How to get a US student visa: personal experience

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Everything about what documents are needed and what is important to consider when applying for a student visa to the United States.

A few months ago, I shared my personal experience (based on the results, quite successful) of how to find. And this time I want to talk about the main points of obtaining a student visa in the United States.

So, you were enrolled in an American university. It would seem that the most difficult thing is over. But in fact, there is still one more crucial moment - to get a visa in order to get into it all the same. And for this you need to thoroughly prepare.

What kind of visa is needed

The student visa is F1, which is what you have to get. This is a type of nonimmigrant visa for academic study at US universities or language courses. Under the terms of this visa, you are allowed to work on campus for no more than 20 hours per week.

If there is a family

If you are married or married and plan to leave for a long time (for example, for several years), then you have the right to take your wife / husband / child with you to the United States. To do this, your family members must apply for an F2 visa. Its main feature is the lack of a work permit in the United States (that is, a member of your family is traveling as a dependent).

After enrolling in an educational institution in the United States (and only after that), you can draw up documents.

Price

In addition to the consular fee, you will also have to pay the SEVIS fee (this is the US database of all non-residents of the country who come to them). Total visa processing will cost you $ 360:

• - $200;
• consular fee - $ 160.

Important: SEVIS fee is paid only by F1 applicants (family members not).

The whole process of obtaining a visa consists of two stages:

• filling out an online questionnaire;
• personal interview at the embassy.

In order to sign up for an interview, you need to enter all your data in the form, upload a photo and pay the consular fee.

Documents to take with you to your interview:

• passport;
• Form I-20 is the main document for applying for an F1 visa, which must be sent to you by the US educational institution. If you are traveling with a husband / wife / child, you will need to request a separate I-20 for him / her as well. In this case, he / she can apply for an F2 visa;
• confirmation of filling out the questionnaire and scheduling an interview;
• receipts for payment of consular fees and SEVIS fees;
• confirmation of solvency (availability of money to pay for the first year of study and residence, or the availability of a scholarship).

If you are enrolled in a short-term program (such as a one-month English course), take a job certificate that confirms that you are working, that English is needed for work, and that your place will be yours for the entire period of study. It will also not be superfluous:

• confirmation of the availability of real estate in the home country;
• marriage certificate or birth certificate of a child who stays at home.

In addition, I recommend that you bring supporting documents with you:

• an official invitation from the university you entered;
• information on the project or program (what will you study, what will you do);
• correspondence with the supervisor (if any);
• copies of their diplomas and printouts of grades, as well as translations in English;
• confirmation of passing exams (TOEFL, IELTS, GMAT, etc.);
• if you are going to study for a master's degree or PhD, then your full CV will come in handy, which describes your professional experience, achievements, etc., including study and work;
• list of scientific publications, diplomas, certificates;
• the list of countries you have been to before is on a separate sheet with the years of visit.

Since I enrolled in PhD, I was asked half of these documents, including the invitation, information on the project, a full CV with publications and a list of countries in which I have been.

Why is it needed

Your main task at the interview is to confirm that you are going to study (you want it and look forward to it), and also intend to return home after graduation and use the acquired skills in work or further studies.

To make sure of the first, the consul can request the documents listed above, and also (this is already point two) ask about your intentions and plans - why you need this education and what you plan to do after graduation. The correct answer is to return home and apply the knowledge gained in practice:).

If there are not enough documents

It may happen that you are asked for a document that you do not have with you. In this case, your application will be left for additional. consideration and will be asked to send the necessary papers by e-mail.

The term for consideration of documents can be different - from several days to 4 weeks. Here you just need to be patient and wait.

Useful Resources

An illustrative example of filling out a questionnaire is presented.

Questions and Tips:

1. Forum.
2. Forum.
3. The topic is "VKontakte".
4. Vkontakte community".

I hope this information and advice will help you quickly and easily apply for a student visa in the United States, as I did.