MPH EPI Visa Certification

All international students will require an F-1 visa for any portion of the program that is held on-campus. Canadian citizens will require an I-20.

An outline of the documentation required is listed below.

I-20/DS2019 processing and requirements are handled through the Admissions Office in conjunction with the Harvard International Office. For any confirmed students receiving financial aid (grants and/or loans), an award letter will be sent to the Admissions Office to be used as part of the financial certification for your visa application.

Please submit the following:

1. Financial Certification for International Students (FCIS) form. Please complete even if you are sponsored outside of Harvard
2. Funding documents to cover all costs
3. Copy of your passport biographic page, as well as any dependents.

Students requesting a J-1 visa must also submit an eShip Global FedEx label.

The deadline to submit all completed documents is April 1.

Detailed instructions regarding the required documentation are listed below.

1. FCIS Form

Complete the Financial Certification form online . Instructions are also included on the form.

 2. Funding Documents

Students must certify that they have adequate funds to cover the expenses to study in the U.S.

June 2024 certification amounts for a visa document request:

Please note: the figures below are estimates for the 2024/2025 academic year. Please check back here by the end of February 2024 for official figures.

Cost  Incoming MPH Epi Amount  Returning MPH Epi 
Tuition  $12,645  $12,645 
Rent  $1,098  $1,098 
Food  $548  $548 
Personal  $442  $442 
Local transportation  $90  $90 
Total certification amount:  $14,823  $14,823 

Acceptable sources of funding and required supporting documentation are included below:

Personal Funds: Please submit a recent monthly bank statement (within the past three months) that meets the following criteria:

  • The student’s name must be listed as the account holder or joint account holder.  We will not accept funds submitted in support of a student.
  • The funds must be held in cash accounts. Any funding presented for financial certification must be immediately available to the student without restrictions, penalties or requirements for withdrawal.

Please note that that funds not held in US dollars must meet or exceed the US dollar equivalency at the time of document submission. All funds submitted must remain available towards cost of attendance expenses.

Fellowship, grant or scholarship:  Please provide a copy of the official award letter to the Office of Financial Aid (financialaid@hsph.harvard.edu) if the award is from a non-Harvard source.

Employer or agency sponsorship: Please provide a letter from your employer or agency on letterhead to the Office of Financial Aid (financialaid@hsph.harvard.edu). It should also include the following:

  • Name and full address of the sponsoring agency
  • Your full name as the person designated to receive the funds
  • Exact amount that has been awarded to you
  • The period of time for which it is valid
  • Any restrictions on the use of money
  • If the funds will be sent directly to you or to the University

Please note: DS-2019 (for J-1 visa) documents can only be issued for the duration of time for which a student certifies funding. If a student is in a multi-year program and certifies funding for only one year, the HIO issued DS-2019 document will be for only one year and the student will have to certify funding in order to extend their document for the remainder of their program.

3. Passport biographic page

Your passport biographic page, along with your financial documents for personal funds, should be submitted along with your FCIS form in the document upload section. Please wait to submit the FCIS form until your documents are complete. Please also include the passport biographic pages of all dependents.

QUESTIONS?

Any questions regarding these four steps should be directed to the Admissions Office.

Any questions regarding immigration, visa types, or the embassy can be directed to the HIO. Please also see the Summer FAQs from the HIO for more information prior to arrival.

Please also visit the Harvard University Credit Union for information regarding loans for international students. Please note that there may be other loan options, but this is one we are aware of that allow students to open accounts while still abroad.