The United States of America is the top destination accepting students all over the globe despite the strict restrictions regarding visa acceptance. With leading institutions offering hundreds of specialty programmes, top-notch research facilities, advanced technologies, and the opportunity to grow like nowhere else, the appeal of the country to further their studies has increased rapidly over the past. 

With the new American regulations as well as the Corona pandemic crisis, the process seemingly made way to changes, but that has not stopped the students' pursuit of studying in America. In light of making it easier for our students, let’s discuss the major steps one needs to take to get a successful result when applying for your student visa. 

1.  Applying to desired University

The first step to get started is the decision to choose the right programmes, degree and of course the ideal university. Most students rely on professional counselors and education consultancies to proceed with their applications to ensure  a better chance of their eligibility and acceptance rate. OneAbroad, makes the process of matching students to their preferred study programme and dream university effortless. To get a head start, here are some institutions you can check out.

• Top Universities for Technology 

• Top Universities for Business

• Top Universities for Medicine

Once the decision of where and what to study is made, you will then be required to apply to the desired institution and receive an acceptance letter or I-20 form. After the students successfully receive their acceptance letter, the next step is to start their visa processing. 

2.  Figuring out the Visa Type 

Currently, there are three different types of student visas that the USA issues for international students coming to pursue their education. Depending on the desired field of study and the duration, students need to ensure that they know what visa type to apply for. 

• F-1 Visa: This visa is issued to students pursuing their degree in the USA, until the completion of their academic program or the English Language program. 

• J1-Visa: This visa is issued to students who are a part of an exchange program for a short period of time.

• M1 Visa: This visa is issued to students pursuing their degree in non-academic fields (technical or vocational) except language schools until completion. 

F-1 visa is the most common visa that students usually apply for. However, if your pursuit is different, you need to figure out which type fits your requirements best. OneAbroad guides the students throughout the visa processing helping them make the right decisions and ensure a successful result. 

3.  Understanding the Criterias & Requirements

As most students are aware, the US has a list of criterias and requirements that must be met before one applies for the visa to be successful. While it varies when it comes to universities and colleges, the major ones are:

1. Students need to have a permanent residence in their native country where they will return upon the completion of their academic studies.

2. Applicants need to showcase sufficient financial support and valid sources of income. 

3. Students can continue their studies only in the accredited academic institutions through which the visa application was approved. 

4. Students need to demonstrate their strong ties back to their native country for example personal assets, bank accounts, lands, family or anything that requires you to return home after completing your studies.

5. While the English language is not a requirement for the visa proceedings, it is essential for university admission. Depending on the country, students might also need to attend the official English language tests like IELTS or TOEFL as required. 

6. Any additional documents or proofs might be required depending on the requisites of your native country. 

    4. Visa Proceedings

Once you have figured out the visa type and have met all the requirements, students can start their visa proceedings. Approach the embassy or the consulate affiliated with the country or the region you will be submitting your visa application. While the process and the documentations required might vary depending on your region and country, some mandatory documents and process includes:

• Certificate of eligibility for non-immigrant (F-1) Student Status (I-20 Form) that you received from your institution.

• Receipt of the application fee that you paid beforehand to the consulate of the embassy of the US in your country.

• Online form DS-160 for non immigrants that you filled and submitted beforehand.

• Passport with a validity date six months from the date of your intended stay. Additionally any old passports that you have in possession.

• Documentations to prove your financial status including the bank statements, certificates , financial supports, income sources that will support your stay in the US.

• Transcripts, degrees, certificates from your schools, programs, diplomas that you submitted to the university you applied to. 

• Recent digital color photograph.

   5. Visa Interview

Once your application is processed, you will be appointed for an interview. The interview is the determinant that decides whether or not you receive the USA F1 student visa. The interviewer will be asking you basic questions on your intent of why, when and how regarding your choice of program, institution, and further plans. You will be required to bring all of the documents and receipts and answer any concerns regarding the submitted documents. 

You will also be scanned for your fingerprints and retina for record purposes. When the interview ends, you will be instructed to leave your passport with the embassy. Based on your interview, your visa will either be approved or denied. You will be informed about when you will receive the visa and when to collect your passport. 

   6. Waiting for your Visa Confirmation

The student visas for new students are usually issued upto 120 days before the start date of the study. Depending on the country you are applying from, your confirmation can be within a few days or few months. It widely depends on the case as well as the region you are from. Make sure to check the average waiting time for visa confirmation in your native country so you know when to expect the results. With the widespread COVID-19 crisis, this can have affected the wait time so students should consult with their consulate or embassy to know how long to anticipate. 

7.  Prepare for your study abroad

When you apply and get approved for a USA student visa, students need to be prepared for what to expect. Once you get started with your academics, you will be required to abide by certain restrictions and regulations that one needs to be knowledgeable about. The student visa is usually valid until the completion of the course you applied for. However, there are cases when you need to apply for renewal processes during the study period.

Another important thing to keep in mind is that there are certain restrictions to employment. Student visa holders are allowed 20 hours or less per week and can only work part-time. Work regulations are pretty strict and complicated which means it is better to ensure proper finances before you leave for your study abroad. As a legal student in the USA, you will need to be enrolled in your institution and achieve a passing grade each semester to continue your stay. If your passports expire within the time of your study abroad, make sure you approach your consulate or embassy who can aid you with extending the date. 

We hope this post helped you understand the pre-requisites and understanding of USA student visa proceedings. If you want to consult with professionals or be connected with leading universities in the USA, feel free to connect with us.