If you wish to study in the USA and are struggling for a visa, this Visa guide for the USA will help you understand and select the appropriate visa.
Any citizen of a foreign country who wishes to enter the US must require a Visa. The visas for the USA are of two types:
- Immigrant visa ( for temporary stay in the USA)
- Non-immigrant visa ( for permanent stay in the USA)
There are many types of immigrant and nonimmigrant visas, but this visa guide for the USA will mainly focus on the Student Study Visa, a nonimmigrant visa type.
Study Visa for the USA
Study visas range from four-year visas to universities, seminaries, elementary schools, and language training programs. The school or institute you are applying to must also be eligible by the US government to take international students. This blog will provide complete details about the F-1 Visa type; another blog will discuss the rest separately.
Categories of Student VISA
There are different categories of student visas depending on the course of your study and the type of school you plan to attend. You will select a Visa according to your requirements.
Generally, three types of student visas are:
- F Type
- J Type
- M Type
F type VISA
An F-1 visa, also known as a student visa, requires students to study at an accredited college or university in the USA or to study English at an English language institute.
J type VISA
It’s a type of exchange visa. High school and university studies are a must to participate in an exchange program.
M type VISA
An M-type visa is required for academic or vocational study or training in the USA. It is a time-stamped visa, and you can not overstay your visit.
Note
Students cannot travel on a Visa waiver program or with a visitor visa, that is, if they belong to a VISA waiver country that doesn’t require a traditional visa to enter the USA. They can stay and enter the USA on a B-type visa, but you cannot study on this.
However, you can enroll in a short recreational course of study, not for credit toward a degree or academic certificate. You must require an F or M visa to study even if you are a citizen of visa waiver program eligible countries(a list of such countries will be given at the end of this article)
Eligibility Requirements for F-1 Visa
Get admitted to SEVP Institute
The college or institute you wish to study in must be approved by the student and exchange visitor program ( SEVP) and customs enforcement.
Be Enrolled as a Full-time Student
To get an F1 study visa, you must be enrolled in your institution as a full-time student.
Have Strong Ties to Your Home Country
To get an F1 visa, you need to show strong ties to your home country. It proves that you intend to go home after completing your program or degree.
Proof of your Financial Sufficiency
You need to prove that you have sufficient bank balance to cover the expenses of study, food, and accommodation in the USA. To lower your financial burden, you can also apply for a scholarship.
Be Proficient in English
Students aiming to study in the USA must prove their English proficiency. For this purpose, they can take different English language proficiency tests, such as IELTS or TOEFL.
Home Country Residency
You must have residency in your home country to prove to them that you will return to your home country as soon as your program or degree finishes.
F1 VISA Requirements
- A passport valid for at least 6 months
- Form DS-160 for non-immigrant visa application
- 2 photographs meeting the US visa photo requirement
- Proof of paid F1 visa fee
- Form I- 20
- Documents that prove your previous education and current qualifications
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Step-by-Step Guide to Complete the Process
Most students find the visa application process tiring, but by carefully following the steps below, you will complete it smoothly.
Step 1: Clear the Required Exams
Clear your required exam, e.g., IELTS, TOFEL, or sometimes the GRE is required.
Step 2: Search out the University
Research out the university that matches your exam scores ( every university has different criteria) you can shortlist certain universities based on your chances of getting into that university.
Step 3: Receive your I-20 Form
Once you are selected by any of the universities you have applied to, you will receive an approval letter from the university. This approval letter is called an I-20. The number of I-20S you get depends on the number of universities you were selected by. The I-20 is proof that your admission is confirmed.
Step 4: Complete Form DS-160
When you get your I-20, it’s time to book your visa appointment. Now, you need to start with your DS-160 (an electronic application form in which you are required to fill in your details, passport, travel info, and a previous trip to the USA, if any). This form will also contain questions related to security and ask you to upload your facial image.
Fill out the form carefully with no discrepancy compared to the original documents.
If you do not want to complete the entire DS-160 form in one go, you can exit the form after saving the details. You have 30 days to return and complete your application.
Important
You will get a unique ID at the beginning of the form that you will require to access your form each time, so make sure to keep that ID safe!
Step 5: Complete the SEVIS form and pay the SEVIS Application Fee
Once you have completed the DS-160, the next step is to fill out the SEVIS form and pay the SEVIS fee. At the beginning of the form, the system will issue you a unique ID that you will need to access your form each time, so make sure to keep that ID safe!
For this, you need to go to the website fmjfe.com. This website will tell you that you can pay your I 901 SEVIS fee, which is the same thing. On this website, enter your SEVIS ID and start with the form. As soon as you submit the form, it will take you to the payment page.
However, the fee is $ 350 for someone going for an F1 visa. You can pay this fee via credit card.
While making the payment, you will be asked for the following information:
- SEVIS ID (find it on your I-20 form’s top right corner)
- Your first and last name.
- Country of Birth
- Date of Birth
- E-mail address
- Country of citizenship
- School code (printed on I-20)
Step 6: Set up an Interview with the USA Embassy or Consulate
After the SEVIS fee next step is to start the appointment booking. Go to the website US.travel docs and click on the Schedule My Appointment page. By clicking this, you can schedule your appointment, and then you can go ahead and start with the login process. You can also go for the emergency appointment, but for that, you can only book an appointment before 60 days from the start of your program, you can’t book an appointment before.
Step 7: Attend the Interview
The next step is your finances and visa interview. You have to show the visa interviewer your liquid funds, which can be withdrawn at any time you like. You can’t show anything whose value fluctuates daily. Moreover, you can’t show anything that you can’t withdraw yourself from your bank today. Keep calm, carry all the required documents, and wear formal interview attire.
Step 8: Show Strong Ties with your Home Country
When you’ve shown enough funds, the next step is to prove to the visa officer in the interview that you are going to come back to your country as soon as your program finishes. You must prove this verbally, so you must practice and prepare answers for your mock interview.
Step 9: Wait for Visa Approval
After the visa interview, wait for visa approval. If your visa is approved, it will be stamped in your passport. However, if your visa was rejected, don’t worry. You can again appear for the visa interview after 15 days.
Step 10: Travel to the United States
You can now travel to the USA. However, make sure to carry all the required documents for your arrival.
Maintain F-1 Status
After arriving in the U.S., you must maintain your F-1 student status by following the rules and regulations, including full-time enrollment, reporting changes to your school, and not working without proper authorization.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who can apply for admission into a US university or college?
Anyone who meets the following requirements can apply for admission:
- A consistently good academic record
- Sufficient financial support
- Proficiency in English
- If you’re applying for a bachelor’s degree, you must have completed 12 years of formal education.
- If you’re applying for a master’s degree, you must have completed 16 years of formal education.
Q: Are scholarships available??
Yes, various scholarships, grants, and prizes are available for students.
Q: Can I work while staying in the USA?
Getting a job as a foreign student in the USA is difficult, especially at the undergraduate level. You cannot rely on employment to pay for your education in the U.S. Working off-campus is illegal and can lead to deportation from the USA.
An administrative position can pay between $1000 and $2000 a year, enough to pay for books, clothing, and personal expenses. However, this will not be enough to pay your tuition, fees, or living expenses in the USA. Moreover, the International Students’ Office, Housing Services, Catering Services, the Library, etc., offer jobs on university campuses.
Q: Is it very difficult to get a Student visa?
It is very simple if you possess all the necessary documents, meet the abovementioned requirements, and can convince the consular officer that you have well-laid-out career plans upon returning to Pakistan.
How difficult is it to get a Student Visa?
It’s not difficult if you have all the necessary documents and meet the above-mentioned requirements.
Q: When should I start the Application Process?
You should start the process at least 12 months in advance since the application and admission review process takes around 12 months.
However, if you’re applying for financial aid, apply even earlier than this.