Doctoral Intranet

International Students

I-20/DS-2019 Request Process (Visa)

International students who accept the offer of admission from the Kellogg School of Management will need to apply for an I-20/DS-2019 to study in the United States. Please refer to the “Submit a Visa Request” information from the Office of International Student and Scholar Services (OISS).

All Fall 2025 doctoral enrollees will be required to submit their I-20/DS-2019 requests to the Office of International Student and Scholar Services (OISS). 

The Office of International Student and Scholar Services (OISS) at Northwestern University assists students with the I-20/DS-2019 process.

  • Students should visit the OISS website and access the Steps for New Students and complete the I-20/DS-2019 Request Form.
  • The OISS portal requires a NetID and password. The Kellogg PhD Office will contact students when their NetIDs and computer accounts are created. Your computer account will be formatted for Kellogg (including an @kellogg email address).
  • The PhD Program at Kellogg falls under The Graduate School at Northwestern University.
  • Students may enter the country 30 days before the start date on the I-20/DS-2019 documents. The official start date for Kellogg PhD students entering in fall of 2025 will be posted spring of 2025. 
  • For Current US Visa Holders: If you are currently enrolled in a college/university in the US, have recently graduated from a college/university in the US, or completed or are completing a period of Optional Practical Training (OPT) or Academic Training (AT), you must transfer your SEVIS record to Northwestern University. To initiate your transfer, ask your current (or previous) institution’s International Student Advisor to complete the Transfer Form for Northwestern University. Information about the transfer process is available here

Questions regarding the I-20/DS-2019 process can be directed to Susan Jackman, Director, PhD Program, Kellogg School of Management.  

Registering Passports

Upon their arrival on campus, international students must register their passports with the Office of International Student and Scholar Services as soon as possible. To register your passport, you need to bring in your passport and I‑20 or DS-2019 documents.

 

Applying for SSN & ITIN

In order to receive payment from Northwestern University, Kellogg doctoral students must have either:

  • A Social Security Number (SSN) -or-
  • Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).

 

Social Security Number (SSN)
To qualify for a SSN, you must have a job at Northwestern and receive wages for work performed. Please note, doctoral students in their first year of study receive fellowship money only and no work is required for the fellowship; consequently, no wages are paid. Unless you will be employed by the department or a professor, you do not qualify for a SSN. The steps for applying for a SSN can be found on the Office of International Student and Scholar Services website. 

Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) 

Students who are not working at Kellogg will need to apply for an ITIN for tax identification purposes. These are nonresident aliens who will receive stipends from a fellowship but will not be employed in any other way, such as an assistantship or other confirmed temporary employment. The Payroll Office at Northwestern has information on this ITIN process on their web site.