new international students

Congratulations on your admission to the San Francisco Art Institute! Each year SFAI welcomes students from more than 25 countries, and we think you will find SFAI and the city of San Francisco to be a warm and accepting international and artistic community.

We look forward to meeting you at our International Student Orientation, which is held the week prior to all new student orientation. More details will be sent to you as we get closer to the start of the semester. In the meantime, the Global Programs Office is here to assist you in accomplishing your artistic, academic, and personal goals. Our office provides:

•  Information to help you transition to life as a student at SFAI, in San Francisco, and in the United States
•  Advising and counseling services to help you navigate the campus and maintain your immigration status
•  Social programming and workshops to help you connect with U.S. and international students

The first step in your pre-arrival process is to obtain your student visa. We encourage you to begin the visa application process right away as processing times can be lengthy. 

Don’t forget to review the Pre-Arrival Checklist periodically to make sure you are on track to complete all the necessary steps for a smooth arrival.

If you have any questions, please contact international@sfai.edu. Welcome to SFAI!