There are many different types of American visas, each with its own specific requirements and fees. In order to visit the United States, you will need to apply for the correct visa depending on your purpose of travel.
Who can apply for American Visa?
To be eligible for an American visa, you must first meet the general requirements which include having a passport that is valid for at least six months from the date of your planned departure from the US, a recent passport-sized photo, and a completed visa application form.
You will also need to show proof of your purpose of travel, such as a letter of invitation or confirmation if you are visiting for business purposes, or evidence of financial support and accommodation if you are visiting for tourism.
Applying for an American visa can be done online or by post, and you will usually need to attend an interview at the US Embassy or Consulate in your country as part of the process.
F1 Visa Guide – How to get American Student Visa
Are you a student who wants to study in the United States? Then, an F1 Visa can provide the authorization to travel to America for your education. The F1 Visa is a student visa for international students who want to attend educational institutions in the United States. It permits you to study between elementary and university levels and graduate degrees. So as a student visa, the F1 Visa allows you to temporarily live in the United States for a defined period while studying at a school, college, seminary, or conservatory.
Moreover, to get an F1 Visa, you need to know if you are qualified to apply for it; in other words, you are supposed to know your eligibility and visa requirements. Despite that, this article will guide you through an easy F1 Visa application with just a few simple steps.
F1 Visa Qualification
You may be among the students who ask if they qualify to apply for an F1 Visa. To calm your worries, here are the primary and specific conditions you will meet to qualify for F1 Visa, they are:
- Get admitted into a SEVP-accepted institution.
- Be enrolled as a full-time student.
- Have strong ties to your home country.
- Proof of financial sufficiency.
- Be proficient in English.
Get admitted into a SEVP-accepted institution.
For you to qualify for F1 Visa, you will, first of all, get admitted into The Student Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). SEVP lists schools, universities, and other institutions that meet the conditions and accept international students.
Moreover, Before applying to your preferred schools or universities, you should check the SEVP and see if those institutions are listed there. If listed, you can proceed to send them any documents that they require to make an admission decision. Nevertheless, if not listed, you should not apply since you will not get the student visa even if you are accepted into the school.
Be enrolled as a full-time student.
You will enroll in full-time studies after passing the School Exchange Visitor program.
Have strong ties to your home country
It is good to know that If you do not prove and submit documents that you have strong ties to your home country and intend to go home after your educational program ends, it will be more challenging to get an F1 visa.
Proof financial sufficiency
You will have to prove that you have sufficient funds in your bank accounts to cover the expenses of studying and living in the United States.
This does not mean that F1 students are not eligible for scholarships. However, you are encouraged to apply for scholarships and organizations to lower your financial burden.
Be proficient in English.
Your English proficiency is essential. First, you must prove that you can speak and understand English at a level that enables you to enroll in an academic program. Students can prove their language proficiency by taking standardized English proficiency tests such as the TOEFL or the IELTS.
American F1 Visa Requirements
There are some requirements you will need to apply for an F1 Visa. Once you are eligible to apply, you will provide the following documents as listed below:
- Proof of paid F1 visa fee
- Your valid passport.
- Form DS-160 for non-immigrant visa applications.
- Two photographs meet the
- Photo Requirements.
- Form I-20. Your Form I-20 states the number of funds you need to finance your education and live in the US. You must submit documents that prove you have that amount readily available. This can be done by submitting various documents, such as:
- Bank statements for the last three years
- Tax records for the last three years
- Pay stubs of previous employment
- If you have received a scholarship, you also need to submit proof of it
- Paying a semester’s or a year’s worth of tuition is also a good idea, but not mandatory
- If you are supported or sponsored by someone else in the US, you will need to submit Form I-134, Affidavit of Support, and bank statements for the last three years of that person.
- If you are funding your US education through a loan, you must also show proof of the approved loan
- Documents that prove your previous education and current qualifications:
- Original transcripts
- Standardized test scores (TOEFL, IELTS, GRE, GMAT, etc.)
- Acceptance letters from the educational institution which accepted you
- Previous degree diplomas
- Proof of purchased health insurance for international students.
7 Steps to Apply for an F1 Visa
After you have assembled all your required documents, you can begin the application process for the F1 visa. The process will have to go through seven steps to be complete. The steps are:
- Get your admissions documents from the SEVP institution.
- Apply online through the DS-160 form.
- Pay the application fee.
- Pay the SEVIS I-901 fee.
- Schedule your F1 visa interview.
- Submit the file with the required F1 visa documents.
- Attend the student visa interview.
#1. Get your admissions documents from the SEVP institution
The first step is to get your admission documents from the SEVP institution. You can do this after you have applied and are accepted into the school you want to attend. They will have to complete some procedures so that you can apply for the F1 visa. Moreover, the most crucial document you need is Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status. This form allows you to apply for an F1 student visa and attend your interview.
#2. Apply online through the DS-160 form
The second step is to apply online through the DS-160 form. You can do this after you get your Form I-20 and start the usual application process. This includes filing the DS-160 form online with the necessary information about your visa status.
#3. Pay the application fee
At this moment, you can pay your application fee. The application fee for the student visa is $160. You must pay this fee and get the receipt, which you will need later for your interview documents. In addition, you might have to pay additional fees based on your country of origin and the US Embassy you are applying from.
#4. Pay the SEVIS I-901 fee
When the SEVP institution admits you, your school immediately registers you in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). To have full registration, there is a SEVIS I-901 fee. For the F1 visa, this fee is $200.
#5. Schedule your F1 visa interview
When you complete the DS-160 form and pay the fees, you will need to schedule your interview. Remember, the interview is a mandatory step before you get your student visa. Try to schedule it as early as possible since there might be delays due to the heavy workload of the US Embassy. When you schedule it, you will receive an interview appointment letter which you will need later on in the application process.
#6. Submit the file with the required documents
Before you go to attend your interview, you should prepare your file with the required documents for students.
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#7. Attend the student visa interview
The last step for your F1 Visa application is to attend the student visa interview. When you attend the student visa interview, the questions will mostly revolve around your reasons for going to the US and the institution you are going to. In addition, the interviewer will assess whether you intend to return to your home country after completing your degree. At this point, you will now know whether you are successful or not.