The USA continues to be the top choice for students planning to study abroad. If you are among the few who aspire and have gotten the admission into your aspired university, applying for Student Visa is the next important step to realizing your Study in USA dream. This guide examines briefly the various types of visa and attempts to give a detailed process of applying for the F1 Student Visa – applicable to students planning to take up their bachelor’s and masters’ in the USA.
Type of Visa
There are three types of student visas to the US
Working on Student Visa
During the first year of studies, students cannot accept off-campus employment. Students cannot work more than 20 hours per week. During holidays and breaks the student may work up to 40 hours per week. The student can work for a commercial firm that provides services to the college, such as a bookstore or cafeteria.
Cost of Visa
There are two fees associated with for F1 student visa for the USA
1. SEVIS fee which is at present at $200
2. Visa Application Fee (MRV Fee) which is at present $160 (at the exchange rate of INR 68)
Here is the breakdown for different types of Student Visas
|
Type of Visa |
||
Type of Fee |
F1 |
J1 |
M1 |
SEVIS Fee* |
|||
Amount |
$200 |
$180 |
$200 |
Accepted modes of Payment |
Credit Card |
||
Payable in |
Dollars at applicable exchange rate as determined by the bank |
||
MRV Application Fee/ Visa Application Fee |
|||
Amount |
$160 |
$160 |
$160 |
Accepted modes of Payment |
NEFT Online Transfer |
||
Payable in |
Payable in INR at the Exchange Rate Fixed by the Consular Office (At present the exchange rate is fixed at $1 = INR 68)
|
*Spouses and dependents do not need to pay the SEVIS fee if they are going to the U.S. on F-2 or J-2 visas. For more information about the SEVIS program, please see the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement website.
How to Apply for US Student Visa (F1 Visa)
There are several steps to applying for a visa.
Remember, F1 student visas can be issued up to 120 days before the starting date of your course of study. However, you will not be allowed to enter the United States on F1 status earlier than 30 days before your start date.
Dependents
Spouses and children under the age of 21 who wish to accompany the applicant in the US for the duration of his or her stay require F2 or M2 visas. A spouse on F2 status can’t enroll for a full course of study but can take classes that are vocational or recreational in nature like pursuing a hobby or interest, such as cooking or tennis. Children on F2 status are allowed to attend elementary, middle, or high school as a full-time student. They may not enroll in a full-time course of study at a college or university.
The spouse and children of students cannot accept employment at any time during the stay-period on the F2 visa.
Additional Information
F1 visa holders are eligible for up to 12 months of OPT (optional practical training) on completion of graduation. That means you can work for a year after you finish your studies. It is a temporary employment permission allowing students the opportunity to gain practical experience in their field of study. After that, you’ll be required to apply for a work visa if you have to continue working in the US. You can remain in the US up to 60 days after the completion of your course even if you don’t have a job offer or haven’t applied for OPT.
Where to apply
The process of getting an F1 visa is completely online. Below are the resources to fill out your forms –
For Biometrics interview you need to visit –
US Embassy and Consulates addresses-
Documents Required for F1 Student Visa
Student visa requires you to carry a lot more documents than you would for a tourist visa, by comparison. You need the mandatory documents along with supporting documents of financial and academic records. Make sure you refer to this checklist before going to the consulate for the visa interview.