Admitted to a US university: what to do next from Ghana
Choose your offer and accept it by the deadline, usually 1 May, then withdraw from the others. Send the certification of finances so the university can issue your I-20. Pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and book your visa interview at the US Embassy in Accra. Meanwhile, finish health forms, housing and orientation tasks, send your final WASSCE results, and book your flight once the visa is in your passport.
What do I do after I am admitted?
Five things, roughly in this order: choose your offer and accept it, send your financial documents for the I-20, pay the SEVIS fee and apply for your visa, complete the university's tasks, and travel. Most of this happens between April and August.
An offer is the start of a second process, not the end of the first. Each step depends on the one before, so a delay early on pushes everything back. Keep one list, and work through it in order.
How do I choose and accept an offer?
Compare what each offer leaves your family to pay each year, not the size of the award. Then accept one by its deadline, usually 1 May for regular admission, and pay any enrolment deposit. Many universities waive the deposit for students on substantial aid; ask if it is a burden.
If two offers are close, write to each aid office with your questions before you decide. Aid offices expect questions in April, and a clear answer in writing is far better than a guess made on 30 April.
Then withdraw from every other university that admitted you, politely, so the place can go to someone on the waiting list. If you applied Early Decision and were admitted with enough aid, you must withdraw your other applications straight away.
What happens before the visa?
The university needs proof that your family can pay whatever the aid does not cover for the first year. You send the certification of finances and bank documents, and the university issues your I-20, the form your visa depends on. Our guide to the certification of finances explains it.
When the I-20 arrives, check every detail: your name exactly as on your passport, your date of birth, your programme and the start date. Ask the university to correct any error before you go further.
- April
Compare offers, ask aid offices any questions, decide.
- By 1 May
Accept one offer, pay any deposit, withdraw from the others.
- May
Send the certification of finances; receive and check your I-20.
- May to June
Pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160, pay the visa fee, book and attend your interview in Accra.
- June to July
Health forms, housing, orientation tasks, final WASSCE results.
- July to August
Book your flight once the visa is in your passport; travel.
How do I apply for the visa?
In four steps, once you have your I-20:
- Pay the SEVIS I-901 fee, $350 for F-1 students as of 2026, on the official SEVIS fee website. Keep the receipt.
- Complete the DS-160, the online visa application, using your I-20 details.
- Pay the visa application fee, $185 as of 2026, and book an interview at the US Embassy in Accra. A new visa integrity fee has also been introduced; check the current amount and how it is paid.
- Attend the interview with your passport, I-20, SEVIS receipt, DS-160 confirmation, aid letter and financial documents.
Book the interview as early as you can. Appointments can fill in the summer, and a late visa can mean missing orientation. The US Embassy's own pages list the current steps and documents.
What does the university need from me?
A series of tasks in your new student portal, each with a date. Usually:
- Health forms and immunisation records. Gather your vaccination records early; some vaccines take more than one dose.
- Health insurance. Most universities require it of international students, and many enrol you automatically.
- Housing. A form for your room, and sometimes a roommate questionnaire.
- Orientation. International students often have an earlier orientation than other new students.
- Final results. Your WASSCE results, sent as the university asks.
Check the portal every week. Missing a form can delay your registration or your housing.
Can my offer still be withdrawn?
Rarely, but yes. Most offers expect your final results to be consistent with the record you applied with, and your conduct to stay good. A large, unexplained fall in your WASSCE results, or a serious disciplinary problem, can put an offer at risk.
If something goes wrong, such as illness during the examinations, tell the admissions office early and honestly. Universities deal with these situations every year, and a student who explains is treated very differently from one who stays silent. Our guide to applying before WASSCE results explains how offers treat final results.
What if my visa is delayed or refused?
Tell your university at once. International student offices see delays every year and can often help: deferring your start, holding your place or issuing an updated I-20 for a later date.
A refusal is not always final. Ask the consular officer, or read the refusal letter, for the reason. Many students who are refused once reapply with clearer answers or documents. Do not pay anyone who promises to fix a refusal; the same warning about fixers applies.
How do we handle payments from Ghana?
Plan them early, because international payments take time. A deposit, a housing payment or a contribution towards costs may need an international bank transfer or a card that works abroad. Ask your bank in Ghana how long a transfer to the US takes and what it costs, and ask the university which payment methods it accepts for international families.
Bring a modest amount of US dollars for your first days, and expect to open a US bank account after you arrive. Your university's international office usually explains how.
When do I book my flight?
After the visa is in your passport. Booking earlier risks losing money if the visa is delayed. Check the university's arrival dates for international students first, and aim to land a day or two before orientation.
Some universities with strong aid for international students help with the cost of the first flight. Ask your aid office before you book. Our guide to the cost of studying in the USA lists the costs that come before the first term.
What should I do first?
As soon as you accept an offer, open the new student portal and list every task with its date. Send the certification of finances the same week. Then check that your passport is valid well beyond your first year.
If you have a question along the way, send us a message on WhatsApp.
Questions people ask
What should I do after getting admitted to a US university?
Compare your offers and accept one by the deadline, usually 1 May. Then send your financial documents for the I-20, pay the SEVIS fee, apply for your F-1 visa at the US Embassy in Accra, and complete the university's health, housing and orientation tasks.
When do I have to accept a US university offer?
Usually by 1 May for regular admission. Early Decision has its own, earlier deadline. Check each offer letter for the exact date.
How much are the visa fees?
As of 2026, the SEVIS I-901 fee for F-1 students is $350 and the visa application fee is $185. A new visa integrity fee has also been introduced. Check the current amounts on the official US government sites before paying.
When should I book my flight?
After your visa is approved and in your passport. Booking earlier risks losing money if the visa is delayed or refused. Check the university's arrival dates first.