You’ve made it through the first big step and have been accepted to UB! Before you can enter the United States, you must apply for a U.S. visa stamp (foil) that corresponds with your visa category.
Your visa category will determine many aspects of your life in the U.S. (e.g., your studies, employment, vacation, travel). Your visa (sometimes referred to as visa stamp or visa foil) is the document placed on a page in your passport that permits you to apply for admission to the U.S. in accordance with your visa category.
Most international students come to the U.S. on F-1 visas, while some come on J-1 visas. However, there are some other visa categories that permit studying (e.g., H-1B, H-4, L-2, E-2, etc.). So some of you may have a different type of visa.
To come to the United States to study, you will need to apply for a visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
You cannot study for a degree on a tourist (B-1/2) visa or on the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Therefore, you should not enter the U.S. as a B-1/2 or on the VWP if you plan to study.
Canadian students do not need to apply for a U.S. visa.