clearly explain their academic plans in the United States. In most cases, visas are issued within 60 days.

The following steps are required to obtain an F-1 visa:

  • Pay the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee. SEVIS is a database maintained by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to track F-1 and J-1 students during their stay in the United States. After payment, retain the receipt and bring it to your visa interview. You will also need this receipt for travel and future visa renewals.
  • Contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate to schedule a visa appointment.
  • Prepare the following documents for your visa interview:
    • Passport valid for at least six months
    • I-20 issued by Creighton University
    • Creighton admission letter
    • One passport-size photograph (2 x 2 inches)
    • SEVIS fee payment receipt
    • Completed DS-160 Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application
    • Proof of payment for the Machine Readable Visa (MRV) fee
    • Evidence of sufficient financial resources
    • Evidence of English proficiency sufficient for the course of study
    • Evidence of intent to depart the United States after completing studies
    • Any additional documents listed on the website of the U.S. embassy or consulate where you will apply for your visa
    • Transcripts and diplomas from previously attended institutions

Scores from standardized tests required by the institution (e.g., TOEFL, SAT, GRE, GMAT) 

Applicants with dependents must also provide proof of the student’s relationship to a spouse and/or children (e.g., marriage or birth certificates). Families are encouraged to apply for F-1 and F-2 visas at the same time. If dependents apply separately, they should bring copies of the student visa holder’s passport and visa, along with all required documents. 

Next Steps

After you have been accepted to Creighton, obtained your visa and finalized your travel plans, follow the checklist below to help ensure a smooth transition to campus.

Exchange Students

Creighton is pleased to host international exchange students for one semester (fall or spring) or one academic year (fall and spring semesters) from partner universities. Through bilateral exchange agreements, students pay tuition and fees at their home institutions while earning academic credit at Creighton University across a range of undergraduate and graduate programs.

Eligible Programs

Eligible students include those participating through ISEP exchange partners or the Magis Exchange Program, as well as students who have completed at least one academic year at a sister Jesuit institution or approved partner universities, including those listed below:

Requirements for Incoming Single-semester or Year-long Exchange Students

Students must meet the following requirements:

  • Completion of at least one full academic year at the home university
  • Nomination by the home university
  • A minimum TOEFL (iBT) score of 88, with no subtest score lower than 20, unless otherwise indicated in the exchange agreement. 

Short-Term Exchange Students on Specialized Programs

Students participating in specialized, short-term exchange programs sponsored by Creighton University departments—such as CRISP or the King Saud University EMS program—should contact either the sponsoring department or the Global Engagement Office with questions about requirements and participation. 

Exchange Student Deadlines

The deadlines indicated below allow the Global Engagement Office sufficient time to review materials, confirm availability of requested courses, and issue the documentation required for exchange students to apply for a J-1 Exchange Visitor visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate in their home country. If possible, nominations should be submitted as early as possible (August for fall exchange; February for spring exchange) to support timely housing placement.

  • Fall and academic year exchange: Students should be nominated by their home institution by March 1. Priority is given to students whose complete application materials are received by April 15.
  • Spring exchange: Students should be nominated by their home institution by September 15. Priority is given to students whose complete application materials are received by October 1. 

Housing for Exchange Students

During their time in Omaha, exchange students typically reside on campus in self-catering, apartment-style residence halls. All residence halls include laundry facilities, which accept payment by coin or student ID card.  

Exchange students are usually placed in Opus Hall or Davis Square Apartments. Housing charges are assessed through the NEST after arrival on campus. Costs for Opus Hall or Davis Square Apartments are determined individually based on each student’s move-in and move-out dates. Learn more about on-campus housing. 

J-1 Scholars

The Global Engagement Office (GEO) administers Creighton University’s Exchange Visitor Program, also known as the Visiting Scholars Program. Only the Responsible Officer (RO) and the Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) are authorized to sign immigration documents (Form DS-2019) and are responsible for safeguarding all forms issued to the sponsor by the U.S. Department of State. Creighton’s Omaha campus is the only location authorized to host sponsored J-1 exchange visitors.

Obtaining J-1 Status

Host or sponsoring departments determine the objectives and requirements for their programs. To participate in Creighton University’s Exchange Visitor Program, applicants must contact the sponsoring department directly. GEO can accept inquiries and application materials only from sponsoring departments.  

Once the sponsoring department has submitted all required documents, GEO staff will contact the applicant directly to request any additional financial documentation required by federal regulations to complete the process.  

Maintaining J-1 Status

J-1 Visiting Scholars must meet certain obligations to maintain lawful immigration status. Maintaining status is required to remain eligible for future immigration benefits, such as applying for a change of status, if needed. The resources below provide additional guidance on maintaining J-1 status:

Contact Us

Global Engagement Office
Phone: 402.280.2221 
Fax: 402.280.2211 

Office: 
Creighton Hall 
Global Engagement Office 
Suite 324, Third Floor

Hours: 
Monday through Friday 
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (CT)

Street Address: 
Creighton University
Global Engagement Office (GEO)
2500 California Plaza 
Omaha, NE 68178 USA 

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