Earning an LL.M. in the United States is an exciting and ambitious step for foreign-trained attorneys. It’s your chance to expand your expertise, connect with the U.S. legal community and perhaps even sit for a state bar exam. But before you can start your classes, there’s a vital process to navigate: obtaining a U.S. student visa.
It can feel complicated, but law schools across the country are committed to helping international students through every step.
Leslie Lawrence, international advisor and designated school official (DSO/ARO) at University of Connecticut School of Law, and Kara Galvin, director of international and graduate programs at University of Minnesota Law School, shared their insights into how LL.M. students can successfully prepare, apply and arrive ready for their program.
Step 1: Admission and the I-20
Your visa process starts not with the embassy, but with your law school.
“First, students need to gain admission to the law school,” Lawrence said. “Then, they’ll need to pay their seat deposit. After that, they will receive instructions to submit an I-20 request.”
That request is essential; it’s how your school officially certifies you for a U.S. student visa. You’ll be asked to upload a copy of your passport, provide proof of funds for at least one year of study, and if you have a financial sponsor, submit a signed declaration of support. If you’ve received a scholarship, you’ll also need to upload documentation showing that award.
Once your materials are reviewed and your funding meets the school’s minimum requirements for tuition, fees and living expenses, the International Office will issue your Initial I-20. This document confirms that you are accepted into a program authorized to host international students and allows you to begin your visa application.
Next, you’ll pay the SEVIS I-901 fee (currently $350 for F-1 applicants and $220 for J-1 applicants), complete Form DS-160, schedule your visa interview and pay the visa fee. You’ll then attend an in-person interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate in your home country.
“Currently, wait times for visa interviews vary extensively depending on the country where the student applies,” Lawrence said. “Processing times can also differ significantly once the interview is complete.”
At Minnesota Law, Galvin described a similar process.
“Once a foreign-trained lawyer has accepted their offer of admission, they receive an I-20 from the school,” she said. “That document is required to make a visa interview appointment at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate.”
Galvin said there is a new detail in 2025’s visa process.
“A social media vetting step now takes place after the visa interview, so applicants usually learn whether their visa is approved a few days later instead of right on the spot,” she said.
Once your visa is approved, you can enter the U.S. up to 30 days before the program start date listed on your I-20.
Step 2: Choosing the right visa type
If you’re coming to the U.S. to study law, your visa type will almost always be the F-1 Student Visa, which is designed for full-time academic study.
“In general, most international law students need an F-1 visa to enter the U.S.,” Lawrence said. “However, at UConn School of Law, some students are eligible to come on a J-1 exchange visitor visa if we have a partnership agreement with a student’s home university, and the LL.M. credits will also count toward their degree at home.”
Galvin said that there are cases where the J-1 visa may be required instead of the F-1.
“If a student is sponsored by their employer, a government or another institution, they may need to obtain a J-1 visa,” she said. “The law school will help guide each incoming student about which type applies to them.”
Step 3: Getting support from your law school
You won’t have to figure this out alone. Most law schools have international offices and staff dedicated to helping LL.M. students understand and comply with visa regulations.
At UConn School of Law, Lawrence’s office offers step-by-step instructions, virtual advising appointments and video tutorials for new students.
“We provide all of the instructions and steps to obtain the I-20 and visa,” she said. “We are available for support from the time of application through graduation and even while the student is working in the U.S. at the end of their program.”
The law school also hosts new student webinars before each semester, giving incoming students a chance to ask questions about the visa process and prepare for their arrival.
At Minnesota Law, Galvin’s team collaborates with the school’s International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) office to issue and maintain I-20 documents.
“We do our best to answer questions and support students throughout the visa process,” she said. “However, the actual visa appointment and approval are handled by federal agencies like the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
“We want foreign-trained lawyers to study at Minnesota Law, so we provide as much support as we can before, during and after the LL.M. program,” she said.
Step 4: Understanding and following visa rules
Once you arrive in the U.S., your visa status depends on following the federal regulations that come with your visa type. The F-1 and J-1 visas are student visas, not work visas, and your eligibility for employment or travel is tightly connected to your academic program.
“There are specific requirements students must follow while in the U.S.,” Lawrence said. “The main purpose of the visa is to complete an academic objective.”
As an LL.M. student, you must stay in full compliance with your visa requirements. Report to your international office when you arrive so your SEVIS record can be activated. Stay enrolled full-time, which is usually nine in-person credits each semester, and get approval before any off-campus work through curricular or optional practical training. Always obtain a travel signature before leaving the U.S. and update your address within 10 days of moving.
Off-campus employment requires authorization, but on-campus work of up to 20 hours per week is typically allowed. Curricular practical training applies when the experience is part of your academic program, while optional practical training allows you to gain practical legal experience after graduation for up to 12 months. J-1 students may qualify for academic training, which functions in a similar way.
Step 5: Preparing financially
Before you can even receive your I-20, your law school must verify that you have sufficient funds to cover tuition, fees and living expenses for at least one academic year. Proof of these funds through bank statements, scholarship letters or sponsor declarations is a key factor in visa approval.
“The LL.M. cost can vary from law school to law school,” Galvin said. “Tuition, scholarship offers and cost of living in that city are the main components to consider.”
At Minnesota Law, every admitted LL.M. student receives a scholarship to help subsidize the cost.
“We believe our LL.M. students add expertise to our classrooms and enrich our community,” Galvin said.
At UConn School of Law, Lawrence’s office reviews each student’s financial documents carefully before issuing the I-20.
“We calculate if their funding meets the minimum requirements for one year of attendance,” she said.
Arriving prepared
It’s worth remembering that this process takes time. Embassy backlogs, document verification and interview scheduling can take weeks or months. The best strategy is to start early, stay organized and communicate often with your law school’s international office.
“The most important piece of advice,” Lawrence said, “is to stay in close contact with your international office. We are here to help, but communication is key. Every student’s situation is unique, and we want them to succeed.”
Galvin agreed.
“When students are informed and proactive, the visa process runs more smoothly,” she said. “That preparation sets them up for success from the moment they arrive.”
