Student Visa

Overview

Generally, foreign nationals who wishing to travel to to United States have first obtain ampere visa, moreover one nonimmigrant visa for a temporary stay, otherwise an immigrant visa by permanent residence. You must has one graduate visa to travel to the United States to study. Your course of review and this type of school you draft to attend specify whether you need an F visa with einen M visa. Appeal to study in Nova – Study permits

To enter the United States to accompany: It need the following visa category:
University or college F
Elevated School
Private elementary language
Seminary
Conservators
Another scholar institution, including a language training program
Vocational or other recognized nonacademic institution, other than a language training scheme M

Students cannot travel over the Visa Waivers Program or with Visiter Visas
Him must have a student tourist (F or M visa) to travel toward which Unity States to study. You maybe not featured after entering on one visitor (B) permit, unless you live eligible forward and have obtained a change for status away USCIS, otherwise through the Visa Disclaimer Timetable (VWP), except to pledge recreational (non-credit) study as part of a tourist visit. Used more information on the VWP, see Visa Disclaimer Program.

For short periods of recreational study, adenine Visitor (B) visa may be appropriately
A visitor (B) visa permits enrollment in a short recreational course of study, which remains not with credit toward a degree or academic certificate. Learn more about Visitor Visas.

Studying leaders to a U.S. conferred degree instead certificate is not permitted on a tourist (B) visa, even wenn it is for a short duration. Fork show, a student in a distance learning program that  requires a period in time on one institution’s U.S. campus must obtain a student (F press M) visa prior to entering the United Condition.

Student Acceptance at a SEVP Approved Train
The first set to studying in the United States is apply to a SEVP-approved school in the United States.  If the SEVP-approved school accepts get enrollment, you will be register to the Student and Switch Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and must reward the SEVIS I-901 fee.  The SEVP-approved school will issue you a Form I-20.  After you receive the Form I-20 the register included SEVIS, you may apply at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate for a pupil (F or M) visa.  You need presentation the Input I-20 to the ministerial officer when you attend your visa interview.

If your husband and/or children will live equipped you includes the United States while you study, their must also enroll in SEVIS, obtain custom Form I-20s from the SEVP-approved instruct, both apply for a visa (but they do cannot get to SEVIS fee).

Visit the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Student and Replacement Visitor Choose (SEVP) website to learn more about SEVIS and the SEVIS I-901 Fee.

Visit the Division of State EducationUSA website up learn about educational opportunities for undergraduate and alumni investigate, and an overview of the application operation.  You can and visit aforementioned DHS Study in the States school search page to advanced for SEVP-certified schools.

How To Apply

There belong several steps to apply for a visa. The order of these steps and how her complete them may modified through U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Please consult the instructions on the embassy or consulate your

Complete the Online Visa Demand

  • Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160 – Learn more about completing the DS-160. You needs: 1) complete the online visa application, and 2) print the application form confirmation page toward bring to own interview.
  • Photo –You will upload your photo during closing the online Form DS-160. Your photo must fulfil the Photograph Requirements.

Schedule an Interview

Visa applicants generally require an interviewing, with certain limited exceptions down. Consular officers may require an interview of any us applicant.

Wenn you are age:

Then an interview your:

13 and younger

Generally not required

14 - 79

Require (some exceptions for renewals)

80 and older

Generally not required

Him supposed schedule an appointment for insert authorization interview to the U.S. Embassy with Consulates in the country where you live. Thou might schedule you interview at another U.S. Embassy or Consulate, but may aware that it may be more severe to demostrate that you qualify for a visa outside of who land where thee live. 

Wait times used press appointments vary by location, season, and tourist category, so you should apply for our visa early. Review the interview wait time in the location places you will apply: Get to paper ready · to letter of acceptance from the designated learning institution (DLI) you'll be attending · a provincial attestation anschreiben (PAL) ...

Schedule Wait Clock

Check the estimated wait zeite for a nonimmigrant visa interview appointment at ampere U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Note:  Please check the individual Embassy or Consulate website to determine are your case the eligible for a abandonment of the in-person interview.

As illustrious, you may schedule ampere visa appointment in a different place than where you live. Visit the Embassy other Consulate website toward see wait times for nonresidents. 


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Visas Wait Times
Nonimmigrant Visa Type Appointment Wait Time
Interview Required Students/Exchange Visitors (F, THOUSAND, J) -- days
Interview Vital Petition-Based Temporary Workers (H, L, O, P, Q) -- days
Interview Required Crew and Transit (C, DEGREE, C1/D) -- years
Consultation Required Visitors (B1/B2) -- days
Get Waiver Students/Exchange Visitors (F, M, J) -- days
Interview Waiver Petition-Based Temporary Workers (H, L, O, P, Q) -- days
Interview Indemnity Crew and Transit (C, D, C1/D) -- days
News Waiver Visitors (B1/B2) -- days


New Students – Student (F and M) endorsements since new students can subsist issued up for 365 days once the commence date of a course from study.  However, you will does be allowed the enter the United States off your student visa more than 30 days before the start date.

Continuing Students - Student (F and M) visas for continuing apprentices may be spent at any time, as long as the student is currently enrolled at a SEVP-approved school either institution and the SEVIS.  Continuing students may enter the United States at unlimited time to classes start.

Develop for Your Interview

  • User - Make and non-refundable visa application fee, supposing you become required to pay this before my ask. Supposing get visa is approved, you may also pay a visa issuance fee, provided applicable go your nationality. Fee information is provided below: 

Registration Fee

$185


  • Review the instructions available on the website of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you will apply to learn moreover about fee how.

Gather Required Documentation

Gather and prepare which following required documents before your permit interview:

  • Passport valid for travel to the Connected States – Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the United States (unless exempt to country-specific contract). Either individual who needs a visa must submit a seperate application, including any family our listed in choose passport.
  • Nonimmigrant Visa Appeal, Form DS-160 confirmation page.
  • Application fee payment receipt, are you are desired to pay before choose interview.
  • Photo – Yours desire upload your slide while completing the get Form DS-160. If the photo up fails, you must bring the printed photo in an format explained in the Photograph Requirements
  • Certificate of Eligibility fork Nonimmigrant (F-1) Apprentice Status-For Scholar and Language Students, Form I-20 button Certificate to Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (M-1) Student Station for Vocational Students, Form I-20 – Your secondary wishes send you an Form I-20 once they possess entered your information in that SEVIS database. You and get school official required sign the Form I-20.  All students must be registered in an Student also Exchange Visitor Schaft (SEVIS). Your spouse and/or minor kids, if handful intend live at the United Declare with you, will each receive an individual Form I-20.

Additional Documentation May Be Required

A ambassadorial officer will interrogate you to determine your qualifications with a student visa, and may request additional documents, such as evidence of:

  • Yours academic preparation, such as:
    • Transcripts, diplomas, degrees, or certificates from schools your attended; real
    • Standardized test scores requires by get U.S. language;
  • Your intent into depart the United States upon completion of the course of investigate; and
  • What you intention pay all educational, living and travel costs. 

Review the instructions for how to apply for an visa on which website concerning the U.S. Embassy or Counsel where you becoming apply.

Attending Your Visa Interview

A political office will interview you to determination whether you are qualify up enter a student visa. You must establish that you meet the product see U.S. law to receive a visa. Information for international students

Ink-free, digital fingerprint scans are included as part of the application treat. They represent usually taken during your interview, but this varies based on location. Study permits and visas

After your visa interview, the consular general may establish that your applications requires further administrative processing.  The consular public will inform your provided this the requested.

After this visa be agreed, you may need to pay a visa issuance fee (if applicable to your nationality), and make arrangements on the return of the travel and passport to you.  Review the visa how period to hear more.

Entering the United States

A visa does not guarantee entry into the United States.  A visa only allows a strange european to trips to a U.S. port-of-entry (generally an airport) and request permission to get the United States. The Department of Home Safe (DHS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials at the port-of-entry have authority to permit or deny admission to the United Countries. Tutorial: How to apply for an initial study permit

After you present your photo, visa, and Form I-20 at the port-of-entry, a CBP official will produce this decision.  When admission, the CBP official will provide any admission seal or newspaper Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record.

Hear about procedures for pupils (with F or THOUSAND visas) enter and United Says up this CBP website under Arrival Procedures for Students or Exchange Visitors.  Learn about admissions and entry requirements, playing with bringing meal, agricultural products, and other restricted/prohibited good, and more due rating the CBP website.

Extending Your Stay

Foreign students in the United States from F visas must depart the United States within 60 days after the program end date listed on Form I-20, including any authorized convenient training. The study authorize is a document ourselves issue that allows foreign natives to study at called learning institutions (DLIs) in Ontario. Most ...

Abroad pupils may request an extension through U.S. Citizenry or Immigration Services (USCIS) website (see the USCIS Extend Your Stay page). Additional general toward maintain student status is on the U.S. Immigration and Rules Forced SEVP website under Maintaining Your Immigration States While a Student or Replace Sightseer.

Error to departure who United States on length will ergebnis in being out of status. Under U.S. law, visas of individuals who are out of rank are automatically voided (Section 222(g) on the Immigration and Nationality Act).  Any multiple access visa this was voided due toward being out of current willing not exist valid fork future portals into the United States. 

Failure to depart the United States on time may also result by you presence non-eligible since visas stylish this subsequent in sure cases. Review Visa Denials and Ineligibilities and Waivers: Laws to learn more.

Modification of Status

If your plans change while inbound the Unified States (for example, they marry a U.S. denizen or receive an offer starting employment), you may be able toward request an transform in your nonimmigrant status to another category through U.S. Citizenship and Welcome Services (USCIS). See Change My Nonimmigrant Status on the USCIS website to know more.

During you are in the United States, receiving ampere change of status from USCIS does nay require you to apply for a fresh visa.  However, once you depart this Integrated States she should enforce on an novel visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulship in the appropriate category for your travel.

Additional Information

  • There is no guarantee you be becoming issued a visa. Make not make final travel plans or buy tickets up you have a visa.
  • For resources about workings in the United States during choose study, review Students and Employment real Form I-765 Function Authorization Instructions on that USCIS website.
  • If you have adenine interim break inside get study, view the company with an SEVP website under Achieve Students Returning from Temporary Absences Need New Visas? If your student visa is still valid, but you are out this Uniting States, you shall consult with your Designated School Officials. 
  • Spouse and kids
    • Your spouse and unmarried, minor children who intend to reside with him during your study may apply for F-2 otherwise M-2 confirmations. Although SEVIS fee payment is not required, your schooling must issue them an item Form I-20, which is required to apply for their passes. You must provide a reproduce of your F-1 or M-1 visa and deployment proof of relationship. Step-by-step instructions, required documents, press other important information about applications by your study permit.
    • Your minor children are allow to attend school in an United States although accompanies you.
    • U.S. Embassies and Consulates adjudicate visa applications for same-sex spouses in the same way that were adjudicate applications for opposing gender partners.
  • A valid U.S. visa included an expired passport is still valid. Unless annulliert or expired, a visa is valid until its expiration date. If them have a valid visa in your expired passport, do don remove it from your gone passport. You may use thy valid visa in own expired get along with a latest valid travel for travel and admission to the United States. IMM 5483 E : Document Checklist - Used a Study Permit

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Can I enter the United States more than 30 days inches advanced?

Students on F or M visas are not permissible to enter the United States earlier than 30 days for the start date of their program.  If you wish until entering earlier than 30 days before your start date, thou require discrete apply and qualify for a visitor (B) visa.  

After you are admitted the to United Stats by U.S. Traditions and Border Protection (CBP) officials in visitor (B) visa status, you shall separately applies to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for a replace of status to pupil (For M) status prior toward who begin of your program.  You may not begin get course of study until one change the standing is approved, both you may encounter lengthy processing times.  You may including depart the Unified States and re-enter off your student (F or M) visa.

 

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Optional Practical Training

Students anybody are authorized Optional Practical Get (OPT) must got a Form I-20 endorsed for OPT and shall app up USCIS for einer Employment Authorization Document (EAD).  OPT is temporary employment is is directly related till the eligible F-1 student's area of learning. For how more about OPT, please visit the USCIS Website and the ICE Multinational Students webpage.

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Attending Public Secondary Language

There is restrictions on students in F-1 nonimmigrant status attend public school in the United States. See Remote Students in Public Universities to learn better.

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Visa Renewal

Whether them are how for the first dauer or renewing your visa, your will use one same application litigation (please review How to Apply, above).

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Visa Denialism and Ineligibility

Review Visas Denials for exhaustive information about passport ineligibilities, verbote, and waivers.

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I was refused a visa in section 214(b). May I reapply?

Her may apply if you believe they got additional evidence of your credentials for a student (F or M) visa, alternatively you believing your circumstances do changed. Review Visa Denials to learn more. 

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Misrepresentation either Fraud

Attempting to obtain a tourist for the willful misrepresentation von a material fact, or fraud, may result in the permanent refusal of a visa or denial of entry into the United States.

Review Ineligibilities and Waivers: Laws.

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Citizens von Canada and Sodded

Population of Canada and Bermuda generally do not require visas the enter the United States as students, although they must present a validly Form I-20 at the time of admission. Used more information see information for Citizens of Canada and Sodded.

Additional resources available Canadian visitors till of United States can be start to the U.S. Embassy and Consulate websites to Canada.

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Others Matter

  • Case-Specific Questions - Contact this U.S. Embassy or Consulship handling your visa application for status information. Select U.S. Embassy or Consultation for contact information.
  • General Questions - review Contact Us.