A Student Guide to the F1 Visa USA

student visa usa

There’s a lot more to the US student visa that the student needs to know. Getting the visa comes at a far later stage. Before the visa is granted, there are specific requirements that must be met by the students and a specified step by step process needs to be followed.

We have provided a detailed guide for the F1 student visa which might be of immense help for applicants.

Student Acceptance and Application

The student must primarily apply to a SEVP-approved school. If the school finds your profile suitable and accepts you into the desired program, then you will be registered for the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). You need to make the SEVIS I-901 fee payment.

The next stage is the issuance of the I-20 form by the school. It is only after this that you may apply for the F1 visa at the US Embassy or Consulate. While going for the visa interview, you need to carry the I-20 with you. Students with an F1 visa need to complete their studies by the end date mentioned on their I-20, as the date is provided by the college or university that the student has been accepted into.

The form DS-160 is to be completed to apply for the Student Visa USA and the confirmation page needs to be printed. A photograph that meets the requirements also needs to be uploaded.

The Visa Interview

Scheduling: An appointment for the Visa interview needs to be scheduled at the US embassy or consulate. Application for the visa must be made as early as possible since wait times for the interview appointment varies, based on the location, and time of the year. Payment for the visa application also needs to be done before the interview.

Documents required: As part of the USA Study Visa Requirements, the following documents need to be carried for the visa interview-

1. A Passport which is valid for at least six months beyond the period of your stay in the US.
2. A printed copy of the DS-160 confirmation
3. Visa application fee payment receipt
4. The I-20 form issued by the SEVP- approved school

The consular (Visa) officer may also request additional documents such as your standardized test score results, degree/diploma mark sheets etc. So it is advised that you carry all the essential documents along with you for the visa interview.

Criteria to be met: The purpose of the interview is to determine whether you are a genuine entrant who can be granted a US student visa and thus the questions asked by the officer are aimed to cross-check the information provided by you as well as to determine your intent. There are 2 main entry criteria on which great emphasis is placed-

1. Financial Sufficiency: It must be demonstrated that you are financially strong enough to support yourself during your tenure in the US. Proof of funds must be provided demonstrating that you have the amount sufficient to cover your living expenses in the US.
2. Ties to the Home Country: The student must convince the visa officer that he has no intention of staying back in the US, post his study. For this, it is required to demonstrate that the student has strong ties to the home country in the form of; family, assets (home, land, business etc.), or a post-study job offer in the home country.

After the Visa is Approved

The student visa can be issued up to 120 days in advance of the start date for a course of study.  However, the student can enter the United States not before 30 days ahead of the start date.

To improve the  student’s chances of successfully getting a Study Abroad Student Visa, it is advised to approach expert study-abroad consultants. Through time-tested skill and an in-depth knowledge base, they can effectively streamline the entire process for the student.

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