F-1 Visa Guide for Drake University

Admitted to Drake University? Here is how the I-20, SEVIS fee, funds proof, and Des Moines arrival steps fit together.

Drake University is an SEVP-certified private institution in Des Moines, IA. International students study in F-1 status after the school issues Form I-20, you pay the SEVIS I-901 fee, complete DS-160, and (if required) attend a visa interview. An I-20 is not a visa guarantee—the Department of State decides visa issuance.

Begin funding documents early so Drake University can issue your I-20 in time for your program start date in Des Moines.

Your I-20 and the international student office

The international student services team at Drake University includes Designated School Officials who create and maintain your SEVIS record. They issue the initial I-20, advise on travel signatures, CPT/OPT recommendations, and program changes. Contact them within ten days if your address, major, or funding source changes so your record stays accurate.

Financial documentation for your I-20

To obtain an I-20 from Drake University, you must show you can cover the published cost of attendance for at least the first academic year. Typical evidence includes recent bank statements or bank letters, a sponsor affidavit when someone else funds you, and scholarship award letters. Documents should name the account holder clearly and be recent enough for the school’s review window.

Arriving in Des Moines

Arriving in Des Moines for Drake University: City apartments near campus corridors; quieter than large coastal markets. DART buses; DSM airport is convenient. Hot summers, cold winters, severe-weather seasons. Map bus routes to your exact campus before leasing across town. Complete Drake University's mandatory SEVIS registration/check-in on time with your passport, F-1 visa (if applicable), and I-20.

Common challenges for Drake University applicants

• Providing financial evidence that matches Drake University's I-20 cost of attendance without unofficial screenshots or expired statements.
• Securing housing in Des Moines before orientation while managing deposits as a new arrival without US credit history.
• Maintaining full-time enrollment each term so your SEVIS record at Drake University stays active unless a DSO-authorized reduced course load applies.
• Remembering that Drake University issues the I-20, but the Department of State decides the F-1 visa—admission is not a visa guarantee.
• Compiling financial proof that meets Drake University's standards, including official bank letters that show available funds without unexplained large deposits.

Working during and after your program

F-1 students at Drake University may work on campus up to 20 hours per week while school is in session, subject to school policy. Off-campus training usually requires CPT during the program or OPT after the DSO recommends employment authorisation in SEVIS and, for OPT, USCIS approval. Neither CPT nor OPT guarantees a job or future visa status.

Local facts for Drake University

• Map bus routes to your exact campus before leasing across town.
• Des Moines housing: City apartments near campus corridors; quieter than large coastal markets.
• Drake University is SEVP-certified in Des Moines, IA, with roughly 500 international students in recent counts.
• Drake University educates more than 500 students from abroad, making it a significant SEVP-certified private campus in IA.
• Drake University is a private SEVP-certified campus in Des Moines, IA, with roughly 500 international students in recent counts.
• The international student services team at Drake University includes Designated School Officials who create and maintain your SEVIS record.

Official sources

Confirm SEVIS, F-1 employment, and visa appointment rules on government sites. Your school's international office is the authority for I-20 issuance.

• USCIS — Students and exchange visitors
• Study in the States (SEVP / ICE)
• SEVIS I-901 fee (FMJfee)
• US Department of State — student visas
• 8 CFR 214.2(f) — F-1 classification

Legal rules live on MyCaseworks

This USA page owns the campus journey for Drake University. Form-level F-1 / CPT / OPT procedure is maintained on legal.yousafeconsultancy.com (MyCaseworks):

• F-1 student visa rights guideStatus rules, work routes, and travel — the legal pillar for F-1.
• F-1 document checklistWhat to assemble for I-20, DS-160, and the consular interview.
• CPT vs OPTWhen training is curricular vs post-completion work authorisation.
• OPT & STEM OPT complete guidePost-completion work authorisation rules after you graduate.
• SEVIS termination & reinstatementWhat to do if status is at risk.
• US student visas hubAll F-1, CPT, OPT, and STEM OPT procedural guides in one place.

Frequently asked questions