Applying for
Your F-1 Student Visa
Contents
Student Applicants - Overview
Please read this
U.S. Department of State update for general information on how to
apply for an F1 visa (if you are applying for a J-1 exchange visitor visa, the
process is similar).
In most countries, first time student visa applicants are required to appear for
an in-person interview. However, each embassy and consulate sets its own
interview policies and procedures regarding student visas. Students should
consult
Embassy web sites or call for
specific application instructions.
Keep in mind that June, July, and August are the busiest months in most consular
sections, and interview appointments are the most difficult to get during that
period. Students need to plan ahead to avoid having to make repeat visits to the
Embassy. To the extent possible, students should bring the documents suggested
below, as well as any other documents that might help establish their ties to
the local community.
Changes introduced shortly after September 11, 2001 involve extensive and
ongoing review of visa issuing practices as they relate to U.S. national
security. It is important to apply for your visa well in advance of your travel
departure date.
When Do I Need to Apply for My Student
Visa?
-
Students are encouraged to apply for
their visa early to provide ample time for visa processing. Students may
apply for their visa as soon as they are prepared to do so.
-
The consular officer may need to get special
clearances depending on the course of study and nationality of the student.
This can take some additional time. For more information on applicants who
may have additional processing requirements see
Special Processing Requirements.
-
Students should note that Embassies and
Consulates are able to issue your student visa 120 days or less, in advance
of the course of study registration date. If you apply for your
visa more than 120 days prior to your start date or registration date as
provided on the Form I-20, the Embassy or Consulate will hold your
application until it is able to issue the visa. Consular officials will use
that extra time to accomplish any of the necessary special clearances or
other processes that may be required.
-
Students are advised of the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security regulation which requires that all initial
or beginning students enter the U.S. 30 days or less in advance of the
course of study start/report date as shown on the Form I-20. Please
consider this date carefully when making travel plans to the U.S.
-
A beginning student who wants an earlier
entry into the U.S. (more than 30 days prior to the course start date), must
qualify for, and obtain a visitor visa. A prospective student
notation will be shown on his/her visitor visa and the traveler will need to
make the intent to study clear to the U.S. immigration inspector at port of
entry. Before beginning any studies, he or she must obtain a change of
classification, filing Form
I-539, Application for Change of Nonimmigrant Status, and also
submit the required Form I-20 to the Department of Homeland Security office
where the application is made. Please be aware that there is an additional
fee for this process, and that one may not begin studies until the change of
classification is approved.
-
Continuing students may apply for a new visa at
any time, as long as they have been maintaining student status and their
SEVIS records are current. Continuing students may also enter the U.S. at
any time before their classes start.
What is SEVIS and SEVP? What should you
know about it?
The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) is designed to help the
Department of Homeland Security and Department of State better monitor school
and exchange programs and F, M and J category visitors. Exchange visitor and
student information is maintained in the Student and Exchange Visitor
Information System (SEVIS). SEVIS is an Internet-based system that maintains
accurate and current information on non-immigrant students (F and M visa),
exchange visitors (J visa), and their dependents (F-2, M-2, and J-2). SEVIS
enables schools and program sponsors to transmit mandatory information and event
notifications via the Internet, to the Department of Homeland Security and
Department of State (DOS) throughout a student or exchange visitor's stay in the
United States.
All student applicants must have a SEVIS generated I-20 issued by an
educational institution approved by DHS, which they submit when they are
applying for their student visa. The consular officer will need to verify your
I-20 record electronically through the SEVIS system in order to process your
student visa application. Unless otherwise exempt, participants whose SEVIS I-20
was issued on or after September 1, 2004 must pay a SEVIS I-901 Fee to the
Department of Homeland Security for each individual program. The fee may be paid
either through a special website, via Western Union, or by mail. Click here for
more
SEVIS Fee info.
What is Needed to Apply for a Student Visa?
As part of the visa application process, an interview at the embassy consular
section is required for visa applicants from age 14 through 79. Persons age 13
and younger, and age 80 and older, generally do not require an interview, unless
requested by embassy or consulate. The waiting time for an interview
appointment for applicants can vary, so early visa application is strongly
encouraged. It is important to remember that applying early and providing the
requested documents does not guarantee that the student will receive a visa.
Visa wait times for interview appointments and visa processing time information
for each U.S. Embassy or Consulate worldwide is available on the DOS website at
Visa Wait Times , and on most embassy
websites. During the visa application process, usually at the interview, an
ink-free, digital fingerprint scan will be quickly taken. Some applicants will
need additional screening, and will be notified when they apply. Also, because
each student’s personal and academic situation is different, two students
applying for same visa may be asked different questions and be required to
submit different documents. For that reason, the guidelines that follow are
general and can be abridged or expanded by consular officers overseas, depending
on each student’s situation.
All applicants for a student visa must provide:
-
Form I-20A-B, Certificate of Eligibility
for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status-For Academic and Language Students.
You will need to submit a SEVIS generated Form, I-20, which was
provided to you by your school. You must sign the I-20 form prior to
applying for your visa. All students, as well as their spouses and
dependents must be registered in the Student and Exchange Visitor
Information System (SEVIS), an Internet-based system that maintains accurate
and current information on non-immigrant students and exchange visitors and
their dependents (F/M-2 visa holders). The University is responsible for
entering your information for the I-20 student visa form into SEVIS.
Students will also have to pay an SEVIS I-901 fee for each program of study.
-
A completed application, Nonimmigrant Visa
Applicant, Form DS-156, together with a Form DS-158. Both forms must be
completed and signed. Some applicants will also be required to complete and
sign Form DS-157. A separate form is needed for children, even if they are
included in a parent's passport. The DS-156 must be the March 2006
date, electronic "e-form application." Select
Nonimmigrant
Visa Application Form DS-156
to access the electronic version
of the DS-156.
-
An interview at the embassy consular section is
required for almost all visa applicants. The waiting time for an interview
appointment for applicants can vary, so early visa application is strongly
encouraged. During the visa interview, an ink-free, digital fingerprint scan
will be quickly taken, as well as a digital photo. Some applicants will need
additional screening, and will be notified when they apply.
-
A passport valid for travel to the United States
and with a validity date at least six months beyond the applicant's intended
period of stay in the United States.
-
One (1) 2x2 photograph.
See the required photo format explained in nonimmigrant photograph
requirements;
-
A MRV fee receipt to show payment of the visa
application fee, a visa issuance fee if applicable (Please consult the
Visa Reciprocity Table ) and a separate SEVIS I-901 fee receipt.
While all F visa applicants must pay the MRV fee, including dependents, only
the F-1 principal applicants must pay the SEVIS fee.
All applicants should be prepared to provide:
-
Transcripts and diplomas from previous
institutions attended;
-
scores from standardized tests required by the
educational institution such as the TOEFL, SAT, GRE, GMAT, etc.;
-
financial evidence that shows you or your
parents who are sponsoring you have sufficient funds to cover your tuition
and living expenses during the period of your intended study. For example,
if you or your sponsor is a salaried employee, please bring income tax
documents and original bank books and/or statements. If you or your sponsor
own a business, please bring business registration, licenses, etc., and tax
documents, as well as original bank books and/or statements.
Applicants with dependents must also provide:
-
Proof of the student’s relationship to his/her
spouse and/or children (e.g., marriage and birth certificates.);
-
it is preferred that families apply for F-1 and
F-2 visas at the same time, but if the spouse and children must apply
separately at a later time, they should bring a copy of the student visa
holder’s passport and visa, along with all other required documents.
Additional Information
-
No assurances regarding the issuance of visas
can be given in advance. Therefore final travel plans or the purchase of
nonrefundable tickets should not be made until a visa has been issued.
-
Unless previously canceled, a visa is valid
until its expiration date. Therefore, if the traveler has a valid U.S. visa
in an expired passport, do not remove the visa page from the expired
passport. You may use it along with a new valid passport for travel and
admission to the United States.
Entering the U.S. - Port of Entry
A visa allows a foreign citizen coming from abroad, to travel to the
United States port-of entry and request permission to enter the U.S. Applicants
should be aware that a visa does not guarantee entry into the United States. The
Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
officials have authority to permit or deny admission to the United
States. Student visitors must have their Form I-20 in their possession each time
they enter the United States. Students should review important information
about
Admissions/Entry requirements on the Department of Homeland Security,
Customs and Border Protection website. Upon arrival (at an international
airport, seaport or land border crossing), you will be enrolled in the
US-VISIT entry-exit program. In addition, some
travelers will also need to register their entry into and their departure from
the U.S. with the Special
Registration program. If you are allowed to enter the U.S., the CBP
official will determine the length of your visit on the Arrival-Departure
Record (Form I-94). Since Form I-94 documents your authorized stay in the U.S.,
it’s very important to keep in your passport.
What Items Do Returning Students Need?
All applicants applying for visa renewals must submit:
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A passport valid for at least six months;
-
an application Form DS-156, together with a Form
DS-158. Both forms must be completed and signed. Some applicants will also
be required to complete and sign Form DS-157. Blank forms are available
without charge at all U.S. consular offices and on the Visa Services website
under Visa Applications Forms;
-
a receipt for visa processing fee. A receipt
showing payment of the visa application fee for each applicant, including
each child listed in a parent’s passport who is also applying for a U.S.
visa, is needed;
-
a new I-20 or an I-20 that has been endorsed on
the back by a school official within the past 12 months.
All applicants applying for renewals should be prepared to
submit:
-
A certified copy of your grades from the school
in which you are enrolled;
-
financial documents from you or your sponsor,
showing your ability to cover the cost of your schooling.
Students Away from Classes More Than Five
Months
Students in or outside the U.S., who have been
away from classes for more than five months, will likely need a new visa to
enter the U.S.
For additional information visit:
http://admission.hartford.edu/applying/international/visa.php
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