For many, a degree obtained from one of the universities in the United States is a big dream. After passing the admissions exam and receiving an acceptance letter from the university, there is one final requirement to commence their studies in the land of opportunities – that is, acquiring a US student visa.
1. What are the types of student visa in the US?
2. Things to Consider Before Applying for a Student Visa
3. Steps in Applying for the US Student Visa
4. Tips for Acing a US Student Visa Interview
5. After Applying for a US Student Visa
Everyone who wishes to enter the United States needs a visa. For students, they have an option to apply for an F visa or an M visa depending on their degree program.
F Student Visa
The F visa is applied for by students who want to attend a university, college, high school, private elementary school, seminary, conservatory, and other academic institutions such as a language training program. Essentially, the F visa is needed for a long-term stay for studying in academic institutions in the United States.
M Student Visa
The M visa, on the other hand, is applied for by students who want to attend a vocational or other non-academic institutions in the United States. The M visa is needed for a short-term study program in non-academic or technical institutions in the US.
Before applying for either an F or an M visa, an international student should first secure a slot in an SEVP-approved (Student and Exchange Visitor Program) higher education institution. The institution you have chosen should also have a regional or national accreditation as listed in the US Department of Education and Council for Higher Education Accreditation. When you have a guaranteed slot, you will then be registered in the SEV Information System (SEVIS) which will prompt you for a SEVIS I-901 fee. Remember that you should be able to pay the SEVIS fee three days before submitting your visa application. The SEVIS fee amounts to $200 for F and M student visa applicants. When you have settled your fees and registration with SEVIS, the institution you are applying for will provide you a Form I-20 or DS 2020 which you will need to apply for a student F or M visa at the US Embassy or Consulate in your home country.
Can you take your spouse and/or children with you to the US?
In case you have a spouse and/or children who want to accompany you while you study in one of the universities in the United States, they ought to obtain a visa as well. The application process is almost the same. They need to register in the SEVIS, get Form I-20 from the school you intend to go to, and apply for a visa. They do not, however, need to pay the SEVIS fee.
Depending on the US Embassy or Consulate you are applying in, the procedures for visa application may vary. Hence, it is always best to review the instructions listed on each Embassy’s website. Typically the steps you need to undertake in your student visa application are as simple as the following:
Complete the Application Form/s
Since you are coming to the United States to study and not become an immigrant, you need to fill out the Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application form or Form DS-160. It can be found in the website of the US Embassy. The items you need to fill in on the DS-160 form are personal information such as your name, date of birth, home address, contact details, passport details, travel plan details, travel companion/s (if any), details of previous travel/s to the US, point of contact in the US, family details, academic background, professional and employment background, security details, medical information, SEVIS ID, name of school you intend to attend, address of the institution, and the degree program you plan on studying). After accomplishing the form, you need to print it out together with the confirmation page. A photograph of yourself is also needed in the application form. You will need to bring these documents with you when you arrive at the Embassy for your visa interview.
Schedule an Interview at the Embassy
Each visa applicant is screened in an interview conducted by consulate officers. However, children aged 13 or younger are usually not required to attend the interview process. Senior citizens aged 80 and above are exceptions as well. Moreover, visa renewals typically do not require for a personal interview. Otherwise, if you are aged 14 to 79 applying for a new American student visa, you should personally appear at the embassy and attend the interview.
Scheduling your interview appointment at the US Embassy can be difficult especially if you live in a country where there are a pile of visa applications. Some students opt to schedule for an interview in another country besides their own. However, this is not recommended as it is rather difficult to apply for a visa outside of one’s home country. The best solution for this is to schedule your visa interview appointment as early as possible to provide you enough time to wait for open slots. You may schedule a visa interview in a US consulate near you through phone or online via their website.
Pay the Applicable Visa Fees
Applications for a student visa demand fees that are usually non-refundable. Some consulates require that you pay the application fee prior to your interview. The visa application fee is also known as the MRV fee or Machine Readable Visa Fee. This can be paid through an approved bank, through phone, or through online payments. You should also expect to pay a visa issuance fee as per the guidelines of the US embassy in your country. Typically, the visa application fee for an F or M student visa is at $160 consistent with other nonimmigrant visa categories. Some applicants, depending on their country of origin, have waived application fees. Additionally, there are other fees that may be asked of you.
Secure the Document Requirements
Before you go to the US Embassy for your interview, be a step ahead and prepare the necessary documentations to support your application. The following is a list of documents commonly asked for by the consulates:
Have your Photo Taken
The United States has strict photo requirements for all student visa applicants. Below are the specific details required for the photo you need to submit together with your application. Take note that photos taken from mobile phones or those that are downloaded from social media are not acceptable.
Personally Appear for the Scheduled Interview
At the scheduled time of your interview, you have to be ready for the consular officer’s questions. Most of the questions aim at determining if you are qualified to receive a US student visa.
Upon approval of your visa, you only need to wait for its issuance. Generally, the student visas (F and M student visas) take at most 120 days to arrive before your study program start date. However, you may use your visa to enter the United States not more than 30 days before your study program start date.
Applying for a student visa in the US is like attending an important job interview where you have to put your best foot forward in order to get the most positive result. You only have one chance to do the interview process, so it is best not to ruin it. Here are some tips that could help you ace the interview for your US student visa application:
Be on time.
US Consulates follow a strict temporal orientation parallel with the US culture. So if you want to make an impression, just like in job interviews, remember to be punctual. Late applicants are often asked to make a new appointment as the consular officers could no longer attend to them beyond schedule. Tardiness in a visa interview is a waste of opportunity, so make sure to be in the Embassy thirty minutes or so before your appointment.
Prepare to answer using the English language.
Even if the interview will happen in a US Embassy in your home country, the consular officer will be using English in asking you questions. In return, you are expected to respond in English as well. You could practice a mock interview session with a friend (best if a native English speaker) to better handle the actual interview. While there may be a local interpreter, you have to try to speak in English especially because it is the primary language of instruction in US universities.
Convince the officer that you will definitely return to your home country.
Some visa applications are rejected because of the applicant’s failure to show that he/she does not intend on becoming an immigrant in the US. Thus, if you want your visa to be approved, you have to persuade the interviewer that you do not plan to be an immigrant and will definitely go back to your home country as soon as your study program ends. You may provide your long-term plans after your studies in the US. You can also mention your career prospects or promise of future employment in your home country to lessen the doubt in your nonimmigrant intention.
Be prepared to answer all questions.
The interview for your visa application will determine if you are qualified for an American student visa. Thus, you may expect questions about your academic background, English language proficiency, the degree program you will be studying, proof of funds to support your living and tuition costs, and your ties with your country of origin. You also have to prepare to answer questions regarding your plans after completing your education in the US.
Do not bring anyone with you to the interview.
In the same way that it is not recommended to bring your parents, family members, or friends to a job interview, it is also a huge turnoff if you are accompanied by other people during your interview schedule. It will give the impression that you are not independent and confident
Articulate well your understanding of the degree program you intend to study.
This tip actually boils down to the fact that you need to justify your intention of studying in the US. Hence, prepare to elaborate on the degree program you chose, why you chose it, why you want to study it in the US and not in other countries, and how it is relevant to your future professional plans.
Answer in a concise manner.
Interviews in US Embassies typically take less than five minutes because of the huge volume of applications they receive. Their decision, then, lies in your answers within the short time of conversation with you. In the span of a few minutes, you must be able to get across a positive impression. Therefore, your answers should be clear, brief, and direct to the point. Never mention anything irrelevant to what is being asked.
Respond with respect, politeness, and honesty.
Talk to the consular officer in a calm manner to show that you are decent and responsible enough for your own decisions. In case the officer asks tough question, provide your best answer in the most respectable way. Moreover, do not try to draw stories up just to support your application. It is always better to answer questions honestly.
Dress appropriately.
In a job interview, one’s attire speaks of his personality. For the visa application, you can never go wrong with a formal business or corporate attire as it would communicate a decent impression to the consular officer.
Be confident.
Do not show you are intimidated by their standards. Instead, smile and talk as if you are sure to get your student visa approved as soon as you leave the room. To exude confidence, you can breathe before walking into the interview room. Another strategy is to maintain eye contact with the officer.
Should your application for a student visa be rejected, you can always re-apply. Nonetheless, adequate preparation for the important visa interview would not hurt. Who knows, you might just get approved in no time.
An F or M student visa is not the be-all and end-all of your entry to the United States. Once you have completed the visa application process and are already approved for studying in a US state, you still need to pass through the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS). A student visa will only guarantee your travel to a US port-of-entry or an airport. However, you will still need permission to enter the US through your visa. This will happen when you arrive at the airport of any US port-of-entry wherein DHS Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel will screen you and stamp your passport with a permission or denial of entry to the American territory.
In the airport, CBP officers will ask for your passport, visa, and Form I-20. When you are allowed for entry, you will be given an admission stamp or paper for the Form I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record). The date indicated in your I-94 form is the date at which you must depart from the US. There is, however, a grace period that serves as preparation time before one leaves the American soil. For F student visa holders, they are allowed to stay in the US for an additional 60 days after the end of their study program. Meanwhile, for M student visa holders, they are allowed to stay in the US for an additional 30 days after the end of their study program.
With the information we have provided above, applying for a student visa in the United States is one step closer to your dream. Share this article with your friends and help them with their US student visa applications!
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