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We are delighted that you are interested in studying in the United States, and
we hope that you will be able to do so. Here is some information about student
and other types of visas that we hope you will find useful as you plan for your
academic program.
Most non-U.S. citizens who wish to study in the United States will seek an
F-1 (non-immigrant) student visa, but there are other visa types that are
sometimes authorized for those who study in the U.S. Here is a short description
of the different visa types that involve study:
F-1, or Student Visa. This visa is the most common for those
who wish to engage in academic studies in the United States. It is for people
who want to study at an accredited U.S. college or university or to study
English at a university or intensive English language institute.
J-1, or Exchange Visitor. This visa is for people who will
be participating in an exchange visitor program in the U.S. The "J" visa is for
educational and cultural exchange programs.
M-1, or Student Visa. This visa is for those who will be
engaged in non-academic or vocational study or training at an institution in the
U.S.
What is a Visa?
A visa allows a foreign citizen to travel to a U.S. port-of entry and request
permission from the U.S. immigration officer to enter the United States. It does
not guarantee entry into the U.S.
Applying for a Student or Exchange Visitor Visa
In order to apply for a visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate, you must first
have a SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System)-generated
document (either an I-20 or DS-2019) issued by a U.S. college or university or
Department of State-designated sponsor organization. You will be required to
submit this form when you apply for a visa. The U.S. academic institution or
program sponsor will provide you with the appropriate SEVIS-generated form only
when you have been academically admitted to the institution or accepted as a
participant in an exchange program. The institution or program sponsor will also
send you additional information about applying for the appropriate visa, as well
as other guidance about beginning your academic program in the United States.
(For more information about SEVIS, see below.)
Once you have all the documentation that is required, you may apply for the
visa, even if you do not intend to begin your program of study for several
months. It is best to apply early for the visa to make sure that there is
sufficient time for visa processing.
Finding More Information About the Visa Application Process in Your
Country
Most of the procedures and requirements for applying for the various types of
student visas, as well as for the Exchange Visitor visa are standardized and are
described at the websites behind the “learn more” links provided above. Some
procedures vary from country to country, for example, how to pay the visa
application processing fee and how to make an appointment for an interview. For
details on applying for a Student or Exchange Visitor visa in the country in
which you are located, please visit the U.S. Embassy or Consulate nearest you.
SEVIS
The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), administered by
the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) within the Department of
Homeland Security (DHS), is an Internet-based system that maintains data on
foreign students and exchange visitors before and during their stay in the
United States. For more information about the SEVIS program, visit the ICE
website.
In order to enroll students from other nations, U.S. colleges and universities
must be approved by the School Certification Branch of the Student and Exchange
Visitor Program (SEVP). Most U.S. institutions of higher education have received
this approval.
Planning Ahead for the Visa Process, Not Just Your Academic Admission
One of the most important things you can do to ensure that you will be
able to arrive in time for the start of your educational program in the United
States is to plan well in advance, not only for the academic portion of your
U.S. program, but also for the visa process. This means you will need to request
and receive the appropriate visa-qualifying document (either an I-20 or DS-2019)
from the U.S. institution or program sponsor well in advance of your planned
departure to the United States. You will also need to make an appointment for
your visa interview. Please consult the U.S. Embassy or Consulate nearest you to
find out how long it may take to get an appointment.
Applying for a Visa – Key Points to Keep in Mind
Among the things you’ll need to do is pay the SEVIS fee (information about
paying the fee and confirming that your payment has been received is available
at http://www.ice.gov/graphics/sevis/i901/index.htm), pay the visa processing
fee (the procedure will differ from one U.S. Embassy/Consulate to another, so
visit the website of the U.S. Embassy in the country where you are located), and
make an appointment for the visa interview (again, procedures will differ, so
visit the website of the U.S. Embassy). You should also make sure you have all
the documentation you will need when you go for the interview, including the
visa-qualifying document (I-20 or DS-2019), financial support documents, proof
of payment of the SEVIS and visa fees, and a completed visa application form.
Ensure that you complete the visa application correctly by following the
Department of State website procedures carefully.
EducationUSA Advising Center Workshops about Visas
Some EducationUSA advising centers offer workshops about the visa application
process. If the advising center in your country offers such a workshop, you
should sign up to attend. It is important to know all you can about this
extremely important element of your proposed study in the United States.
EducationUSA advisers communicate frequently with U.S. consular officers and
will be able to help you prepare for the visa application process and the visa
interview.
Key Information about Visas and Entering the United States
There are two additional bits of information that are useful to know. The first
is that the U.S. Embassy/Consulate cannot issue a visa more than 90 days before
the actual start of the program in the United States. However, visa applicants
are encouraged to apply for their visa as soon as they are prepared to do so.
Thus, if the college or university to which you have been admitted states on the
I-20 or DS-2019 that the program will start on September 1, a visa cannot be
issued before June 1. Second, even if you have been issued a visa to enter the
United States, you will not be allowed to enter the country more than 30 days
before the start of your program, if you are an initial entry student. Returning
students do not have this requirement. Using the earlier example, if the program
of study starts on September 1, you will not be permitted to enter the United
States until August 1 or later.
Arriving & Studying in the U.S. - Immigration Related information
U.S. immigration law governs the entry of all visitors to the United States,
including students and exchange visitors. It details what they are authorized to
do during their stay in the country. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
is the agency responsible for ensuring that these visitors comply with U.S. law
and regulations. When you arrive in the United States, you, too, will come under
the authority of the Department of Homeland Security, and one of the three units
within DHS responsible for non-U.S. citizens: the Bureau of Customs and Border
Protection; the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement; and the U.S.
Citizenship and Immigration Services Bureau.
On your plane to the U.S. or when you arrive in the U.S., you will receive a
Form I-94 (Arrival-Departure Record). Please safeguard this form; it contains
the official record of your stay in the United States.
What to Do When You Arrive at the College or University in the U.S.
Once you arrive on campus, you should report immediately to the office that is
responsible for assisting international students and scholars. It may be called
the Office of International Services, the Office of International Education, the
International Programs Office, or some other similar name. Whatever the name,
however, that office can help you with any questions or concerns you may have
about immigration rules and regulations. Moreover, that office must report your
arrival within the SEVIS system. If this report is not submitted, you may be
considered to be in violation of your status in the United States, so be sure to
make the international student office one of your first stops on campus.
We hope that this information has been helpful to you, and we wish you good
luck as you prepare your plan to study in the United States.
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