If you wish to study in USA, you need a US study visa. Applying for a USA student visa is quite a lengthy process, so you have to start preparing some months before your semester starts.
The various stages of getting a US study visa:
- Applying and being accepted by a Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-approved school in the US.
- Pay the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee;
- Complete a US student visa application along with recent photo(s);
- Pay the visa application fee;
- Schedule and attend a visa interview.
1. Applying to a SEVP program
Make sure you chose a SEVP accredited institute or university for studying in US. This will ensure that your degree is recognised Worldwide. Only SEVP-approved institutions can enroll students in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and provide you with the documents necessary to apply for a US student visa. Having an uncentralized system, you have to apply to every institute separately and consider their paper work requirements and show them you have the necessary funds to apply for that particular course. Once you have been accepted by an institution, the university will enroll you in the SEVIS system and you will be sent a SEVIS-generated document called Form I-20 if you are eligible for an F or M visa, or Form DS-2019 if you are eligible for a J visa.
2. Pay the SEVIS fee
The SEVIS fees is to be paid at least 3 days prior to applying for a visa. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) SEVP website will offer you an online or paper form for paying the fee. Make sure you input all the necessary details according to your I-20 or DS-2019 form. After processing your payment, you can print a payment confirmation from the website. This confirmation will be checked during your US visa approval interview.
3. Complete US student Visa application
You can make an appointment for the US visa application in the US embassy after you have received your SEVIS form and paid the course fees. It is advisable to apply for the visa process as early as possible as the processing time can vary.
4. Pay the Visa Application fee
Fee payment methods may vary for different agencies, embassies or the consulate websites. In general, however, there are three ways to pay the non-refundable, non-transferrable visa application fee:
- In person at an approved bank
- By phone (you’ll receive a fee confirmation number)
- Online (you’ll need to print your receipt)
5. Schedule and attend a US student visa interview
The final step for getting a US student visa is to arrange and attend a student visa interview. You can apply for the interview online or through the US embassy. In either case, you should complete the MRV fee payment first, as you may need to give your MRV fee number. You will not be issued the visa unless you have paid the SEVIS fees. You will be asked all kind of questions on your background, education, target course, payment methods in the visa interview which you will have to answer appropriately. Depending upon your interview, you will be issued the visa within 30 days to 120 days.