Getting into an American school is not as difficult or expensive as you might think. Everything will work out fine, but the biggest problem is obtaining a student visa. It is the precious visa that separates you from studying at a U.S. educational institution.
Types of U.S. student visas
Those who want to study in the USA have two ways of developing their activity. The first method is to apply for an M1 visa. This method is less popular because. It is mainly suitable for professional development.
This visa is more for those students who will not end up with a diploma, so there is no need to analyze this visa in depth, although all student visas are issued on a similar principle.
The second way is the F1 student visa. Most students go to the United States to study. Whether you go to college or university, school or a language program, you will need to process your U.S. F1 student visa. In addition to studying, the F1 visa will give you many other useful benefits.
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You will be able to travel freely within the United States, as well as to leave and return to the United States.
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You will be able to change your current place of study to another.
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the F1 visa allows you to work a limited number of hours per week.
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Stud. F1 visas can be extended for up to six years.
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You can open bank accounts, purchase insurance, buy a car, etc.
Features of obtaining a U.S. student visa
In most cases, student visas are multiple-entry, allowing you to travel to the United States several times during the validity period. Sometimes a visa officer may issue a study visa for a single visit and duration for a specific study program. The visa itself does not specify the number of days to stay in the country. The length of stay in the U.S. is noted for each entry. Usually, the departure date is indicated based on the completion date of the program. Also, the number of days of stay may be longer than the validity of the visa itself, as. Internships are allowed after the course is completed. These are the general rules of the USCIS, but there are different options in each case.
Programs of study that require a student visa
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Access to secondary and higher education at U.S. colleges and universities
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Education in a variety of English language programs for youth and adults
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Preparation programs for international and professional exams
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Preparatory programs for study at U.S. schools and colleges
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Education within the framework of Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs
The decision on a U.S. student visa is made by an employee of the Embassy during an interview with the applicant. The result is reported immediately - if it is positive, the foreign passport is taken away for a few days. To obtain permission to enter the U.S., students must complete a detailed application form in English and prepare a package of convincing supporting documents. The primary confirming information for a student visa is that from the educational institution. The embassy also places special emphasis on research of financial documents, including employment verification and bank statements. A student visa does not imply the ability to work in the United States. Therefore, visa officers must ensure that the student and his or her sponsor have a sufficiently strong financial position in homecountry.
It is not enough to receive an invitation letter from an educational institution to apply for a student visa in 2022. Receiving an invitation alone does not guarantee the issuance of a visa. The prospective student needs to demonstrate the need to attend the program, tell about his plans for the future, and show convincing arguments in favor of his return to homecountry within a short period of time during the interview. It is important for the consular officer to ensure that the applicant is going to the United States only to study and will definitely return to continue working in the homecountry. Student visa interviews are usually conducted in English. The visa officer may deny the visa not only because he suspects that the applicant will return to his native country, but also if he believes that his language skills are not sufficient to study in the United States.
The process of obtaining a study visa
The following is a step-by-step guide on how to obtain an F1 student visa without any problems.
The first thing you should do is make sure you are actually enrolled in a U.S. educational institution. If this is the case, you will receive a special form to confirm this. This valuable form, the I-20, is the most important reason for obtaining your student visa.
So, all the documents are ready, which means it's time to prepare for the embassy. At the beginning, you will need to pay the consular fee. After paying the fee, you have to pay the special SEVIS fee (registration in a special system where all students have to register).
Now comes the important part - filling out the DS-160 online form. It is very important to answer all questions correctly, so do not rush when filling it out. Read the questions carefully. There is no need to rush to fill in the DS-160.
Next, you will need to sign up for an interview at the embassy or consulate and be there at the appointed time. You will need a printed invitation to the interview, confirmation of the completed DS-160 questionnaire, a receipt for payment of the required fee, your international passport, and your photograph.
It is very important to give due attention to the interview itself. During the interview, the consul will decide whether you will be granted a visa. In many ways, your future depends on the interview.
List of Required Documents
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Form I-20
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No special documents are required to obtain an F1 student visa. The main list is reduced to a few sheets of paper.
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However, the documents that can fundamentally affect the consular decision in some way are much more extensive.
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Form I-20. You must have both the original and a copy of this document. You can receive this form immediately after you register at an educational institution in the United States. The Form I-20 is the basis for the student visa.
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A printed page confirming that you have completed the DS-160 form.
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A letter confirming that you have scheduled an interview at the consulate.
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Your passport. Must be valid at the time of the interview + six months after graduation from the U.S.
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A 5x5 cm photograph.
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A receipt confirming payment of the consular fee and SEVIS.
How to apply for a U.S. student visa quickly and easily?
Call or write to the office of the particular company. Applying for a student visa to the United States starts with a phone call or email to the company office. The company manager will ask you a series of questions and assess your chances of obtaining a U.S. visa based on their answers. After considering the specifics, he will discuss the necessary documents and the possible obstacles to obtaining a visa in your case. The specialist will develop the best options for applying for a U.S. student visa. After speaking with the manager, you will receive a list of documents that you need to prepare to apply for a student visa. In addition, in the future you will be provided with a sample certificate: during the preparation of the certificate you can consult the expert on all questions and send documents for verification if necessary.
Obtaining documents from the USA. At the next stage of applying for a US visa, you need to receive documents from the educational institution. Usually, after enrolling in the program, students will receive a complete set of documents by mail. To apply for a visa, you will primarily need a Form I-20. Although documents from the United States are sent by express mail, it is not uncommon for them to take a long time to be delivered. Therefore, please have your case manager send you a copy of the I-20 form via email. One copy is sufficient to prepare the documents and schedule an appointment at the U.S. Embassy: it contains all the information needed to complete the online DS-160 form as well as to register for a personal account and schedule a visa interview. The original I-20 form will have time to arrive at your interview - you have already submitted it to the Embassy.
Come to the corporate office. You will need to come to the office to discuss the details of the visa application process. You should bring with you your passport (both valid and all previous passports) and the documents for the course. You will be consulted at a further stage of obtaining a student visa and they will prepare an accurate list of all necessary documents and provide samples of all major certificates. After the investigation and photographing of the visa application form, the contract for issuing the visa will be signed. Be sure to check the cooperation agreement, which states the main terms and conditions for obtaining student visa work, the rights and obligations of both parties, as well as the payment procedure. When you leave the office, you will have all the original documents with you - you will need them for the interview.
Preparing for the interview. You will have to come to the office again - a few days before the interview for the consultation. You must carry with you a complete set of prepared documents and certificates. Go through all the documents and sort them in order of importance. You will receive the prepared documents: visa application form, receipt for consular fee, appointment with the Embassy. The U.S. student visa interview rehearsal will be conducted in English.
Go through the embassy interview. Under 2022 visa regulations, most interviews are conducted at the embassy. You must arrive at the U.S. Embassy on the designated date for your interview. You should bring with you a complete packet of documents, a completed application form, and a confirmation letter for your passport. You will need to make your own way to the embassy and then follow the recommendations. Answer the visa officer's questions calmly and confidently. You should have no difficulty communicating with the consular officer - you already know exactly what questions you are likely to be asked, and you will be prepared to get the best answers in this or that situation. The decision will be communicated to you at the end of the interview.