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What is the F-1 visa?
The F-1 visa permits an international student to study at a school, college, seminary, or conservatory while spending a set amount of time living temporarily in the United States.
Is the F-1 visa right for me?
For a lot of international students, getting the opportunity to study in the US is the reward for years of perseverance and hard work. All aspiring students must apply for a visa to study in the country unless they are already citizens or holders of green cards.
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Owing to the abundance of courses and study locations in the US, the F-1 visa has a very broad scope of use but also highly specific regulations. The first is that you must be traveling to the US to do some temporary study. Stated differently, this is not a visa for immigration.
To be eligible for an M-1 visa, you must be enrolled in an academic program rather than receiving training at a vocational school. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) approval for your academic institution must come through the Student Exchange and Visitor Program (SEVP), meaning it needs to be accredited to be able to accept foreign students on F-1 visas.
You can work, but there will be limitations on where and what kind of employment you can do because this is a non-immigrant visa. Lastly, even though your partner and kids are welcome to travel with you, they will not be able to work; nevertheless, your kids are welcome to register for classes. They will be dependent on the status of your visa and have F-2 visas.
Now that you have a fundamental grasp of the procedure, let’s examine how to get a F-1 visa in more detail:
1. Be accepted at a SEVP-approved school.
You have to apply to and be accepted by a school that has been approved by the SEVP before you can apply for your F1 student visa for the USA.
2. Pay your SEVIS fee and receive your I-20.
After being approved, you will need to enroll in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) by paying the SEVIS I-901 Fee. After that, a Form I-20 will be sent to you by your school. You will bring this form to your F1 visa interview with the consular official. Your spouse and/or children do not need to be enrolled in SEVIS if they intend to live in the United States of America with you while you study. However, they will need to have their Form I-20.
3. Complete the visa application.
The process of applying for an F1 student visa may differ depending on the American embassy or consulate you are interacting with. There will be an application fee for a visa that is non-refundable. You have the option to fill out and print Form DS-160 online to prepare for your F1 visa interview.
4. Schedule and prepare for your interview.
Your interview for an F1 visa can be scheduled through the American embassy or consulate. Applying for your visa early is advised because wait times for interview appointments differ depending on the location, time of year, and kind of visa. Up to 120 days before the commencement of your term of study, you can apply for an F1 student visa to enter the United States. With an F1 visa, you can only enter the United States up to 30 days before your start date.
The following documents are required for your F1 visa interview:
- A valid passport
- The Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160
- The application fee payment receipt
- A passport photo
- A Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F1) Student Status (Form 1-20)
Note that your eligibility for the F1 student visa may be verified using additional documents, such as diplomas, degrees, certificates, or academic transcripts. Test results from the TOEFL, SAT, GRE, or GMAT may also be required, along with documentation of your financial stability and a statement stating that you plan to leave the country after your program is over.
5. Attend your F1 visa interview.
Whether you are eligible to obtain an F1 student visa for the United States will be decided at your F1 visa interview. The consular officer will decide whether or not to approve your F1 visa based on your compliance with all requirements and the availability of the necessary paperwork.
A charge for issuing the visa might be demanded of you. We’ll take digital fingerprint scans for our records. To obtain your visa, your passport will be needed. You will be notified when it is ready for pickup or return via mail.
Remember that obtaining a visa is not a given. Don’t book your trip until your visa has been approved. You will receive an explanation for the denial of your visa based on the legal provision that pertains to your ineligibility. In some circumstances, a waiver of ineligibility may be submitted.
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