US Study Visa Process Application Procedure Explained

Introduction

Many students desire to pursue their education in the United States of America but find it cumbersome going through the required process.

Securing a admission and going through the visa acquisition process could prove challenging but with the right information on how to navigate the process, one will be equipped to realized this ambition.

A new nation, new friends, and new experiences are all waiting for you, but getting started can be difficult.

A citizen of a foreign country intending to enter the United States must first obtain a visa, either a nonimmigrant visa for temporary stay, or an immigrant visa for permanent residence. You must have a student visa to study in the United States. Your course of study and the type of school you plan to attend determine whether you need an F visa or an M visa.

Stats About International Students in the United States

In the 2019-2020 academic year, there were almost 1.1 million international students in the United States.
In the 2019-2020 academic year, China was the top origin for international students, representing 35 percent of the total, followed by India (18 percent), South Korea (5 percent), and Saudi Arabia (3 percent).
Since 2000, the enrollment of international students in colleges around the country has increased 72 percent.
The states with the most international students are California, New York, and Texas.

The Process Summarized

In general, prospective students will go through five stages when applying for a US student visa:

Go through the purpose of going to the U.S.
Select the type of U.S. visa according to your plans.
Fill out the non-immigrant visa application form number DS-160.
Submit the application fee.
Prepare for visa interview.
Gather all your necessary documents.
Go for the interview call.
Now, wait for the application process to be completed.

U.S. Study Visas

Generally, the following types of U.S. Study Visas are available;

1. F-1 visa

This is the most common type of study visa for all those international candidates who want to school in the US in recognized institutions through the Student and Exchange Visitor Program in the United States (S.E.V.P.). It is a non-immigrant visa type. The validity of the study visa depends on the duration of the program which has been applied.

2. M-1 visa

This is a non-immigrant visa that permits you to stay in the U.S.A for non-educational purposes. You can acquire vocational or non-academic training on this visa type. You will be granted an M-1 visa if you get an offer to acquire vocational training at any community or junior college for 12 semesters or at least a quarter-hour.

Application Process Summarized

To apply for the U.S. Study Visa, you can follow the given easy steps;

STEP-1 – Apply six months before the S.E.V.P.-approved school.
STEP-2 – Pay the application fee for the S.E.V.P. form.
STEP-3 – Submit the U.S. student visa application along with recent photographs.
STEP-4 – submit the fee for the U.S. Study Visa cost.
STEP-5 – Wait for the interview call.

S.E.V.P. School Process:

All international candidates are suggested to find schools or universities that S.E.V.P. approves. You will be provided with the paperwork needed for the U.S. Study Visa application process by the University /college. All selected students will be enrolled in the S.E.V.I.S. (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) and will be given a SEVIS-generated document Of I-20.

Fees for S.E.V.I.S. :

You must submit the fees for S.E.V.I.S. three days before filing the application form.

The cost of the I-901 is $200 for F/M visa holders.
The cost of the I-901 is $180 for J visa holders.

Don’t forget to print out the receipt of payment. You will need to show it as evidence of payment during the application process.

DS-160 Online visa application:

All international candidates who will apply for U.S. Study Visa are required to submit a DS-160 form online. To apply, you need to have the following things:

D.O.B. with name.
Contact, email, and address details.
If you have ever visited the U.S., you will need to provide the details of your previous visits.
Passport information page copy
Point of Contact in the U.S.A.
Details of family employment and school details.
Information on security background, medical Health Insurance etc.
You are also required to upload a recent photograph in the photo section of the application form.

Required Documents

Submit the mentioned documents below, if you want to apply for F or M study visa, such as;

Non-immigrant visa electronic application form (DS-160)
A passport with a validity of over six months.
A recent photograph of size 2″ x2″ (5cmx5cm).
Receipt of non-immigrant application form fee payment.
10-year travel records.
A form of I-20 from your recognized university/college.
Names of siblings/children.

What You Need For U.S. Study Visa

Appearing for an interview call from the U.S. embassy is the last step in applying for a U.S. Study Visa. To be well prepared for the interview call, you must consider the following things;

A passport with six months validity.
SEVIS form I-20 and DS-160.
R.V. fee payment confirmation receipt
E.V.I.S. fee receipt.
DS-160 application confirmation sheet with barcode or scan code.
A copy of the Interview appointment schedule letter from the U.S. embassy.

Conclusion

Getting the right information to ensure the right things are done and the right processes are followed is a necessary step to securing your dream move to the United States of America.