International students who do not have a social security number should use their LIU ID Number to activate their MyLIU Account. The LIU ID Number is located on your offer letter.

To activate your MyLIU Account, you will need the following information:

• Student Name
• LIU ID Number
• Date of Birth (MM/DD/YY)

To troubleshoot technical issues with MyLIU activation, please visit: MyLIU – LIU Information Technology

To troubleshoot technical issues with Two-Factor Authentication (Duo Security), please visit: Duo Security – LIU Information Technology

To chat with LIU IT Department, please visit: IT Chat – LIU Information Technology

The tuition deposit is non-refundable and compulsory to apply for an I-20.

• Go to: my.liu.edu
• Select “Proceed to Login”
• Select “Make an E-Payment”
• Select “International Tuition E-Deposit”
• Select “Term”
• Add the Payment
• Select “Pay Now”
• Select “Checkout”
• Select “Payment Method”

The International Tuition Deposit is non-refundable. However, international students may request a refund of the International Tuition Deposit refund on the basis of a visa refusal from a US Embassy or Consulate. In the event a student is refused their visa by a US Embassy or Consulate, LIU reserves the right to affirm the deposit as non-refundable if the student; fails to submit the International Tuition Deposit Refund Request Form within 60 days of the intended start date, the form is submitted inaccurately, the students payment method on file is no longer active, the student defers their admission to a future start date, or if the student otherwise violates a university policy. Fall semester refunds will be issued on or around December 1. Spring semester refunds will be issued on or around April 15. The deposit is to be refunded back to the credit card where the payment was made. Please continue to monitor your credit card statement on or around the aforementioned dates. Please see the International Tuition Deposit Refund Form to apply for a refund.

To apply for the Fall 2025 or Spring 2026 I-20, visit the LIU Document Portal and upload the follow I-20 documents below. Use your MyLIU account username and password to login to the LIU Document Portal. Students who are unable to access the Upload Portal may email their documents to their respective campus; email your documents directly to LIU Brooklyn at bkln-iss@liu.edu or LIU Post at post-iss@liu.edu.

I-20 Requirements:

• Pay the International Tuition Deposit
• Submit the I-20 Application
• Submit a copy of your Passport Identification Page
• Submit Proof of Supporting Financial Documentation
  • Financial documentation must be readily available funding for educational expenses that the student is expected to incur during 12 months of study. See the I-20 application for program specific cost structures.
  • Bank documents must be in English and dated within 90 days from the time of submission, showing the account owner’s name and current balance. Bank statements or other financial documents must be signed or stamped as official by the bank.

Are you currently in the US on a F-1 Student Visa?
If yes, then submit the above-mentioned documents and:

• Submit a copy of your current I-20.
• Submit a copy of your current F-1 Student Visa.
• Contact your current university (or school) and request your SEVIS record be transferred to Long Island University. Your current university (or school) will ask for a copy of your LIU offer letter and LIU School Code. The Brooklyn Campus School Code is NYC214F01742004 and the Post Campus School Code is NYC214F01742000.

Are you requesting deferment of your LIU I-20?
Students who received an LIU-issued I-20 for a previous semester must resubmit all new I-20 documents to receive an updated I-20. Your admission offer and tuition deposit are valid for one calendar year.

Are you requesting a (F-1) Student Visa waiver based on your current visa type or status in the US?
If yes, please email international.admissions@liu.edu a copy of your current visa or non-immigrant documentation from USCIS such as, i.e. A2, E2, G4, L2, H4, Applied-Permanent Resident, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Asylum Seekers, etc. Visit the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), Nonimmigrants: Who Can Study Guide for more information. Please note, students who are deemed waiver eligible are required to submit the international tuition deposit.

Upon successful submission of your I-20 application, your I-20 will be issued electronically in approximately two weeks’ time. You will receive an email notification once your I-20 is ready to download.

• Activate or login to your MyLIU Account.
• Click on the Admissions icon.
• Click on "View I-20 Document". A new window will open displaying the I-20. Your I-20 is needed to apply for the F-1 Student visa.

International students who do not have a social security number should use their LIU ID Number to activate their MyLIU Account. The LIU ID Number is located on your offer letter.

To activate your MyLIU Account, you will need the following information:

• Student Name
• LIU ID Number
• Date of Birth (MM/DD/YY)

With your I-20, you can now schedule your F-1 Student Visa interview by doing the following:

• Submit payment for your SEVIS 901 Fee. Please note you need to pay the I-901 SEVIS fee before visiting the embassy. You can pay the fee online at fmjfee.com.
• Complete the DS-160 application.
• Schedule your F-1 student visa interview.

For more information on scheduling a visa appointment, find the consulate or embassy nearest to you. Many consulates and embassies provide online appointment scheduling. Please make sure to bring both your I-20 and your I-901 receipt to the embassy for your visa appointment. We also recommend that you bring the documentation you submitted to obtain your I-20 with you. Gather and prepare the following required documents before your visa interview.

Please note, citizens of Canada and Bermuda generally do not require visas to enter the United States as students, although they must obtain a valid Form I-20 and pay SEVIS fees. For more information see Information for Citizens of Canada and Bermuda. Additional resources for Canadian students in the United States can be found on the U.S. Embassy and Consulate websites in Canada.

Email us at international.admissions@liu.edu if you have any questions.

• What is the Form I-20? The Form I-20 is your official invitation to interview at a US embassy for the F-1 Student Visa.
• When can I expect to receive my I-20? Upon successful submission of your I-20 application, your I-20 will be issued electronically in approximately two weeks’ time.
• Is a deposit required to apply for the I-20 and is it refundable? Yes, a $500 international tuition deposit is required to apply for the I-20 and the deposit is non-refundable. Students who submit valid proof of a visa refusal from a US embassy or consulate may apply for a refund. Please see the International Tuition Deposit Refund Form to apply for a refund.
• How do I defer my I-20 to the next available start date? If you received an I-20 for a prior semester, you must submit a new I-20 application (with updated financial documentation) for the new semester.
• Can I transfer my SEVIS fee payment from my old I-20 to my new I-20? Yes, if you have already paid SEVIS fees, you may transfer your fee from your old I-20 to your new I-20, see here for more information on how to transfer the SEVIS fee.
• Do student athletes need to submit financial documentation? If your athletic scholarship is less than estimated cost attendance as outlined in the I-20 financial section, then yes, you will be required to submit financial documentation, such as a bank statement, to show the difference in funding. The estimated cost of attendance in the I-20 includes miscellaneous costs such as books & supplies, travel, and health insurance costs that may not be included in your scholarship. Please ensure a copy of your athletic award letter is submitted with your I-20 application. J
• I am experiencing visa appointment delays, what can I do? Continue to monitor your nearest US embassy website for appointment availability. Many embassies provide online appointment scheduling.
• Can I travel to an embassy outside my residing country if the nearest US embassy has long wait times? Yes, the US State Department posts global visa wait times on their website for this reason. You can view visa wait times here. Wait times posted are worst-case-scenario estimates.
• What if a US embassy refused my student visa? You may reapply for the current start date or a future one. Be sure to prepare to overcome your student visa refusal and learn more about visa denials here.
• Who is my LIU point of contact for completing the DS-160? Please use the Designated School Officials name as printed and signed in your I-20. If you are enrolling at LIU Brooklyn campus, the email is bkln-iss@liu.edu and phone number is 718-488-1389. If you are enrolling at LIU Post campus, the email is post-iss@liu.edu and phone number is 516-299-1451.
• Should I review my Form I-20 to ensure that information is correct? Yes, please ensure you Form I-20 is accurate.
• How can I prepare for my student visa interview? Review NAFSA’s 10 Points to Remember When Applying for a Student Visa and attend an LIU Accepted Student Event.

Visit Travel.State.gov for more information about required documents and how to apply for the student visa.