USA Student Visa Application

USA Student Visa Application

In spite the controversial measures regarding Visa restrictions, United States is one of the most trivial place for international students wishing to study abroad. it has numbers of top ranked best universities in the world, well equipped laboratories and one of the most qualified teaching personnel.

In other to study in the United States, you will need a student Visa which I will be listing the appropriate steps to guide you in obtaining the Visa.

How do I apply for USA Student Visa

To obtain the US student Visa, they are numbers of steps you will have to follow, although the steps may vary slightly depending on the type of Visa and the embassy but the general processes is the same for all kinds. applying for the Visa may take a lot of time before approval, that is why you should start the processes as early as possible.

below are the simple steps to follow.

Apply to the institution of your choice

Before proceeding to get the USA Visa, you must be given a letter of acceptance from the university you’re wishing to study, this letter of acceptance will serve as proof that you’re aspiring to study in the United States.

While applying for the institution of your choice, you’re expected to apply for the institution approved by the US government’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), to check for the US government’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), you can use their website and track the various institutions accredited for that.

You should equally keep it mind that you will apply to the institution of your choice and fill the forms with the various requirements for the school because the USA system do not have a centralized institution like many other countries.

During the cause of the application, you will be asked for proof of financial sufficiency that can cover your full time of studies there, you can use a bank statement to prove that or any required method by the institution.

Check for the USA Visa Eligibility

Before you apply for the US student Visa, you must be eligible to obtain one, they’re different types of student Visa, you will equally have to check for the type you need and apply.

Prior to that, if you were approved by the institution, you will be sent an SEVIS-generated document called Form I-20 if you are to be given F or M visa, or Form DS-2019 if you are to be given J visa.

In this case, you will need F1 visa because it is the only type of Visa for applying for any College or university in the United States.

Depending on your country or the embassy, you might be required to acquire some certain documents before proceeding for the application.

below are some of the things you will have to fill in the form.

Name and date of birth
Address and phone number
Passport details
Your point of contact in the US
Family,
Work and education details
Security
Details of travel plans, and travel companions
Details of previous US travel
Address of US school/program you intend to enroll in
background and medical healthinformation
SEVIS ID

You will also need to upload a recent passport of yourself in the space made available for that, depending on how efficient it is, you might need a scanner to scan that.

2. Pay the SEVIS fee

In order to complete your application, you will have to pay your SEVIS fees and obtain all the proof of payments.

The payment should be about 3 days to submitting your application, you can figure out the method of payments on US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) website either online or through Cash.

The I-901 fees to be paid is US$200 for F/M Visa, candidates for the j Visa are entitled to pay $180.

Depending on the type of Visa, you will be given directives on the method of payments on the website either card or any other methods. you must keep the details of your payments for proof while proceeding to the next step of the application.

Some applicants especially the j Visa candidates with a Program serial number beginning G-1, G-2, G-3 or G-7 whom are funded by the federal educational and cultural exchange program, or participating for the US Agency for International Development (USAID) program are not required to make the payment for the application.

Submit Your Application

After completing the form and you have paid for your fees of the application, then proceed to submit your application for processing.

Immediately you have submitted your application, you will be sent a confirmation page with a barcode, barcode number and your application ID number. print the application number and keep it safe while you might need it during the interview.

Make an appointment for your Interview

Before going for the interview, you must make an appointed since the officials are mostly busy with other jobs, making the appointment will safe you the time of tireless waiting.

The Visa interview comes with a series of questions you will have to answer, there you will state your reasons for studying in US and if you have any charges against you before.

During the interview, your biometrics will be required which you will provide along with your application payments proof. you may also provide documents such as your passports and will expire 60 days after your programmes.

You might also need scores from standardized tests required by the educational institution such as the TOEFL, LSAT, GRE, GMAT, Transcripts and diplomas from previous institutions attended, you should also provide your financial evidence. this is just the few important documents you’re to provide, other necessary documents not mentioned here will be mentioned to you before coming for your interview via a mail or through their website.

During your interview you must be able to convince them to approve your application, failure to provide the appropriate answers to the questions may disqualify you.

If you pass the interview, then wait for your application to process before knowing your fate fully.

Waiting for your Student Visa application to process

After the interview with the officials of the embassy or any Visa application center, then if you’re qualified, you can now patiently wait while your Visa is processing.

The processing time for each type of Visa differs depending on the type you applied. the F-1 and M-1 visas can be given to you 120 days to your study time,

Although you won’t be allowed into the United State earlier than 30 days before your start date. If you applied for the J-1 visas then you have no much time to wait, it can be issued at any time.

Note;

• During the the processing time for your Visa, it is advisable not to buy any ticket at the moment since there is no 100% assurance that you will approved for the Visa.

Buying any ticket prior to that may cost you a huge lost if your Visa is rejected because the tickets becomes useless automatically.

• The United States student Visa do not give you full entry into the USA, rather it allow you to trip to the US port-entry. you will also need permission from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials upon entering the US before you’re fully welcomed into the country.

• you will also need to fill the Customs Declaration form (CF-6059) before you land if you’re arriving in the US by plane.

• The grace periods for Visa holders differs depending on the type of Visa you’re holding. the F-1 visa holders can spent up to about 60 additional days after the completion of their programmes, while M-1 and J-1 visa holders have a grace period of 30 days after the completion of their programmes in order for the applicant to prepare for their departure from the US.

For more information, you can visit the USA Visa application websites.