If you are going to the U.S. primarily for tourism, but
want to take a short course of study which is recreational, and the course
is less than 18 hours per week, you may be able to do so on a visitor visa.
If your course of study is 18 hours or more a week, you will need a student
visa. When traveling to the U.S. to attend seminars or conferences for credit
towards a degree, then you'll need a student visa.
When Do I Need to Apply for My Student Visa?
Applynot more than 120 days before your start date or registration
date on the Form I-20. You can enter the U.S. 30 days before you start your
classes (start/report date on the Form I-20).
What is SEVIS and SEVP? What should you know about it?
The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)
is designed to help the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department
of State better monitor school and exchange programs and F, M and J category
visitors.
Exchange visitor and student information is maintained
in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).
SEVIS is an Internet-based system that maintains accurate
and current information on non-immigrant students (F and M visa), exchange
visitors (J visa), and their dependents (F-2, M-2, and J-2). SEVIS enables
schools and program sponsors to transmit mandatory information and event
notifications via the Internet, to the DHS and Department of State (DOS)
throughout a student or exchange visitor's stay in the United States.
All student applicants must have a SEVIS generated FORM
I-20 issued by an educational institution approved by DHS, e.g., A F International College, which they submit
when they are applying for their student visa. The school is responsible
for entering your information for the I-20 student visa form into SEVIS.
The consular officer will need to verify your I-20 record electronically
through the SEVIS system in order to process your student visa application.
Unless otherwise exempt, all F-1 or M-1 principal applicants must pay a
SEVIS I-901 fee to the DHS for each individual program. A
F International College will submit the fee of $200 for you and include
the receipt in the I-20 package mailed to you.
Qualifying for a Student Visa
Applicants must demonstrate that they properly meet student
visa requirements including:
- Have a residence abroad, with no immediate intention
of abandoning that residence;
- Intend to depart from the United States upon completion
of the course of study; and
- Possess sufficient funds to pursue the proposed course
of study.
Applying for a Student Visa
Visa wait times for interview appointments and visa processing
time information for each U.S. Embassy or Consulate worldwide is available
on our website at Visa
Wait Times, and on most embassy websites.
During the visa application process, usually at the interview,
an ink-free, digital fingerprint scan will be quickly taken. Some visa applications
require further administrative processing , which takes additional time
after the visa applicant's interview by a Consular Officer. Also, because
each student’s personal and academic situation is different, two students
applying for same visa may be asked different questions and be required
to submit different additional documents.
Required Documentation
Each applicant for a student visa must submit these forms
and documentation as explained below:
- Form I-20A-B, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant
(F-1) Student Status-For Academic and Language Students or Form I-20M-N,
Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (M-1) Student Status for Vocational
Students. You will need to submit a SEVIS generated Form, I-20, which was
provided to you by your school.You and your school official must sign the
I-20 form.
- Online Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application, Form DS-160.
- A passport valid for travel to the United States and
with a validity date at least six months beyond the applicant's intended
period of stay in the United States (unless country-specific agreements
provide exemptions). If more than one person is included in the passport,
each person desiring a visa must complete an application.
- One (1) 2x2 photograph. See the required photo format
explained in nonimmigrant photograph requirements ;
- A MRV
fee receipt to show payment of the visa application fee.
- The SEVIS I-901 fee receipt.
All applicants should be prepared to provide:
- Transcripts and diplomas from previous institutions attended;
- Financial evidence that shows you or your parents who
are sponsoring you have sufficient funds to cover your tuition and living
expenses during the period of your intended study. For example, if you
or your sponsor is a salaried employee, please bring income tax documents
and original bank books and/or statements. If you or your sponsor own a
business, please bring business registration, licenses, etc., and tax documents,
as well as original bank books and/or statements.
What are the Required Visa Fees?
New Nonimmigrant Application Fees: The
Nonimmigrant visa application processing fees increased on June 4, 2010
and is now tiered, Applicants will have to pay the full fee in effect on
the day they apply, regardless of when they pay. Nonimmigrant visa application
processing fee -$140.00
Spouses and Children
Applicants with dependents must also provide:
- Proof of the student’s relationship to his/her spouse
and/or children (e.g., marriage and birth certificates.)
Additional Information
No assurances regarding the issuance of visas can be given
in advance. Do not buy non-refundable tickets until you receive your F-1
visa. Unless previously canceled, a visa is valid until its expiration date.
Therefore, if the traveler has a valid U.S. visa in an expired passport,
do not remove the visa page from the expired passport. You may use it along
with a new valid passport for travel and admission to the United States.
Entering the U.S. - Port of Entry
A visa allows a foreign citizen coming from abroad, to
travel to the United States port-of entry and request permission to enter
the U.S. A visa does not guarantee entry into the United States. The Department
of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials
have authority to permit or deny admission to the United States. Student
visitors must have their Form I-20 in their possession each time they enter
the United States.
Upon arrival (at an international airport, seaport or land
border crossing), you will be enrolled in the US-VISIT entry-exit program.
In addition, some travelers will also need to register their entry into
and their departure from the U.S. with the Special Registration program.
If you are allowed to enter the U.S., the CBP official will determine the
length of your visit on the Arrival-Departure Record (Form I-94). Since
Form I-94 documents your authorized stay in the U.S., it’s very important
to keep it in your passport.
Staying Beyond Your Authorized Stay in the U.S. and
Being Out of Status
It is important that you depart the U.S. on or before the
last day you are authorized to be in the U.S. on any given trip, based on
the specified end date on your Arrival-Departure Record, Form I-94.
Staying beyond the period of time authorized by the DHS
causes you to be out-of-status in the United States, which is a violation
of U.S. immigration laws. This may cause you to be ineligible for a visa
in the future for return travel to the U.S.
Staying unlawfully in the United States beyond the date
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials have authorized, even by one
day, results in your visa being automatically voided, in accordance with
immigration law, INA 222(g). In this situation, you are required to reapply
for a new nonimmigrant visa, generally in your country of nationality.
What Items Do Returning Students Need?
All applicants applying for renewals must submit:
- All items listed in the Required Documentation section
and;
- A new I-20 or an I-20 that has been endorsed on the back
by a school official within the past 12 months.
Students Away from Classes More Than Five Months
Students in or outside the U.S., who have been away from
classes for more than five months, will likely need a new visa to enter
the U.S.
How long may I stay on my F-1 student visa?
When you enter the United States on a student visa, you
will usually be admitted for the duration of your student status. That means
you may stay as long as you are a full time student, even if the F-1 visa
in your passport expires while you are in America. For a student who has
completed the course of studies shown on the I-20, the student is allowed
an additional 60 days, to prepare for departure from the U.S. or to transfer
to another school.
As an example regarding duration of status, if you have a visa that is valid
for five years that will expire on January 1, 2009, and you are admitted
into the U.S. for the duration of your studies (often abbreviated in your
passport or on your I-94 card as "D/S"), you may stay in the U.S.
as long as you are a full time student. Even if January 1, 2009 passes and
your visa expires while in America, you will still be in legal student status.
However, if you depart the U.S. with an expired visa, you will need to obtain
a new one, applying at and Embassy abroad, before being able to return to
America and resume your studies.
A F International College:
Visa Requirements for Foreign Students
As a foreign student, your stay in the United States will require compliance
with U.S. Government rules and regulations. Foremost among these is the
need for you to be in possession of:
- A valid passport
- A form I-20 (ID copy) issued by
A F International College for F-1 students or
- A form I-94 arrival/departure record issued when you
enter the United States.
If you are outside the United States, you must take the
I-20 form with your passport, financial statement of personal or family
support, current photo, and letter of admission from the A
F International to the U.S. consulate/embassy nearest your home to obtain
a visa. You are advised NOT to enter the United States on a visitor (B-2)
visa unless "Prospective Student" has been stamped in your passport.
The Immigration and Naturalization Service will deny a request for change
of status, and you will be forced to leave the United States at your own
expense, return to your home country and secure a proper visa prior to enrolling
at A F International. If your family
is traveling separately, an F-2/J-2 visa may be obtained for your spouse
and children from A F International 213-381-6707,
should you wish them to stay with you in the U.S. You need to submit proof
of financial support with the F-2/J-2 request form. If you have any questions
regarding visa requirements, please contact the Office at 213-381-6707 for
further information.
If you travel abroad while studying at A
F International, you are to present the proper form (I-20 ID copy or
DS-2019) to the Office at A F International
for endorsement before departing the U.S. The endorsement is valid for
six months and for multiple entries. | 
