Are you one among those international students who are dreaming to study in the USA but are confused about the complex and long process of getting a visa? Students who don’t belong to the USA need to have their Student Visa first to reside in the USA and attend their institutions legally. The steps of applying for a USA student visa are not similar in different USA embassies and vary from each embassy and consulate. It’s better to go through the website of USA embassies or consulates for accurate instructions. F1, M-1 and J-1 are the three different students visa available for international students. Those students who want to complete their full-time academic course from the USA should have F1 Visa and those who just want to complete certain semesters or intern in the USA needs to have a J1 visa. M1 is the third type of visa that is mandatory for completing nonacademic and vocational studies. Hence, Without a US student Visa, international students cannot attend their institution legally. Below mentioned are some of the general steps which are usually followed to get a US student Visa. These steps will help you in proceeding with the student’s Visa easily.
Step 1: Apply in SEVP
Getting a student visa is a very lengthy process so, students have to apply 6 to 7 months before the start day of their course. The first step is of getting their enrollment accepted by the SEVP ( students exchange and visitors program ) approved school in the US.
Step 2: Register in SEVIS and pay SEVIS Fees
once your enrollment is done in your favourite school, you have to register in the SEVIS (student and exchange visitor information system ) and compulsorily pay the SEVIS I-901 fee. The SEVIS fees for F1 and M1 students are 350 USD and it is 220 USD for J1 students.
Step 3: Apply for student visa at the nearest US Embassy
Students can apply for their student visa at their nearest US embassy and consulate after getting the form 1-20 from your SEVIS-approved school.
Step 4: fill nonimmigrant visa Application online
The Students Need to fill out the online nonimmigrant Visa application or form DS-160. A recent photograph of the students is required during the filling of the online form. You can visit the US visa websites to get the proper instructions about the type of photograph that is required to be submitted.
Documents required during the student visa application
Students must also have a passport and that too is valid. It means it must not expire during your stay in the USA. Those students whose passports may expire during the continuance of their course in the USA must apply for a new passport.
The third document that is required during the filling of the online Visa Application is Form 1-20 which is issued by your US school.
Other than a photograph, passport and Form 1-20, certain other documents may be required in the visa application such as a resume or CV, a travel itinerary, when you have last visited the USA and other additional information.
Step 5: Select the US embassy for your interview
Students should also select the US embassy where they want to give the interview and visit the embassy in person to schedule their interview.
Step 6: Pay visa application fees
Every student who applies for a visa application has to pay 160 USD as a visa application fee as per the rules instructed by your embassy.
Step 7: attend a visa interview at the US embassy
Once the fees are submitted, you will have to appear for the visa interview on the scheduled date. Several documents are required in the Visa interview which include the student’s passport, DS-160 confirmation copy, SEVIS I -901 confirmation copy, copy of visa photograph, payment receipt of visa application fees and most importantly form I-20. The embassy may ask for other documents as well such as high school degree and university information where you studied last etc.
Also Read :