Applying for a U.S. Student Visa

                                                     Students from outside of the United States experience much of the same college search and application processes if they decide to study at a U.S. college. But international students must not only be accepted to a U.S. college; they must also obtain permission from the U.S. government to live and study in the United States. Although the process is relatively straightforward, getting that permission requires good planning and preparation. Read on for the basics of applying for a U.S. student visa.

 

The College Admission Process

                                                      Before you can apply for a visa, you must know what college you’ll be attending. So, much like students living in the United States, international students must research their college options, apply to several colleges, and be accepted to at least one of them. Unlike U.S. students, international students must also prove to the college of their choice that they can pay all college fees and living expenses while studying in the United States. Some financial and merit aid may be available to international students, depending on the college you choose, but you still must have a well-thought-out, documented financial plan for your years in the United States.

 

Once you’ve been accepted and the college is satisfied that you can support yourself, the college will send you an I-20 form. This form documents that you have been offered admission to the college and that the college is satisfied that you can afford to study there. It also gives you a “report date,” or the date when you’re expected to arrive at the college to begin classes.

 

The I-20 is one of the main documents you’ll need to apply for a student visa.

 

Documents Required

 

Once you receive your I-20 from the college, it’s time to put together the other documents you’ll need to apply for the visa. Students who plan on attending a four-year or two-year academic program should apply for the F-1 visa.

You need several main documents to apply for a visa:

• Form I-20, which you receive from the college.

• Form DS-156, which you can get from the U.S. State Department’s web site, evisaforms.state.gov, and Form DS-158 and Form DS-157 (for males only), which you can get from your local U.S. embassy or consulate.

• A passport that is valid for at least the next six months (preferably longer).

• A passport-sized photo of yourself.

• A receipt that shows payment of the visa processing fee. How you pay the fee differs in each country, so make sure to check with your local U.S. embassy or consulate for details. In some countries, you may not be able to pay the fee at the consulate.

• Although these documents are the only official ones needed to apply, you also need to gather documentation to support certain aspects of your visa application.