2020 U.S. student visa application materials. What does the student visa application process include?

If you want to come to the United States to study but are not a U.S. citizen, you will need to obtain a student visa. Applying for a U.S. student visa takes a long time, so make sure you start preparing well in advance—at least 3 to 5 months before your course starts. This article has compiled for you in detail all the procedures and necessary materials for visa application. Follow me to find out more.

Part 1 Visa Application Process and Materials

ⅠApplying to an Institution in the U.S. Student and Exchange Visitor Program

As an international student, you You should ensure that the institution and program you choose are accredited by the U.S. Government Student and Exchange Visitor Program. Accreditation is important because it ensures that your degree is recognized by other countries, professional associations, employers and government agencies around the world. Only institutions accredited by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program can enroll students in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and provide you with the necessary documents to apply for a U.S. student visa. Use government research on state websites to determine what accredited agencies are available.

Unlike some countries, the United States does not have a centralized college application system, so you need to apply separately to each institution that interests you. You will need to meet each institution's admissions requirements and will usually be asked to demonstrate adequate financial resources.

Once you are admitted to an institution, the school will enroll you on the SEVIS system, and if you qualify for an F or M visa, you will receive a SEVIS The document inside is called an I-20 form; if you qualify for a J visa, you will receive a DS-2019 form.

The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) administers international students with F and M visas, while the U.S. Department of State (DoS) administers the Exchange Visitor Program and international students with J visas. Both SEVP and DoS use student and exchange visitor information systems to track and monitor institutions, exchange visitor programs and international students.

Ⅱ Pay the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System Fee

You must pay the SEVIS fee at least 3 days before submitting your U.S. visa application. To pay this fee, you will need to fill out a form online or on paper. Both forms are available through the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) SEVP website. Carefully enter the required details on the I-20 or DS-2019 form.

When filling out the form, the I-901 fee is US$200 for those with F/M visas and US$180 for those with J visas. People with J visas can work as summer camp counselors, au pairs, or work/travel during the summer, but they need to pay an additional $35. The website explains the steps for different types of payments, including debit or credit card, check, international money order and Western Union Express Pay. The fee has been paid, and you can confirm your payment on the website if necessary. A third party (such as your sponsor) may also pay this fee for you. If the fee was paid by someone else on your behalf, you should receive a receipt from the third party.

After you complete your payment process, you can obtain and print a payment voucher from the website at any time. During your U.S. student visa interview, you will need this voucher to prove that you have paid the fee. You may also be asked to show this document to a customs officer at your chosen U.S. port of entry to see if you have changed nonimmigrant status or if you are applying for other U.S. immigration benefits.

III Complete the U.S. Student Visa Application

Once you have received your SEVIS form and paid the SEVIS fee, you can make an appointment with the U.S. consulate or embassy in your country Apply for a U.S. student visa. Regardless of when your course starts, it is best to apply as early as possible as visa processing times can change. Your visa can be issued up to 120 days before you enter the United States.

⑴Online visa application: DS-160

In all cases you must complete the online visa application form DS-160.

You will need to select the position you wish to apply for and make sure you have all the documents and information you need to complete your application. After selecting and answering the security questions, you will be taken to the form page. At the top you will find your application ID. If you need to exit the application or come back to the application later, you will need this ID to retrieve your own form.

⑵Personal information required to fill in the DS-160 form includes:

1. Name and date of birth

2. Address and phone number

4. Trip plan and trip partner details

5. Details of previous trips to the United States

6. Are you in Point of Contact in the United States

7. Family, work and education details

8. Security, background and medical health information

S’s ID and your plans The address of the U.S. school/course you are enrolled in (printed on the I-20 or DS-2019 form)

10. You also need to upload a suitable recent photo of yourself, with the format set according to the photo requirements. . If your photo upload fails, you will need to bring a qualified printed photo with you to the interview.

Once you have completed the visa application form, you need to click the "Sign Application" button at the end to sign the DS-160 electronically. After your application is uploaded successfully, you will receive a confirmation page with a barcode, barcode number, and your application ID number. You need to print these and bring them to the visa interview. You do not need to print out the complete application process.

IV. Pay the visa application fee

The visa application fee is also called the machine-readable visa fee, or the "MRV fee." Pay attention to the payment instructions on the website of your country's embassy or consulate, as the operation methods will be different. In summary, however, here are three ways to pay the non-refundable, non-transferable visa application fee:

1. Pay in person at a designated bank

2. Pay by phone ( You will receive a fee confirmation number)

3. Pay online (you will need to print your receipt

During your research, if you come across the “Reciprocity-Based Visa Fee Don’t worry, either – this does not apply to F1, F2, M1, M2, J1 and J2 visa applicants.

When you have your visa interview, you will be asked to provide the machine-readable visa fee Receipt. Some J visa applicants, if they are participating in a United States Agency for International Development (USAID) or federally funded educational and cultural exchange project, and the project number is G-1, G-2, G-3 or If your application starts with G-7, you do not need to pay the application fee.

Ⅴ Arrange and attend a U.S. student visa interview

The last step in getting a U.S. student visa is to arrange and attend a visa interview. . You can make an appointment online or by calling your nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Either way, you should complete the MRV payment first, as you may need to provide your MRV fee number.

The visa application process is not complete until you have an interview with a consular officer. Don't worry if you need to schedule your interview at a different U.S. Embassy or Consulate than where you previously applied for your visa. The barcode on the DS-160 can be used to retrieve your information at any U.S. embassy or consulate. However, be aware that getting a visa will be difficult if you apply elsewhere where you currently live. The waiting time for the visa interview will vary depending on the location, season and visa category

⑴Documents required for the visa interview:

1. The passport is valid for at least 6 years longer than the period of your stay in the United States. months. If you have more than one person on your passport, each person who needs a visa must submit a separate application. You will also need to bring all your current and previous passports.

　2. Exchange Visitor Information System Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 (includes individual forms for spouse/children).

3. Form DS-7002 (only applicable to J-1 type interns and internship visa applicants).

4. Student and exchange visitor information system fee receipts.

-160 application confirmation page as well as barcode and application ID number.

6. Machine-readable visa payment confirmation receipt

7. Copy of visa interview appointment letter

8.1-2 photos that meet the photo format requirements. It should be printed on good photo quality paper.

⑵ In order to be fully prepared and ensure that no information is missing, you should also be prepared to provide the following documents:

1. Transcripts from previous institutions and diploma.

2. Transcripts of standard examinations required by educational institutions such as TOEFL, Law School Admission Test, American Graduate Record Examination, Graduate Management Professional Entrance Examination, etc.

3. Proof of financial ability, showing that you or your guarantor (that is, parents or government guarantor) have sufficient funds to cover your tuition, travel expenses and living expenses during your stay in the United States.

4. You can also bring a separate written list of your previous employers and schools for reference.

⑶ Any derivative visa applicant will need to bring:

1. A copy of the marriage and/or birth certificate to prove the relationship between the two parties.

2. A copy of the main applicant’s visa (such as F-1, M-1, J-1), or an official document from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services proving the main applicant’s status .

3. A copy of the personal data page from the main applicant’s passport.

Part 2: Attending your visa interview

It is important to arrive on time for your visa interview - late applicants may be asked to reschedule the interview for another day. In most cases, only applicants who have scheduled an appointment will be admitted to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Exceptions include parents of children under 18, translators, assistants for persons with disabilities - you will need to contact your chosen embassy or consulate to inform them of the names of the parents, translators and assistants who will accompany you.

Be careful to answer all questions accurately and fully, because if you make any mistakes, you will have to reschedule your visa interview. When you are confused while filling out the application form, you can find the answers to your questions on this website.

The purpose of the visa interview is for the consular officer to confirm whether you are eligible for a U.S. student visa and which type of visa is suitable for you. Be prepared to answer questions about your home country, your English skills, your academic background, the U.S. programs you were admitted to, and your proof of your financial resources. You may also be asked to indicate what your plans are when your studies are completed. No-write, digital fingerprint scanning will also be part of the application process. This will usually take place during your visa interview.

After your interview, the consular officer will tell you whether your application requires further administrative processing—which may mean you have to wait some time to get your visa. Waiting times depend on the country. You will also be informed of how and when your passport and visa will be returned to you (usually by courier). In some countries, the courier company will send you an email with a tracking number. You can use this and the tracking number to track the shipment of your passport.

F-1 and M-1 visa types are issued 120 days before the start of your study, but you cannot enter the United States earlier than 30 days before the start of your study. J-1 visas can be issued at any time. If you wish to enter the United States before 30 days before the start of your studies, you must qualify for a visitor visa or obtain a visitor visa. The 30-day time limit does not apply to students returning to the United States to continue their studies—they can enter the United States at any time as long as they have a valid visa.

Part Three: Using Your Visa

Because there is no guarantee that you will be issued a visa, don’t make final travel plans or buy tickets until you get your visa.

Note that a valid visa does not guarantee your entry into the United States: it merely allows you to go to a U.S. port of entry and request permission to enter the United States. Entry permits are authorized by officials from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Documents you need to bring include:

1. Passport

2. Student and Exchange Visitor Information System Form I-20 or DS-2019

3. Proof of financial resources

4. Proof of student identity (such as recent tuition receipt and transcript)

5. Name and name of the person in charge of the designated school Contact information, including a 24-hour emergency contact number for your target school.

6. If you are an exchange student: A letter from your home country stating your intention to return to your home country.

(You must bring your I-20 or DS-2019 form each time you enter the United States—if you vacationed outside the United States, you will need to provide student and exchange visitor status when you re-enter the United States. Information System Form.)

Part 4 Arrival in the United States

If you arrive in the United States by plane, you need to fill out the Customs Declaration Form (CF-6059) before you get off the plane. If you don't understand the form, you can ask a flight attendant for help. You will also need to complete the Arrival/Departure Record Form (I-94), either online or on paper. Your U.S. student visa is valid for the expiration date shown on your visa. The Customs and Border Protection officer will record another date or "D/S" on your Form I-94. This is the date you must leave the United States. Even if your visa expires during your stay, you can stay until this date. However, if you leave the United States with an expired visa, you will need to obtain a new visa when you return to the United States to continue your studies. Student visas cannot be renewed or reissued in the United States and must be done at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad.

If you get a paper I-94 form, the date will be written on the paper. If you received an electronic I-94, the Customs and Border Protection officer will provide a clearance mark in your passport to prove that your electronic I-94 form is valid, and will write on the clearance mark "Identity Validity Period (D/S)".

If you received a paper Form I-94, be sure to keep it securely in your passport as you will need to return it to customs and immigration authorities when leaving the United States. Border Protection Officer. If you get an electronic version of the I-94 form, customs officers will record your departure based on the manifest information obtained from the airline or shipping company you took.

You should report to the office responsible for assisting international students at your school as shown on your SEVIS I-20 or DS-2019 form within 30 days before the start date of your program. These offices may be the Office of International Services, the Office of International Education, the Office of International Programs, or similar agencies. The Designated School Officer (DSO) will verify your intent to enroll by reporting to the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System that you have arrived in the United States. This must be completed within 30 days or your record on the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System will be automatically terminated and you may be deemed to have lost your legal status in the United States.

The person in charge of the designated school will also provide you with advice on insurance issues. Because there is no social health care system in the United States, there is almost certainly a requirement to enroll in your target college in the United States, which is that you need to provide that you have purchased private health insurance to cover your medical needs.

Part 5 Leaving the United States

F-1 visa holders can stay in the United States for 60 days after completion of their course of study, but M-1 and J-1 visa holders Holders can only stay for 30 days after completion of their course. This is called a "grace period" and allows the applicant time to prepare to leave the United States.

All students must leave by the date marked on their I-94 form. Failure to leave the United States will result in your loss of legal status.

Losing legal status in the United States is a violation of immigration laws and may render you ineligible for a visa in the future. If you want an extension, you will need permission from USCIS. If you are still a student, you can renew your visa at any time as long as you have obtained student status and are recorded in the current Student and Exchange Visitor Information System.