Most international students dream of studying in the United States, and those who intend to do so must secure an F-1 US Student Visa. The application for an F1 U Visa is straightforward but time-consuming. Candidates must first complete the I-20 application form, pay the SEVIS fee, and then schedule an appointment with the Embassy. Booking an F1 Visa Slot is required in order to appear in the Visa interview before it is authorized.
The F-1 student visa is a form of non-immigrant student visa that allows international students to study in the United States without having to stay permanently. This implies you can stay in the United States for 3 or 4 years, depending on the length of the program. The visa period will be shorter for a shorter program.
The candidate must have applied to a college/university in the United States and received a Letter of Acceptance from that institution in order to be eligible for an F-1 US student visa.
Moving on to the most asked question- “How to get a student visa for USA?”. Let us list out the steps to start your US student visa application process:
- Fill in the I-20 application form
- Pay the SEVIS fee
- Fill in the DS-160 online application form
- Pay the visa registration fee
- Book your US Embassy visa appointment
- Attend the visa interview
Let us now move on to discuss each of these steps individually:
- Fill in the I-20 Application Form
The I-20 form is the most important paperwork to fill out when applying for an F-1 visa slot. If you apply for an F-1 visa, your university will send you an I-20 form. In contrast, J-1 visa applicants receive a DS-2019 form. You will obtain your SEVIS ID along with your I-20 form.
- Pay the SEVIS Fee
After completing the I-20 form at your home country’s US visa consulate, you must pay the SEVIS fee for the F-1 visa, which is $350 USD. As a result, it is safe to assume that the SEVIS fee for USA student visas is 350 USD.
- Fill in the DS-160 Online Application Form
The DS-160, Online Non-immigrant Visa Electronics Application, is a fully integrated online application form used to collect application information from anyone seeking a nonimmigrant visa for temporary travel to the United States. After completing the form, print the DS-160 barcode confirmation sheet at the conclusion of the DS-160 application on a laser printer and email the confirmation page to yourself as a backup.
- Pay the Visa Registration Fee
The US embassy fees for F1 visa student visa applications are USD 160 + VFS service charge + bank charges, for a total of roughly 11,200 INR. The sum can be paid in cash or by DD/Cheque at Axis Bank or CitiBank.
The bank will provide you with a duplicate visa fee receipt with a 10-digit barcode number. This barcode number is required to schedule your visa interview appointment. The barcode takes two days to be active.
- Book Your US Embassy Visa Appointment
Using your barcode and fee receipt, you can schedule an appointment at the US embassy. After you have booked your US student visa appointment, you must book an F-1 visa slot for the VAC (biometrics: photograph + fingerprint) at least a day before the interview.
- Attend the Visa Interview
After you have scheduled your US student visa appointment and completed your biometrics, you must attend the F-1 US student visa interview. The US student visa interview is a personal interview in which you will be asked about your intention to study in the US, as well as other factors such as your academic history, financial capability, and so on.
Documents Required for the F-1 Student Visa Process
Let us proceed to the documentation required at each stage of the F-1 visa application.
Read Also: How Many Credits do You Need For F-1 Visa?
Following are the documents required while booking your VAC appointment:
- Your passport number
- The date you paid your fee
- The ten (10) digit barcode number from your DS-160 confirmation page
On VAC day, you need to get the following documents:
- A passport valid for travel to the US with a validity date at least six months beyond your intended period of stay in the US (unless country-specific agreements provide exemptions)
- Your DS-160 confirmation page
- Your appointment confirmation page
Given below are the documents required for the visa interview:
- A printed copy of your appointment letter
- Your DS-160 confirmation page, and one photograph taken within the last six months
- Your current and all old passports, and
- Original visa fee payment receipt
These were the documentation needed to book an F1 Visa slot. All candidates should be aware that the application costs are non-refundable. As a result, they must be prepared with all of the necessary documents, fill out each form precisely, and eliminate any discrepancies. Furthermore, the interview dates can only be rescheduled a certain number of times. As a result, avoid the rescheduling procedure as much as possible because it will just delay the receipt of the Visa.
International students must follow the following while F1 Visa Slot Booking:
- Fill I-20 Application Form
- Pay SEVIS Fee
- Fill DS-160 Application Online
- Pay US Visa Fees
- Book Visa Appointment at nearby US Embassy for biometric clearance and Visa interview
“How to Apply for a US Study Visa?” is a frequently requested question by study abroad applicants. If you have all of the requisite documentation, applying for an F-1 student visa in the United States is not difficult. Furthermore, if you are clear about your objective and do not have any fraudulent evidence that piques the interest of the visa officials, it will be even easier to ace the visa interview!