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How to Get a Student Visa for USA in 2020?

Written by  Rachit Agrawal, MBA

Published on Tue, July 24, 2018 1:27 PM   Updated on Thu, January 30, 2020 12:39 PM   6 mins read

Source: Akhand 83

How to Get a Student Visa for USA in 2020 is a high concern for students aspiring to study in the USA that how will they get the visa for studying in the USA. The study visa for USA is issued after the student’s visa application gets approved by the university as well as the visa authorities. Thus, when you have your study visa in hand, you’re good to go and fly down to the city of your dreams.

Here is a comprehensive guide to getting a Student Visa for USA.

First, here is the types of Student Visas issued for study in USA.

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How to Get a Student Visa for USA- Types of Student Visas in USA

Following are the types of Visa for studying in the USA:

F1- Visa

F-1 visa is for all study and language programs and courses with more than 18 hours a week, at any American Elementary and High School, Seminary and Conservatory, College and University. It includes all undergraduate and postgraduate courses in the US.

M1-Visa

M-1 visa is for all vocational, technical and other non-academic courses in America.  M-1 visa students can stay in the US, only as long as the visa permits and have other limitations as well. These limitations include as not working off-campus, not allowed work more than 20 hours/week and can work only at commercial places.

J1- Visa

J-1 visa, commonly known as the Exchange Visitor Visa, is for all exchange program participants such as students, teachers and visiting professors. J-1 also includes research fellowships and a brief period of vocational training, extending to not more than ten months.  

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How to Get a F-1 Student Visa for USA?

One of the most common visa type and the best suited to Indian students is the F-1 Visa. The F-1 visa is allocated to those students who wish to study any academic or language course in a university/college in the US. To receive the same, you have apply for the visa and submit the required documents. Once your application is processed, you are called for an Interview and thereafter you are given the student visa for USA. In fact, the visa can be extended as per further study or work opportunities.

The F visas have three categories- F-1,F-2 and F-3.

  • F-1 is for foreign full-time study students,
  • F-2 for the dependents such as partners or children of the F-1 students and,
  • F-3 for across-the-US-border Canadian and Mexican students.

The F-1 visa is a welcome study visa for international students to the American universities and colleges. For those willing to pursue language courses and several other academic courses can enroll for this visa type.F-1 visa includes Curricular Practical Training as well as the additional, Optional Practical Training. Both the CPT and OPT trainings are valid for pre-completion and post-completion of the intended course.

Apart from this, the F-1 visa students can enroll for scholarships, on-campus placements and file tax for the income. However, the F-1 visa students are conditioned to complete the entire course of their study. The visa-holder can stay only sixty days after the visa expires, that is the completion of the course.

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F-1 Student Visa Eligibility 

Any visa, be it F-2 or otherwise, needs the following documents as proof-

  • Admission approval
  • Language test scores
  • Proof of finances

The eligibility conditions for F-1 student visa for USA, are-

  • Nationality– The students should have a nationality other than American.
  • Invite– Must have admission letter/offer approved by the university as it forms the very basis of the visa.
  • Funds– Finances to complete and fund education.
  • Insurance– Health Insurance and medicare backups.
  • Others– Assets back home, family, business, etc to demonstrate strong home-ties.

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How to Apply for Student Visa for USA?

In order to receive the student visa for USA, you need to apply for one. For this, you need to go by the following steps-

  • Apply for Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) university and get approved for admission.
  • Obtain the I-20 Form from the university/college, under the SEVP.
  • Apply for SEVI, fill the form and pay the fees.
  • Login on to the US Visa Application site. Fill in the form.
  • Apply for the Student Study Visa with the required documents at the US Consulate Office or Embassy.
  • Book the Appointment and appear for the same at the Visa centre.
  • Register with your fingerprints and photograph on the Appointment Day.
  • Appear for the Interview along with the needed documents.

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How to Get a Student Visa for USA- Visa Document Requirements

Visa, as mentioned before rests on the admission documents, language test reports and the proof of funds to sponsor your stay and study in USA. The required visa documents are as follows-

  • Valid Passport
  • Recent Photographs
  • Payment of $160 Visa Application Fees.
  • Proof of Visa Application Fees
  • I-20 Form or the Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status form
  • DS-160 Form or the Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application form
  • For male candidates, in the age group of 16-45 years, DS-157 form needs to be filled.

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USA Student Visa Interview Day

The interview tests your readiness for the course and eligibility for the F-1 visa. it’s a mixture of personal further as career-motivated questions about your academic qualifications, the purpose for course choice, career plans, finances, and support, etc.

Keep in mind that if the documents submitted are found to the false or tampered with, it straightaway results in cancellation of application. additionally, make certain you answer the question asked. Giving haywire answers or in a casual or unacceptable tone or gestures can lead you to a denial.
On the interview day, you have to carry all key documents.

  • Your passport
  • DS-160 form confirmation page that has a 10 digit barcode number on it.
  • Visa payment receipt
  • I-20 Form, etc.

If your visa has been approved, you’ll be asked to pay the visa fee for providing the visa. make certain, you go ready for that too. For this, your passport will be taken and your fingerprints will be done too. However, if the visa has been denied, you will be given specific reasons. The essence behind denial is ineligibility, of which sort or type, you’ll learn. you’ll be able to then work on those reasons and re-apply.

Also Visit:
  1. USA Student Visa
  2. USA Student Visa Requirements
  3. USA Student Visa Process
  4. USA Student Visa Eligibility & Rules
  5. USA Student Visa Interview & Mock Interview
Tags :
study in America
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About the Author & Expert

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Rachit Agrawal

Author • MBA • 20 Years

Rachit believes in the power of education and has studied from the top institutes of IIIT Allahabad, IIM Calcutta, and Francois Rabelias in France. He has worked as Software Developer with Microsoft and Adobe. Post his MBA, he worked with the world's # 1 consulting firm, The Boston Consulting Group across multiple geographies US, South-East Asia and Europe.

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