Living Expenses and Basic Budget

Below is a budget for a single student to live for 12 months in the Boston area. If family members accompany you, the amount will increase substantially. This budget is meant to serve as an example of minimum costs. The actual costs will vary depending on individual circumstances.

If family members accompany you to the U.S. you will need to add approximately $4,000-$5,000 for a spouse and $4,000-$5,000 for the first child. For each additional child, add $1,000 for a 12-month period. Health insurance for children ranges from $500- $1,500 per year.

Pre-Arrival Travel Information

Documents Necessary for Travel
1. Passport
2. Document obtained from the International Affairs Office
3. Financial Certification or Confirmation of Employment

Consular Interview
You will need to visit a U.S. Embassy or consulate to apply for an entry visa to come to the United States. The application at the embassy or consulate will require a visa certificate (I-20, DS-2019, or 1-797) from Tufts University Health Sciences Campus and documents confirming financial support during your stay at our institution. Receipt of a visa certificate does not guarantee that you will receive a visa from the U.S. Embassy or consulate, since admission to enter the U.S.A. is at the discretion of the consular officer.

Once you have gathered all the necessary documentation you will be applying to the U.S. Embassy or consulate nearest to you. Please be advised that in most cases you will have a brief interview with a consular officer, and during this time you must be able to prove eligibility for a non-immigrant visa by presenting the evidence that you have prepared. You should also be ready to answer questions regarding the length of your intended stay in the U.S., and how you will use your academic experience in the U.S. when you return to your home country. Most consular officers consider proof of your intention to return to your home country as the determining factor for visa issuance. To assist you in this process we suggest you gather documentation of family, property, employment, bank accounts, etc., in your home country. If you have been present in the United States as anything other than a tourist prior to this application you may also be asked to present evidence that you maintained legal immigration status.

Consular Visa Stamp
Please remember that your visa stamp issued at the U.S. Embassy or consulate is the valid form for entry at the United States border. Your length of stay will be determined by the United States Citzenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) at the port-of-entry.

USCIS Inspection: Port-of-Entry
Once you arrive to the U.S. border you will be interviewed by an USCIS official. You must show the USCIS inspector your certificate from Tufts University, passport and proof of financial support in order to facilitate your entry. Family members will also be required to show visa documentation and passports.

We strongly encourage all international students and scholars to enter the United States in the appropriate visa category. In certain situations it can be extremely difficult to change your visa status once you arrive in the United States in an inappropriate visa category. Also, please be aware that although you may have heard of citizens from your country traveling to the United States without obtaining a visa stamp prior to their arrival, this particular situation is only appropriate in certain visa cases. This program, the Visa Waiver program, is utilized by B-l/B-2 visitors for a period of 90 days or less. The Visa Waiver program does not allow for any changes of status or extensions of stay in the United States. If you wish to stay beyond a 90-day period or receive payment from Tufts University, you may not utilize this program.

Hotels and Inns in the Boston Area