How Can I Apply for a Student Visa in USA?
If you live outside the United States, then you might be curious as to whether it's possible to go to college in the U.S. even if you're not a resident. Not only can you obtain a valuable education in the U.S., but staying on campus in the U.S. is a valuable life experience in terms of getting a chance to experience American culture. Fortunately, if you do live in a different country, you may be able to obtain a student Visa, which will allow you to temporarily live in the U.S. so that you can go to school here.
The Student Visa program
It's worth noting that you cannot attend a school in the U.S. after entering the country on a visitor Visa or through the Visa Waiver Program. You can only study under these Visas if it's recreational study and it's part of your visit as a tourist. The type of Visa you need will depend on where you're studying. If you are planning on attending a vocational school or a recognized nonacademic institution (other than English language classes), then you will need a Visa category M. For all other types of schools, you'll need a Visa F.
Obtaining a Visa F
The following are the steps that you will need to take in order to obtain a student Visa so that you can study on an American campus:
- The first thing you will need to do is to apply to a school approved by SEVP (Student and Exchange Visitor Program).
- If you've been accepted to a school approved by SEVP, then you will automatically be registered for the SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System). Once you are registered for the SEVIS, you will need to pay a SEVIS I-901 fee.
- You will be issued a Form I-20 by the SEVP-approved school that you have been accepted into. You will have to fill this form out.
- You will need to schedule an appointment at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your country so that you can apply for a student Visa. You will need to provide the Form I-20 to the consular officer during the interview. Interviews are generally required for anyone between the ages of 14 and 79. Keep in mind that wait times vary depending on where you live, which means that you should try to apply for your Visa as early as you can.
- If you have a spouse or children that you want to bring with you, then they will all need individual Form I-20s. They will have to enroll in SEVIS and they will need to apply for Visas as well; however, they will not be required to pay the SEVIS fee that you had to pay.
- You will need to complete a Form DS-160, which is a nonimmigrant Visa application form available online. You will have to fill the form out and upload a photo before printing out the confirmation page. This confirmation page needs to be brought to your interview with you.
If you are a new student, then keep in mind that F Visas can be issued up to 120 days before the classes you've enrolled in begin. However, even if you get your student Visa this far ahead of time, you will not be able to enter the U.S. more than 30 days before classes start. If you are a continuing student at a SEVP-approved school, then student Visas can be issued at any time and you can enter the U.S. at any time before your classes begin.
Preparing for your interview
The following are all the documents that you will need:
- You will need to have a passport that will remain valid for at least six months beyond your planned stay in the U.S.
- You will need the confirmation page of the Form DS-160.
- The Form DS-160 requires a photo upload. If it failed to upload, you can bring a photo to the interview -- but it must be in the proper format.
- You must bring an application fee payment receipt.
- You must have your Form I-20.
- Your consular officer may request additional documents that could include transcripts, school certificates, standardized test scores or diplomas.
During your interview, you'll be asked how you plan to pay for school, your living expenses and your travel costs.
Although there are a lot of steps and a lot of documents to fill out in order to obtain a student Visa, the process is actually quite streamlined so it shouldn't be that difficult to complete. If you're interested in attending classes in the U.S., be sure to contact us at ECPI University to find out about our International programs and how you can apply.
It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!
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