Students are attracted to the US because of its excellent education system, diverse cultural experience, career prospects, and global network. Did you know with ~2,00,000 Indian students enrolled in the USA in 2023, India has become the top source of students studying in the USA? Let’s find out everything about the American student visa, which is a must for education in the USA.
Key highlights:
- About student visa in the USA
- Documents required for F-1 visa in the USA
- The USA study visa process - For application
- Student visa in the USA - Cost
- What you must know about the student visa interview
- Procedure to follow after landing in the US
About student visa in the USA
For higher education, you have to apply for an F-1 student visa for the USA. Please remember you will not be allowed to land in the US more than 30 days before your course commencement date. You have to apply for the student visa 2-3 months before the start of your student program to avoid the last-minute rush.
To apply for this visa, you must be enrolled in the full-time study program offered in the US. Also, your chosen university must be approved by the Student and Exchange Visitors Program (SEVP). The validity of the student visa will depend on the duration of the course. However, since this is for a full-time course, the validity will be more than 6 months.
Documents required for F-1 visa in the USA
- Passport
- Acceptance letter
- SEVIS receipt
- DS-160 application confirmation
- Form I-20
- Passport photo
- Proof of funds
- Certificate of eligibility for nonimmigrant (F-1) student status - For academic students
- Academic transcripts and English language test scores
The USA study visa process - For application
Ensure you have the essential documents ready before applying for your student visa. Please visit the official website of the US Embassy or Consulate for a detailed application process. Below are the common steps to apply for an F-1 student visa.
- If your university is SEVP-approved, you will be registered for the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), and you will be required to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee. Your university will provide you with an I-20 form, which you have to fill out and present to the consular officer during your visa interview.
- You will then have to fill out the DS-160 form, which is an Online Non-immigrant Visa Application form and upload the documents.
- Print the filled-out application form so that you can carry it with you for your visa interview.
Important note: Two different authorities will be involved in overseeing the arrival and status of the international students. Your visa application procedure and visa issuance will come under the purview of the State Department. Whereas, once you arrive in the US, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will be in charge from that point forward.
Student visa in the USA - Cost
The USA study visa fees for the application will be USD 185, which is approximately INR 15,500. And the student visa price for the USA for SEVIS will be USD 350, which will be around INR 29,340.
What you must know about the student visa interview
Get in touch with your nearest Consulate or Embassy to check available interview slots and schedule an appointment depending on the dates available. When you arrive for the visa interview, ensure you carry all the documents and take a backup in the form of soft copies on your mobile device. Your digital fingerprint scans will be carried out for their record.
During your visa interview, the officer may ask you questions to understand if you are genuinely interested in going to the US for higher education. Also, they will let you know if any documents are missing or if you need to submit any additional paperwork.
Procedure to follow after landing in the US
With a student visa, you will be able to travel to the US airport. Once there, DHS and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials will take over the rest of the formalities. You will have to present the documents, including your passport, visa, and I-20 form, to get them checked to receive the permission to enter into the US. Once you have the permission, the officials will give you an admission stamp or paper Form I-94 and the arrival record.
So, we hope this will help you with your student visa planning to fly to the US. You can apply for an education loan for the USA if several costs associated with studying abroad are bothering you. At Avanse Global Finance, we offer an education loan in USD and without any forex conversion cost. This means you can avoid the currency conversion fees and focus on your higher education, leaving your financial worries behind. For further queries, please feel free to contact us.
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