Applying for Student Visas for America

If you are going to the U.S. primarily for tourism, but want to take a short course of study of less than 18 hours per week, you may do so on a tourist visa. Otherwise, please read this article for general information on how to apply for an F1 or M1 student visa.

What is Needed to Apply for a Student Visa?
What Items Does a Returning Student Need?
How long may I stay on my F-1 student visa?
Public School Restrictions
Students from China

In most countries, first time student visa applicants are required to appear for an in-person interview. However, each embassy and consulate sets its own interview policies and procedures regarding student visas. Students should consult Embassy web sites or call for specific application instructions.

Keep in mind that June, July, and August are the busiest months in most consular sections, and interview appointments are the most difficult to get during that period. Students need to plan ahead to avoid having to make repeat visits to the Embassy. To the extent possible, students should bring the documents suggested below, as well as any other documents that might help establish their ties to the local community.

To allow time to overcome any unforeseen problems that might arise, students are encouraged to apply for their visas several weeks before they plan to travel. Students should not apply more than 90 days before the registration date noted on the I-20.

It is important to remember that applying early and providing the requested documents does not guarantee that the student will receive a visa. 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 documents. For that reason, the guidelines that follow are general and can be abridged or expanded by consular officers overseas, depending on each student’s situation.

What is Needed to Apply for a Student Visa?

All applicants for a student visa must provide:

• A Form I-20 obtained from a U.S. college, school or university. Please be sure to give us all four pages of the I-20 form. The form must also be signed by you and by a school official in the appropriate places;

• A completed nonimmigrant visa application form (OF-156) with photo for each person applying. A separate form is needed for children, even if they are included in a parent’s passport. These forms are available at the Embassy at no charge.

• A passport valid for at least six months after your proposed date of entry into the United States;

• A receipt for visa processing fee. A receipt showing payment of the visa application fee for each applicant, including each child listed in a parent’s passport who is also applying for a U.S. visa, is needed;

All applicants should be prepared to provide:

• Transcripts and diplomas from previous institutions attended;

• Scores from standardized tests required by the educational institution such as the TOEFL, SAT, GRE, GMAT, etc.;

• 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.

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.)

• It is preferred that families apply for F-1 and F-2 visas at the same time, but if the spouse and children must apply separately at a later time, they should bring a copy of the student visa holder’s passport and visa, along with all other required documents.

 

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What Items Does a Returning Student Need?

All applicants applying for renewals must submit:

• A passport valid for at least six months;

• A completed and signed application form (OF-156) with photo for each person applying. A separate form is needed for children, even if they are included in a parent’s passport. These forms are available at the Embassy at no charge;

• A receipt for visa processing fee. A receipt showing payment of the visa application fee for each applicant, including each child listed in a parent’s passport who is also applying for a U.S. visa, is needed;

• A new I-20 or an I-20 that has been endorsed on the back by a school official within the past 12 months;

All applicants applying for renewals should be prepared to submit:

• A certified copy of your grades from the school in which you are enrolled;

• Financial documents from you or your sponsor, showing your ability to cover the cost of your schooling.

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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 example, if you have a visa that is valid for five years that will expire on January 1, 2001, 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, 2001 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 before being able to return to America and resume your studies. A student visa cannot be renewed or re-issued in the United States; it must be done at an Embassy or Consulate abroad.

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Public School Restrictions

There are certain restrictions on attending public school in the U.S. Persons who violate these restrictions may not receive another visa for a period of five years.

The restrictions apply only to students holding F-1 visas. They do not apply to students attending public school on derivative visas, such as F-2, J-2 or H-4 visas. The restrictions also do not apply to students attending private schools on F-1 visas.

The restrictions are:

• Students who attend public high schools in the U.S. are limited to twelve months of study. Public school attendance in the U.S. prior to November 30, 1996 does not count toward this limit.

• F-1 visas can no longer be issued to attend public elementary or middle schools (Kindergarten - 8th grade) or publicly-funded adult education programs.

• Before an F-1 visa for a public school can be issued, the student must show that the public school in the U.S. has been reimbursed for the full, unsubsidized per capita cost of the education as calculated by the school. Reimbursement may be indicated on the I-20. Consular officers may request copies of canceled checks and/or receipts confirming the payment as needed.

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Students from China

The following guidelines have been prepared to help applicants understand the application process in the People's Republic of China.

Every year, the U.S. issues thousands of visas to Chinese students. Over 50,000 Chinese now study in the United States, and China now rivals Japan as the source of the largest number of foreign students seeking education in America. However, many of the students now applying, unlike their predecessors, do not have the same strong ties and promising prospects that will compel their return to China after graduation.

Please take a moment to read about the "Five Secrets of Applying for a U.S. Student Visa."  Please also read "U.S. Visa Officers Dispel Rumors."

Applicants for U.S. student visas should be aware that they must apply for their visas no earlier than 90 days before the date when they must report to the school in the United States. Student visa applications received more than 90 days before the report date to the new school will not be processed by the Embassy.

Important Criteria

To obtain a visa to study in the United States, applicants must demonstrate that:

• the sole (not just "primary") purpose of their travel is to pursue a program of study;

• they have the ability and intention to be a full-time student in the United States;

• they possess adequate funds to cover all tuition, living and anticipated incidental expenses without taking unauthorized employment;

• they have sufficiently strong social, economic, and other reasons to compel their departure from the United States upon completion of the projected program of studies.

Applicants for U.S. student visas should be aware that they must apply for their visas no earlier than 90 days before the date when they must report to the school in the United States. Student visa applications received more than 90 days before the report date to the new school will not be processed by the Embassy.

Ability and Intention to Study:

Applicants must bring proof that they have been unconditionally accepted to an accredited academic program. The school must provide a completed I-20 form and an acceptance letter. Applicants should also bring proof that they have the skills and background necessary to successfully complete the course; this generally includes their diploma, transcripts listing courses they have taken and grades received, their TOEFL score report, and any other score reports usually required for the course (GRE, GMAT, etc.)

Adequate Funds:

Applicants must prove that they have enough funding for tuition, health insurance, and living expenses. On the Form I-20, the school must provide information on the cost of tuition, living expenses, and incidental expenses. The school must also list on the Form I-20 how the student plans to meet these expenses -- through waivers, on-campus employment, assistantships, scholarships, or personal funds.

If applicants have received scholarships, they must provide evidence that the organization providing the scholarship has the intent and ability to pay. If they plan to use personal funds, they must show that they have adequate funding for the entire course of study, and that the money can be taken out of China.

Reasons to Return:

Applicants must prove that they intend to return to China after the completion of their course of study in the United States. Often, this is the most difficult hurdle for Chinese student applicants to overcome.

The Embassy has evidence that in the recent past a high percentage of students did not return to China after graduation. We recognize that China is changing and that some students do return. Each case is judged on its own merits during a personal interview with a Consular official. During this admittedly short interview, it is up to the applicant to prove that they have compelling identifiable social and career prospects in China.

Generally, applicants must show that they have legitimate, self-serving reasons to return to China after their graduation. This may be done in a variety of ways. They may show us that they have the talent to succeed in fields that are in demand in China; often these are students from the top schools in China that will be able to compete for the best jobs when they return. Students may also demonstrate that they are very well connected in China; these students should be able to show that their parents will be able to place them in attractive jobs in China.

The Interview

Applicants interested in applying for a student visa should appear in person at the consular post having jurisdiction over the area where they currently live, work, or study. Interested parties (e.g. school representatives, relatives, friends, etc.) are welcomed to provide written information to the applicant to present during the interview, but may not accompany the applicant into the interview.

Applicants should bring with them:

• A receipt from any designated branch of CITIC Bank showing payment of the nonrefundable visa application fee, RMB 405 at the current exchange rate;

• Two completed OF-156 application forms, one in Chinese and one in English. Forms are available free of charge at CITIC Bank and on the Internet at http://travel.state.gov and http://www.usembassy-china.org.cn/. Please include the standard telegraphic code (STC) for Chinese characters on the application and two recent passport-sized photographs (3cm X 5cm) attached to the two application forms;

• A passport valid for at least six months after the intended date of departure from the United States;

• Documentation showing admission to an established institution of learning or other recognized place of study in the United States which has been authorized to enroll foreign students, as evidenced by the presentation of a completed and valid Form 1-20 (Certificate of Eligibility);

• Evidence of sufficient scholastic preparation and appropriate knowledge of the English language to undertake a full course of study in the institution of learning or other place of study at which you have been accepted. If knowledge of English is inadequate to pursue a full course of study, documentation must be submitted indicating that special arrangements have been made by the accepting institution for English language studies;

• Evidence of sufficient funds to cover expenses, or evidence that other arrangements have been made to provide for expenses. Possession of "sufficient funds" means the applicant is neither likely to become a public charge nor likely to engage in unauthorized employment while in the United States;

• Evidence establishing social, economic, and other ties that would compel the applicant's departure from the United States after a temporary and lawful stay.

It is extremely important for applicants to prepare carefully for the interview. The interview is brief, and usually must be conducted in English. The Embassy recommends against the use of visa-interview preparation books or prepared speeches. Consular officers have interviewed thousands of students, many of whom who have used the same manuals and speeches, and the use of such texts will not help applicants?chances. Similarly, any assistance in preparing English-language documents should be explicitly acknowledged.

Use of Intermediaries

The US Embassy strongly cautions against use of intermediaries either by students searching for a school in America or by schools interested in recruiting Chinese students. Many of these agents have objectives that conflict with the interests of both students and schools.

They are aware of several cases in which disreputable agents have promoted inappropriate programs to prospective Chinese students and charged unreasonably high fees. We recommend that students carefully research the programs to which they plan to apply before committing any money to an agent or intermediary. Likewise, schools should be as involved as possible in the recruitment of their students.

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