A student visa, precisely that of the USA, would certainly be required for foreign students who wish to study in the US. I want to tell you when and how to apply for the US student visa; why not stop by and get all the details and visa requirements you need during the process of applying.
How to Apply And Get a US Student Visa Approval
It can be a long process to apply for a US student visa, so make sure you start planning well in advance, at least three to five months before your course is due to begin.
Usually, several steps are taken to apply for a US student visa. At each US embassy or consulate, these steps differ, so it is necessary to check the instructions on the embassy or consulate’s website where you wish to apply.
In general, when applying for a US student visa, prospective students can go through five stages;
- Apply to and be accepted by a Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-approved school in the US (six to twelve months prior to US study);
- Pay the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee;
- Complete a US student visa application along with recent photo(s);
- Pay the visa application fee;
- Schedule and attend a visa interview.
Attending Visa Interview
Late applicants may be asked to reschedule for another day, so it’s crucial to be on time for your visa interview. In most situations, within the US embassy or consulate, only applicants with a scheduled appointment will be accepted. Contact your nation’s embassy or consulate to give them the name of the parent, translator or assistant who will accompany you. Granted exemptions ex is in the case of parents of children under 18yrs, translators, and assistants for the disabled.
The aim of the visa interview is to allow the consular officer to decide if you are eligible for a US student visa and if so, which type of visa is suitable for you. Be prepared to answer questions about your home country’s relations, your English language skills, your academic record, the program you were accepted to in the US and evidence of your financial resources. You may also be asked to outline your plans for when your studies are done.
As part of the application process, ink-free, optical fingerprint scans will be carried out. Typically this occurs at your visa interview.
The consular officer will inform you after your interview if further administrative processing is needed for your application, which could mean more time for you to wait for your visa application to be reviewed. Depending on the country, waiting times can vary. You will also be told how and when your visa passport will be returned to you (usually pick-up or delivery by courier). The courier company will send you an email in certain countries with a tracking number that you can use to track the arrival of your passport.
F-1 and M-1 visas may be given up to 120 days in advance of the start date of your studies, but you will not be authorized to enter the US much earlier than 30 days before the start date. It is possible to issue J-1 visas at any time. If you wish to reach the United States within 30 days, you must be qualified for a visitor visa and receive it. Foreign students who want to go back to the states to resume classes, the 30 day restriction does not apply-they can enter the US at any time provided they have a valid visa.
Planning to Travel with your US Visa
As there is no guarantee that you will be given a visa, once you have a visa, do not make final travel arrangements or purchase tickets. Be aware that a valid visa does not guarantee entrance into the United States: it only requires you to travel to a port of entry in the United States and to apply for permission to enter the United States. A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Customs and Border Protection (CBP) official is granted permission to enter.
Always bring in your hand luggage your visa-related documents, as you would need to be able to present the documents at your port of entry. Documents that you can maintain with you include;
- International Passport
- SEVIS Form I-20 or DS-2019
- Financial Capital Proof
- Student Status Proof (such as recent tuition receipts and transcripts)
- Your Appointed School Official’s (DSO) name and contact details, including a 24-hour emergency contact number at your preferred institution.
- Letter from your home university expressing your desire to return to your home university if you are an exchange student.
Any time you reach the US, you must have your Form I-20/DS-2019-if you take a vacation outside the US, you will need the SEVIS form to enter the country again.
When Arriving USA for Studies
If you arrive by plane in the US, before you land, you will need to fill in a Customs Declaration form (CF-6059). If you don’t understand the type, you may ask a flight attendant for support. An Arrival/Departure Record I-94 form, online or paper form, you will also need to fill in. Up to the date indicated on your passport, your US student visa is valid. A separate date or ‘D/S’ (duration of status) on your I-94 form will be reported by the CBP officer.
This is the date you would leave the US by. Until this date, you can remain in the US even if your visa expires during your stay. However if you leave the US with an expired visa, before being able to return and resume your studies, you may need to obtain a new one. A student visa can not be extended or re-issued in the United States; it must be issued at an embassy or consulate abroad in the United States.
If a paper I-94 form is issued to you the date will be noted on the paper. The CBP officer will have an admission stamp on your passport that serves as evidence of your electronic I-94 and write the D/S on the stamp if you are issued an electronic I-94.
Make sure to keep it secure in your passport if you are issued a paper I-94 form, as you will need to return it to a CBP official when you leave the US. Instead, if you have an electronic I-94, your departure will be registered by a CBP official using manifest details collected from the air or sea carrier you are traveling with.
As this appears on your SEVIS I-20/DS-2019 form, you can report to the office at your institution that is responsible for assisting foreign students within 30 days of your course start date. That may be the Foreign Services Branch, the Office of International Education, the Office of International Initiatives, or the like.
Through reporting your arrival to the SEVIS system, a Designated School Official (DSO) will confirm your expected arrival. This must be accomplished within 30 days or your SEVIS record will be terminated automatically and you will be found to be in breach of the US immigration laws.
In matters such as insurance, the DSO will also be available to advise you. Since the US does not have a social healthcare system, it would almost definitely be a prerequisite for enrollment at your US institution to provide you with documentation that you have purchased private health insurance to protect you for medical services.
When Leaving USA Back Home
Holders of F-1 visas can stay in the US for an additional 60 days after completion of their course, whereas holders of M-1 and J-1 visas may stay in the US for an additional 30 days after completion of their course. This is regarded as a ‘grace period’ which helps the claimant to prepare for their removal from the United States.
All students must go as stated on their I-94 form/stamp before the deadline. You will be out-of-status if you refuse to leave the US. It is a breach of immigration laws to be out-of-status in the US, and can cause you to be ineligible for a visa in the future. You’ll need permission from USCIS if you plan to extend your stay. You can at any time renew your visa if you are a continuing student, as long as you have retained your student status and have current SEVIS records.
You haven’t gone. In the manner of your answer, it is evident why. The principles and morals that are shown in your response to basic disappointment are apparent. They begin the test in the waiting room sometimes.
Documents You Will Need During the US Student Visa Interview
Check the embassy or consulate website where you can apply to make sure you have all the correct documentation available for your interview.