How Are Student Visas Handled In The U.S.?

To first-time applicants, getting a student visa in the United States might seem complicated. Keep in mind that millions of people succeed at this every year. As long as you properly educate and prepare yourself for the process, you’ll be fine. Let’s cover the basics involved in getting a student visa. In addition, I will demystify some of the commonly held beliefs about this process.

A visitor’s visa is intended for tourists of the U.S. who want to enroll in less than 18 hours a week of study, while they are here. These can be applied for at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate office. According to student visa law, if you plan on doing more than 18 hours of study a week, you must have a student visa. Consult an immigration attorney specialzing in student visas.

If you have been accepted by an academic institution in the U.S., you should plan early for obtaining your student visa. The U.S. State Department Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs offices, in a multitude of countries, have workshops dedicated to explaining the student visa application process.

Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS)

Once you have been accepted to a college or university, in the U.S., these institutions must send you the forms necessary for you to enroll in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). This has to occur before you are able to apply for your student visa. SEVIS, which is a system of information on the internet, is how the government keeps tabs on students from other countries. This includes foreign students and those who are in an exchange program. This information sharing system is used by a variety of government agencies and organizations. These organizations are critical to the foreign student’s visa application process and therefore need to be kept up to date on all pertinent information.

There is a fee that applicants must pay to enroll in SEVIS. While the fee can vary, it is approximately $200 for the majority of students. The fee might be higher or lower based on what it is the student is studying. Students applying for a visa should make sure to keep a receipt of payment for SEVIS. This will be come in handy when being interviewed at the U.S. embassy.

Student Visa Interview

Once it is your time to be interviewed for a student visa, make sure that you have gathered all of the necessary documents. First, you need to have the receipt showing that you paid your SEVIS fee. You’ll also need the visa-qualifying form that your school should have provided you with. All of the appropriate financial support forms should also be with you. Finally, a completed visa application form and processing fee are the last two pieces to be ready for a student visa interview. To cover all of your bases, it would be wise to double check the information on the embassy or consulate’s websites before showing up for your interview.

Contrary to what many may believe having a visa is not a surefire way to gain entry into the United States. The visa simply allows the foreigner to travel to the United States. He or she could be refused admission to the country, if a U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspector says so.

Popular Student Visa Myths

Many cynical or misinformed individuals believe that the United States has a limit on visas issued to foreign students each year. This is completely false. As discussed earlier, student visas are issued by U.S. embassies and consulates. As long as you meet their requirements, they encourage you to apply for a student visa.

Some people think that they can increase their chances of getting a visa by hiring a “guru” who makes promises of having connections. These professionals are sometimes referred to as education agents. These people are known for providing foreigners with false promises in exchange for their money. Hiring one of these people will not improve or expedite the application process. Save your money.

Money makes the world go round. However, some think that the U.S. government requires that an individual applying for a visa have a certain socio-economic status. While you, a relative or sponsor, must show that you can afford your tuition and living expenses, you don’t need to earn a certain amount of money every year to qualify.

Another misconception about visas is that they are only reserved for those students who are at the top of their class. This is not true. Obviously, you must be accepted to an academic institution in the United States. However, that is all that is necessary. This institution will then provide you with the forms needed by SEVIS. You must make sure you give off the impression that you take your learning opportunity very seriously and have long-term academic goals.