If you’ve decided that an American education is right for you, the only thing standing in your way is a little bit of paperwork. Whether you’re bound for Harvard or cosmetology school, all international students studying in the United States are required to obtain a student or exchange visa. Here’s a breakdown of everything you’ll need to know about the visa process.
There are three types of student visas, each with its own slightly different set of requirements. Students attending an accredited U.S. college, university, or English language institute will need an F-1 visa or a J-1 visa. J-1 students tend to be those that are government sponsored, on exchange programs for a semester or year, or U.S. government sponsored. Students involved in non-academic pursuits at either trade or vocational institutions will need an M-1 visa. Although the stipulations of each type of visa vary slightly, all three visas require the student to maintain a full course load.
The first step toward studying in the United States is to get accepted into an American institution or exchange program. Once you are accepted, you will have to provide a financial guarantee showing that you have the funds to attend the school. The school will review and verify your financial information, and then will send you a Certificate of Eligibility (form I-20 for the F-1 Student Visa or DS-2019 for the J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa). You can schedule your visa interview once you have your Certificate of Eligibility; make sure to pay the SEVIS fee and the visa application fee before your interview date.
The next step is to complete a visa application (form DS-156) and a contact information/work history statement (form DS-158); both forms are available at your local U.S. embassy or consulate office or online at http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/forms/forms_1342.html. In addition, the DS-157 form is required of all male applicants aged 16 to 45 and all applicants over age 16 (male or female) who are citizens of Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Sudan, or Syria.
Note: The new DS-160 online visa application will eventually replace the DS-156 and DS-158 forms. Please visit the Web site noted above for a list of locations where the DS-160 is currently available.
Additional Items
You will also need to provide the following:
A passport valid for at least six months after you enter the United States
One passport-size photograph (photo requirements are available online at http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/info/info_1287.html)
A receipt for the nonrefundable visa processing fee (from a specific bank in each country that is identified on the consulate Web page)
A SEVIS receipt (see www.ice.gov/sevis/i901/index.html)
Transcripts and diplomas from institutions you’ve previously attended (not always required and may need to be translated)
Documented proof that you or your parents will have enough money to cover tuition and living expenses for the duration of your stay
Documentation that you intend to return to your home country after finishing your course of study; this type of documentation can include (but isn’t limited to) proof of property or assets remaining in the home country, proof of immediate relatives in the home country, or letters from future employers
Once you’ve organized your documentation, you’ll need to make an appointment for your visa interview with your local U.S. embassy or consulate. Procedures on obtaining a visa interview vary from country to country. To get the most accurate information, consult the U.S. embassy Web site for your country at www.embassy.state.gov.
The Interview
Tracking down the documentation is the hard part. Once you’ve scheduled the interview, you will only be asked questions verifying why you’re traveling to the United States, what you intend to study, and when you intend to leave. The interview will take place at your local U.S. embassy or consulate office. Although the length of the interview will vary from office to office, interviews are typically very short, lasting no longer than 30 minutes—in fact, only two to five minutes in most cases!
Visas can be issued up to 120 days (four months) before the scheduled date of departure. In order to make sure that you have your visa before your first day of classes, apply as soon as possible and provide enough lead time to wait for processing, as well as an interview. If you do not receive your visa within two to three weeks of completing your interview, contact your embassy or consulate to track your application packet.
After You Arrive
You can arrive in the U.S. no earlier than 30 days before the start date on your immigration document (I-20 or DS-2019). If you will arrive later than the start date on your immigration document, you should notify the school so that your arrival date can be deferred. After you’ve received your visa and arrived in the United States, you are required to report to your institution’s international programs office to ensure that you’ve been officially registered by the school. Most international offices will provide information on when to report, but if there is no information, you should report within 15 days of the start date on the immigration document. Designed as a one-stop resource for non-native college students, the international programs office will be able to answer any questions you may have regarding immigration rules, visa or passport renewals, obtaining financial aid, or on-campus opportunities for foreign students. Please check your pre-arrival packet for your institution’s policy.
My Questions:
1. When to apply those visas
2. Things that I needed to apply
3. How many type of visas
4. How many visas can I get
5. Can I use those visa for working
