U.S.A. Student Visa - Dhrron Consultancy

The United States is among the top destination countries selected by students for higher studies. International students interested in pursuing higher studies in the United States must first apply for a student visa. The type of visa you will need depends on the type of study course you want to take in the U.S.A.

There are three types of student visas that are granted to applicants in the U.S.A.

F 1 student visa – This type of visa is issued to candidates who want to study at an accredited U.S. college or university or to study English at an English language institute.
M 1 student visa – This type of visa is issued to a candidate for non-academic or vocational study in the U.S.
J 1 student visa – This type of visa is issued to the candidate for their participation in an exchange program. It includes high school as well as university studies.

International students who wish to study full-time at a college or university in the U.S. must obtain a visa known as the F 1 visa. From India, the majority of applicants qualify and apply for the F1 category.

The general steps to apply for an F 1 student visa in the United States are outlined below. There may be additional requirements depending on your profile.

You are required to apply to and be accepted by a U.S. institution (school or university) for higher education. The institute must be certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). You apply and get approval from an SEVP approved institute. As soon as you have received admission to the institute, you can begin your visa application process.
Once approved by the institute, you will receive a Form I-20 from the institute’s international student office. This form must be presented to the counselor officer at the time of the visa interview.
After receiving the I-20, you will be asked to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee.
You are required to pay SEVIS I-901 fees to get enrolled in SEVIS (Student and Exchange visitor information system). It is a fee you are required to pay to enter the US as a student or exchange visitor. From India, you are required to pay a SEVIS I-901 fee. You must pay this fee before going to the US embassy or consulate. The SEVIS I 901- fee for students on a F1 visa is $350 USD. Indian students can pay this fee online by credit card. You must carry your I-901 printed confirmation page as proof of payment on the day of your visa appointment.
Once you pay the fees and are registered with SEVIS you may apply for a visa at any U.S. embassy or consulate in your country.
For the visa application process, you must fill out the online form DS-160.This form (DS-160) must be shown at the time of the visa interview to the counselor officer.
Pay the $185 USD non-refundable visa application fee.
You are required to complete additional requirements for your application as determined by the embassy or consulate.
Schedule an appointment for the visa interview. Variations in the waiting period for the appointment will depend on the visa category you are applying for, season and location. So apply for your visa considering the waiting times for appointments. You must carry all the documents required on the day of the visa interview.
Start preparing for the interview because it is the most important and crucial aspect for the decision on your student visa application.
You are required to have biometric (ink-free finger prints) taken as part of the application process. During the interview, the counselor officer will ask you questions in English about your course of study and your future plans after graduation. You must be able to prove that you do not intend to stay in the U.S. after completing your studies.
You can receive your US student visa 120 days before your program start date. However, you may not be able to travel to the U.S. more than 30 days before your program start date.
If the interview is successful and you are approved for a US student visa your embassy or consulate will inform you about the process of stamping the new visa on your passport.

Please Note: The above-mentioned details are only a summary and not legal advice. The information is subject to change based on changes made by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Contact Dhrron Consultancy for more information on U.S.A. Visas. We ensure the best of our services.