America is one of the top destinations among students to pursue higher studies. The US is home to world-class colleges, top research facilities, and a wide range of academic courses. In addition, with its strong economy, vibrant campus life, and rich cultural diversity, the country provides a unique experience for students in terms of both personal and career growth. Thus, to get into an American college, you will need a USA study visa. So, as an international student, you need to learn about the F-1 student visa application process.
Holding this visa you can study in any American institute, and also can earn while studying. To help you get started, here is a step-by-step guide to getting a US F-1 study visa.
All About USA F-1 Student Visa
Since you are aware of the requirement of an F-1 study visa to pursue any course in the US, now, let’s understand it! It is a non-immigrant visa that allows overseas students to enter the country and study at the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) approved institutions. You can apply for your F-1 USA study visa, once your application gets accepted by a US college. Here are some details about the F-1 visa:
F-1 Visa Requirements
If you’re applying for an F-1 student visa, then you must have some of the important documents. Thus, to meet the requirements for your visa application, you will need:
A passport which should be valid for at least 6 months after your program completion date.
- You must prove that you have sufficient funds available to cover your expenses while studying in the US.
- Acceptance letter from a SEVP-certified institute.
- Visa application fee payment receipt.
- Your photograph in the format requested by the visa embassy.
- Score of at least 6-6.5 bands in IELTS.
- Original mark sheets from the previous college.
- SEVIS fee receipt.
- A printed copy of the DS-160 (visa application) form.
Eligibility Criteria
To get an education in a US college, you must meet the eligibility criteria set by the country govt. These are:
- Have a completed and correct filled F-1 application form.
- Have good grades from your previous qualification program.
- No past criminal records.
- You shouldn’t have previous visa refusal records.
- You must qualify the character requirements set by the US govt.
F-1 Visa Cost
There are 2 different costs linked with a USA study visa: the SEVIS fee and visa application fee. Thus, to obtain a F-1 visa, you will need to pay the following fees:
- Form DS-160 (Visa application) fee: $160
- SEVIS I-901 fee: $350
Processing Time
The time taken by the embassy to decide on your visa application depends upon the complexity of your case. However, it takes a week or a couple of months to get an F-1 visa. In some cases, they complete the process in a few days, and then it takes just 2-3 days for the delivery of your passport. Also, you should apply for a study visa at least 3 months before the start date of your course.
Benefits of a F-1 Visa
Holding an F-1 study visa in the US will give you many benefits. Here are some of them, including:
- You can transfer to a different college or switch the academic course.
- Hold legal right to work part-time on and off campus.
- With this visa, you can travel within the US or stay in the country until the completion of your course.
- Also, you can invite your spouse or children to the country on an F-2 visa.
This is a brief about the F-1 visa and its requirements. Thus, to apply for it, below are the steps you need to follow!
Process to Apply for USA F-1 Study Visa
Students who opt to pursue their studies in the US should apply for an F-1 student visa. The process is quite long, and thus be careful while following each step. Thus, the complete procedure to apply for it involves these steps:
Get Accepted to a US Institute
The first step to obtaining this visa is to apply to a SEVP-certified US institute. The SEVP certification proves that the following colleges have the proper resources for students to pursue their studies.
Once you are accepted by the institute, you will receive an I-20 form. This form includes your study plans with proper details about your stay in the country.
Pay Your SEVIS I-901 Fee
SEVIS or Student and Exchange Visitor Information System is a database which stores the details entered by students in their I-20 form. The information included is:
- Your SEVIS ID number
- Program start and end dates
- Intended course of study
- Funding sources (scholarship, student loan, etc.)
- Other details.
After filling in complete details, pay your total F-1 visa fee of approx. $510. This amount is inclusive of the visa fee itself, SEVIS and maintenance charge. Make sure to save the payment receipt post-payment. Since you will need it for your visa interview.
Fill Your DS-160 Visa Form
After SEVIS, complete your DS-160 visa application. Add all the requested details and make sure not to add any invalid information. The cost of this visa application form is $160. After submitting the DS-160 form, you will receive a confirmation letter with a bar code attached. Thus, save it for your visa interview.
Schedule Your Visa Interview
Search for a US embassy or consultant to fix your visa interview. Also, at the time of scheduling, you can do an online search for the embassy nearest to you. Moreover, you can practice for the interview in advance to feel confident on the final day.
Attend Your Visa Interview
On the interview day, take all the necessary papers asked by the US embassy. The consultant will confirm if you’re entering the country as a legitimate and serious student. In addition, you will also prove that you have sufficient funds to cover your expenses in the US. You might also have to show your return flight booking to prove that you will return home after completing your studies.
Receive Your Visa
After completing the interview, you will be granted an F-1 study visa within a given time frame by the embassy. Thus, with a passport and a US student visa in hand, you can now pursue your course in the country.
Thus, these are the steps you need to follow to get your F-1 study visa to study in the USA. Meanwhile, you must have an idea about the pros of this visa and the answer to why USA for study. Moreover, stay updated on various US websites regarding any changes in visa fees or more.
Conclusion
With the F-1 visa in hand, you will be able to study as well as work in the US. Besides, you will have a lot to see and explore while studying in the US. Moreover, with the skills gained from the course, you will start to work anywhere in the world. The experience received from classes, practicals, and internships will prepare you to stand out in the job market. Meanwhile, to get more answers of why USA for study, talk to an experienced overseas consultant. Thus, they will help aspirants like you in preparing for the visa process.