Visa: Your Ticket to the United States of America
An F-1 student visa, as well as the M-1 and J-1 visas, are available to international students who wish to study in the United States. The majority of these students study for a doctorate, master’s, or bachelor’s degree.
The application process for a student visa in the United States is complicated, and there is a lot to keep in mind.
In the United States, there are approximately 1.2 million international students. The vast majority of them are in the United States on a study visa (F-1 visa), which is normally granted to international students seeking college degrees.
The number of F-1 student visas issued in 2016 was 644,204, with an acceptance rate of a stunning 80%. This is fantastic news for anyone considering studying in the United States.
Despite the recent debate over visa limitations, the United States continues to be one of the most attractive destinations for overseas students.
Any student planning to study in the United States should be informed of the requirements for obtaining a student visa in the United States.
Concerning your student visa for the United States
Certain unique restrictions may apply depending on where you are from in order to qualify for an American student visa.
- The typical procedure begins with an application to and acceptance to a university of your choosing in the United States.
- This is where you will receive your I-20 form, often known as an acceptance letter.
- The entire procedure, from school selection to document submission and payment of SEVIS fees to all visa application steps, may be made a lot smoother and hassle-free with advice and assistance from a dedicated expert like Anaad Overseas.
For the F and M visa categories, your I-20 paperwork is a must. The three categories of student visas for the United States are listed below.
Student visas for the United States are available in a variety of forms.
Check which form of student visa you wish to apply for before you start thinking about how to get a student visa for the United States:
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International students seeking to attend a vocational school or non-academic program are granted an M-1 visa.
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Exchange students, interns, teachers, professional trainees, and seasonal workers in the private cultural industry are granted J-1 visas.
- An F-1 visa is a form of student visa provided to international students enrolled in an academic or English language program in the United States. The validity period lasts until you finish your program of study.
Our focus will be on the F-1 visa, which is required for full-time academic studies in the United States.
Steps, Requirements, and Conditions for Obtaining an F-1 Visa
Although your particular country or embassy may have additional application processes, restrictions, or conditions, the following is the basic procedure:
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Apply to a SEVP (Student and Exchange Visitor Program) recognized institution and get enrolled.
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Enroll in the SEVIS program by paying the SEVIS I-901 fee ($350). (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System).
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Following this payment, your institution will issue you an I-20 form, which you must present to the consular official during your F-1 visa interview. If you intend to travel and live in the United States with your children and/or spouse, they will each require their own I-20 papers and will not be required to enroll in SEVIS.
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Pay the non-refundable visa application fee and meet the embassy or consulate’s application conditions.
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The visa application is available online, and you can fill it out before printing the DS-160 form, which you will bring to your F-1 visa interview.
- Make a schedule and prepare for your interview. Your interview will determine whether or not you are granted an F-1 student visa.
You can set the date, but keep in mind that waiting times for interview appointments can vary depending on the visa category, season, or location.
So file your visa application as soon as possible, because you can receive a US F-1 student visa up to 120 days before the commencement of your program.
However, you will only be permitted to travel to the United States with your F-1 visa within 30 days of the start of your study.
Documents required for the F-1 visa interview
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Form for applying for a non-immigrant visa (Form DS-160)
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Recent standardized digital color passport photo
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A valid passport is required.
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Payment receipt of the visa application ($160)
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Non-immigrant Certificate of Eligibility (F-1) Status as a student (Form I-20)
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Documents demonstrating sufficient financial support throughout your stay in the United States (Bank Statement)
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Diplomas, transcripts, certificates, and degrees from all of the schools you’ve attended. Scores from standardized tests such as the TOEFL, GMAT, SAT, GRE, and others are also considered.
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Documents proving your intention to return after completing your program (for example; your asset documents or job offer letter valid after you complete the study).
Depending on your region or the program you’ve been accepted into, additional documentation may be required.
Attend your visa interview on time
The short interview determines your eligibility for an F-1 student visa.
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You will be asked a few personal questions about your intention to study in the United States during this time.
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All of the necessary paperwork, as indicated above, must be carried with you.
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Fingerprints should be shared for records, and your F-1 visa interview materials should be validated ahead of time.
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Your ability to persuade the Consular Officer of your qualifications and desire to study will determine your success in the interview.
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You will also need to provide your passport so that your visa may be issued with instructions.
3 Ways to Make the Visa Application Process Go Smoothly
You now know how to obtain a student visa, but how can you ensure that you will not encounter any difficulties along the way? Follow the three suggestions below to make sure your visa application goes well.
1. Begin early
Applying for a student visa too close to the commencement of your program will almost always result in a visa refusal, so apply as soon as you’ve been accepted and received Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 from your institution.
If you are applying to many US colleges, I recommend waiting until you have gotten admission notifications from all of your schools, or until you have been accepted to your top-choice school, before applying for a visa. As a result, you will be able to analyze your options and select the best school for you.
2. Wait till you have your visa before purchasing a plane ticket
Although it is a good idea to begin the student visa application process as soon as possible, it is better to wait until you have obtained your visa before purchasing any aircraft tickets, as there is no certainty that your application will be accepted.
If you buy a plane ticket in advance and are then denied a student visa in the United States, you will almost certainly not get a full refund. (Airline refund policies vary, but you often won’t get a full refund if you cancel more than 24 hours after booking a flight.)
3. If you have any questions, contact your embassy
The above-mentioned visa application process is the standard procedure for obtaining an F-1, M-1, or J-1 international student visa to the United States. However, your visa application process may differ somewhat from the ones outlined above. This is usually due to variances in how US embassies handle or process specific types of information.
As a result, any queries or issues you have concerning the visa process should be directed to your nearest embassy. For queries about fees, the interview, and other visa-related matters, your embassy is by far the best resource.
Additional International Student Resources
Here are a few official resources we recommend using if you need clarification or further help on various areas of the US visa application process:
Official Website of the United States Visas: This is an official government website that contains all you need to know about student visas, including how to apply for them, what types of visa policies are available, and so on. If you have any queries, the US visa FAQ and the visa fees pages are great places to start.
Study in the States: The US Department of Homeland Security maintains this official government website. You can obtain a lot of information about how to apply for a student visa, how to prepare for your arrival, and how to keep your F-1 or M-1 visa status by going to the “Students” tab at the top of the page. You can also get a summary of all the important student forms you’ll need to complete for your student visa in the United States.
Education USA: This US Department of State-run website assists international students in navigating US schools, funding alternatives, the visa application process, and more.
Last-minute suggestions
This entire visa application process is quite important if you want to study abroad. Nonetheless, it can be a difficult and tedious procedure.
Within the confines of your visa, you must collaborate closely with your international adviser.
Students, for example, only have 60 days after completing their studies programme in the United States. After that, they must either leave the nation, transfer to another school, or look for work. Extensions are also possible if the necessary conditions and procedures are followed.
So, if you get lost or have any questions, you can leave a remark, email us, or look over our website and the many other visa-related blogs we have.
We’d be delighted to assist!