If
you are going to the U.S. primarily for tourism, but
want to take a short course of study of less than
18 hours per week, you may do so on a tourist visa.
Otherwise, please read this article for general information
on how to apply for an F1 or M1 student visa.
What
is Needed to Apply for a Student Visa?
What Items Does a Returning
Student Need?
How long may I stay on my F-1 student
visa?
Public School Restrictions
Students from China
In
most countries, first time student visa applicants
are required to appear for an in-person interview.
However, each embassy and consulate sets its own interview
policies and procedures regarding student visas. Students
should consult Embassy web sites or call for specific
application instructions.
Keep
in mind that June, July, and August are the busiest
months in most consular sections, and interview appointments
are the most difficult to get during that period.
Students need to plan ahead to avoid having to make
repeat visits to the Embassy. To the extent possible,
students should bring the documents suggested below,
as well as any other documents that might help establish
their ties to the local community.
To
allow time to overcome any unforeseen problems that
might arise, students are encouraged to apply for
their visas several weeks before they plan to travel.
Students should not apply more than
90 days before the registration date noted on the
I-20.
It
is important to remember that applying early and providing
the requested documents does not guarantee that the
student will receive a visa. Also, because each student's
personal and academic situation is different, two
students applying for same visa may be asked different
questions and be required to submit different documents.
For that reason, the guidelines that follow are general
and can be abridged or expanded by consular officers
overseas, depending on each student's situation.
What
is Needed to Apply for a Student Visa?
All
applicants for a student visa must
provide:
- A
Form I-20 obtained from a U.S. college, school
or university. Please be sure to give us all four
pages of the I-20 form. The form must also be
signed by you and by a school official in the
appropriate places;
- A
completed nonimmigrant visa application form (OF-156)
with photo for each person applying. A separate
form is needed for children, even if they are
included in a parent's passport. These forms are
available at the Embassy at no charge.
- A
passport valid for at least six months after your
proposed date of entry into the United States;
- A
receipt for visa processing fee. A receipt showing
payment of the visa application fee for each applicant,
including each child listed in a parent's passport
who is also applying for a U.S. visa, is needed;
All
applicants should be prepared to provide:
- Transcripts
and diplomas from previous institutions attended;
- Scores
from standardized tests required by the educational
institution such as the TOEFL, SAT, GRE, GMAT,
etc.;
- Financial
evidence that shows you or your parents who are
sponsoring you have sufficient funds to cover
your tuition and living expenses during the period
of your intended study. For example, if you or
your sponsor is a salaried employee, please bring
income tax documents and original bank books and/or
statements. If you or your sponsor own a business,
please bring business registration, licenses,
etc., and tax documents, as well as original bank
books and/or statements.
Applicants
with dependents must also provide:
- Proof
of the stud||ent's relationship to his/her spouse
and/or children (e.g., marriage and birth certificates.)
- It
is preferred that families apply for F-1 and F-2
visas at the same time, but if the spouse and
children must apply separately at a later time,
they should bring a copy of the student visa holder's
passport and visa, along with all other required
documents.
What
Items Does a Returning Student Need?
All
applicants applying for renewals must
submit:
- A
passport valid for at least six months;
- A
completed and signed application form (OF-156)
with photo for each person applying. A separate
form is needed for children, even if they are
included in a parent's passport. These forms are
available at the Embassy at no charge;
- A
receipt for visa processing fee. A receipt showing
payment of the visa application fee for each applicant,
including each child listed in a parent's passport
who is also applying for a U.S. visa, is needed;
- A
new I-20 or an I-20 that has been endorsed on
the back by a school official within the past
12 months;
All
applicants applying for renewals should be
prepared to submit:
- A
certified copy of your grades from the school
in which you are enrolled;
- Financial
documents from you or your sponsor, showing your
ability to cover the cost of your schooling.
How
long may I stay on my F-1 student visa?
When
you enter the United States on a student visa, you
will usually be admitted for the duration of your
student status. That means you may stay as long as
you are a full time student, even if the F-1 visa
in your passport expires while you are in America.
For
example, if you have a visa that is valid for five
years that will expire on January 1, 2001, and you
are admitted into the U.S. for the duration of your
studies (often abbreviated in your passport or on
your I-94 card as "D/S"), you may stay in
the U.S. as long as you are a full time student. Even
if January 1, 2001 passes and your visa expires while
in America, you will still be in legal student status.
However, if you depart the U.S. with an expired visa,
you will need to obtain a new one before being able
to return to America and resume your studies. A student
visa cannot be renewed or re-issued in the United
States; it must be done at an Embassy or Consulate
abroad.
Public
School Restrictions
There
are certain restrictions on attending public school
in the U.S. Persons who violate these restrictions
may not receive another visa for a period of five
years.
The
restrictions apply only to students holding F-1 visas.
They do not apply to students attending public school
on derivative visas, such as F-2, J-2 or H-4 visas.
The restrictions also do not apply to students attending
private schools on F-1 visas.
The
restrictions are:
- Students
who attend public high schools in the U.S. are
limited to twelve months of study. Public school
attendance in the U.S. prior to November 30, 1996
does not count toward this limit.
- F-1
visas can no longer be issued to attend public
elementary or middle schools (Kindergarten - 8th
grade) or publicly-funded adult education programs.
- Before
an F-1 visa for a public school can be issued,
the student must show that the public school in
the U.S. has been reimbursed for the full, unsubsidized
per capita cost of the education as calculated
by the school. Reimbursement may be indicated
on the I-20. Consular officers may request copies
of canceled checks and/or receipts confirming
the payment as needed
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