| The "F" visa is for non-immigrants who want to to | | | | additional documents. Embassies and Consulates will |
| pursue academic studies and/or language training | | | | issue a US student visa 120 days or less, prior to the |
| programs. | | | | registration date of the study course. If you apply for |
| Student visa process: | | | | your visa 120 days or more before your start date or |
| In order to qualify to get an F1 visa, you must be | | | | registration date as provided on the Form I-20, the |
| accepted by a recognized university in a full time | | | | Embassy or Consulate will hold your visa application |
| capacity. You should also prove that you have | | | | until it is able to issue the US student visa. |
| sufficient financial support during your stay in United | | | | Also make note that all students can enter the US 30 |
| States. The student applying should be accepted for | | | | days or less prior to the date of study course |
| enrollment in a school that is SEVP certified. The | | | | mentioned in Form I-20. After you enter the US, you |
| Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) is | | | | can stay as long as you are a full time student, even if |
| used for monitoring school and exchange programs | | | | the F1 visa in your passport expires. Issuance of visas |
| and for F, M and J category visitors. | | | | will not be guaranteed. So it is advised not make any |
| SEVIS is an Internet-based system that maintains | | | | travel plans until a US student visa has been issued. |
| information about non-immigrant students. It is | | | | When you enter the US on a student visa, you will |
| mandatory that all applicants have a SEVIS generated | | | | normally be admitted for the duration of your student |
| I-20 issued by an educational institution, which they | | | | status. It simply means that you can stay in the US as |
| have to submit while applying for a US student visa. In | | | | long as you are a full time student, even if your F1 visa |
| order to process your application, your I-20 will be | | | | expires while you are in the US. If you are a student |
| verified through the SEVIS system. | | | | who completed the course of studies shown on the |
| The US student visa process consists of an interview | | | | I-20, and any authorized practical training, you are |
| at the embassy consular section. It is required for visa | | | | allowed an additional 60 days, to prepare for departure |
| applicants aged between 14 and 79, with few | | | | from the U.S. or to transfer to another school. |
| exceptions. The waiting time for an interview | | | | Once you find a job and employer who can sponsor a |
| appointment for F1 visa applicants vary, so early visa | | | | H1-B visa, you can convert F1visa to H1 status and you |
| application is always recommended. Normally, at the | | | | can start working based on that H1-B visa for that |
| interview, a digital fingerprint scan will be taken. | | | | employer. In case you are refused a visa, you can |
| As each student's personal and academic situation will | | | | apply again. There is no limit to the number of times |
| differ, students applying for same visa may be asked | | | | you can apply. |
| different questions and be required to submit different | | | | |