How to Secure Your United States Student Visa in 2019
Despite having controversial measures regarding visa requirements, the US remains the number one destination for international students. Having a wide variety of study programs and universities is a great appeal that the US presents to students from all over the world. Every university in the US offer top-ranked degrees and has well-equipped laboratories. What is more motivating is the fact that these universities offer generous funding and scholarships to international students.
In most cases, what stand between students and their dream of attending a university in the US is stringent visa requirements. Nonetheless, the student visa application process in the US is reasonably transparent and straightforward compared to other countries. There are over 1.2 million students in the US with the F and M visas. In this article, we want to expound more on the steps you need to take in securing a student visa without breaking a sweat.
1. Select a university to apply to and get an acceptance letter
If you want to study in the US, you have to decide on the institution of higher learning you wish to attend. That may sound obvious, but many students are sometimes indecisive and take much time to make a choice. Before you apply for a student visa, you need to have an acceptance letter. The acceptance letter (I-20 form) must be from the university willing to admit you for your studies.
2. Find out what visa type you need
There are three different students’ visas for international students aspiring to study in the US. The three types of visa are:
F1 Visa – this is issued to students who are attending an academic program or English Language Program in any institution of higher learning. This type of visa is valid until the completion of your study program.
M1 Visa – this category is mainly for students who plan to attend a non-academic (technical) or vocational school.
J1 Visa – this is exclusively for exchange students.
The most common study visa for international students is the F1 visa because it is precisely for full-time academic degree studies. It is a requirement that any international student must obtain the F1 student visa to attend a university or college in the US.
3. Understand the conditions you must meet for the US student visa
Notably, applicants must satisfy several strict criteria to receive a student visa. For instance, the student must have a residence in their home country where they will return after completing their studies. Furthermore, the student should only study at the accredited and SEVP approved academic institution through which the visa was granted. In many instances, students are requested to demonstrate sufficient financial ability that implies that they will not endure problems while studying.
4. Gather your visa documents
Even though the process of applying the visa may vary or require additional steps, there are further requirements. Depending on your country of origin, you are required to provide the following when applying for a student visa:
A certificate of eligibility for non-immigrants (F-1) which is found under Student Status (Form I-20). It is received from the university one is going to be admitted to, and a fee of pay USD 200 is required.
A receipt of payment of USD160 application fee obtained at the US Embassy in your country;
You should submit Online Form DS-160 for a non-immigrant visa. You should present the form during your interview.
A passport with that has a validity date at least six months beyond the proposed period of stay in the US.
Any documents that prove your financial situation like a bank statement. The document should show that one has financial support during the period of studies.
5. Go for the F1-Visa interview
It is imperative to note that the F1 visa interview will determine whether you are qualified to receive the visa. During the interview, digital fingerprints will be taken for records. In addition, your passport will be taken to aid in processing your visa. It is essential to take along the required documents and receipts for the interview to be successful. A letter from the university you intend to study at will also be useful in the visa interview. You will also be required to answers personal questions concerning your decision to study in the US. The questions are in English and might be a test evaluate your ability to converse in English. The interview will not be longer than five minutes.
If you are an international student and wants to obtain a student visa, get in touch with us for more tips. Getting a student visa should not stress you up when our experts are here to help!
