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Documents Required for US Student Visa
Edited By Piyush Kohli | Updated on Sep 16, 2024 03:24 PM IST
What are the requirements for a student visa in the USA? The documents needed for a US student visa include a valid passport, educational documents, work-related documents, financial documents, etc. International students interested in obtaining an F1 visa in the USA are required to submit a range of documents as part of the US student visa interview process.
This Story also Contains
- Documents Required for US Student Visa
- Documents Required for Student Visa for USA
- US Visa Types
- Documents Required for US F1 Visa
- Documents for M-1 Visa Application
- 5-Year Student Visa USA Requirements
- How to Apply for USA Student Visa?
The checklist for documents required for a US student visa for Indian students is very long, and it takes around three to four months to gather all the necessary documents. Therefore, students are advised to apply early to avoid last-minute rushes and mistakes. This article offers a deep understanding of the documents required for visas for students. Interested students planning to attend top world universities.
Documents Required for US Student Visa
A valid passport | Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160 confirmation page |
SEVIS Fee Receipt | A scanned copy of a photograph not more than six months old |
I-20 Form USA sent by SEVP-approved education provider | Receipt of visa fee payment confirmation |
Original academic transcripts | Certificates of standardised tests like IELTS, TOEFL, GMAT, GRE, SAT, LSAT, MCAT, etc |
Financial support documents |
Documents Required for Student Visa for USA
Mentioned below is a list of documents required for USA student visas that you can refer to.
Passport: This is a crucial student visa USA requirement. In addition to being valid for travel to the United States, the passport must be valid for a minimum of six months beyond your intended duration of stay in the United States, unless you belong to a country that exempts the six-month rule. Students in the exempt category simply need to have a passport valid for their intended period of stay.
Confirmation of Form DS-160: The DS-160 is an online non-immigrant application form for temporary travel to the United States and another integral element in the list of documents required for F-1 visa.
USA Visa Application fee payment receipt: The cost of an F1 visa USA is divided into two categories: the SEVIS charge and the MRV fee. Students have to produce the payment receipt at the time of the interview as part of the list of documents required for visa for students.
Photo: The photograph should fulfill the following requirements
Coloured photo.
Plain white or off-white background.
A neutral facial expression and both eyes open.
No glasses or headsets.
Academic credentials: Submit academic transcripts, and scores of standardised tests like GRE, GMAT, IELTS, TOEFL, etc. to showcase the candidate's academic preparation.
Financial support documents: The following documents serve the purpose.
Bank statements for the last three years.
Original pay/salary slips and letter of employment (if employed).
Tax Returns for the last 3 years (Form 16).
Statement from a certified Chartered Accountant.
Scholarship letter (If a student received it).
Education loan approval letter by the bank or concerned authority.
Related reading:
US Visa Types
The documents required for US student visa will be based on the type of student visa. Full-time academic students in the United States have two types of non-immigrant visas they can opt for:
F-1 visa
M-1 visa
US Student Visa Category for International Students
To enter the United States to attend | US Student Visa Category |
University or college | F |
High School | |
Private elementary school | |
Seminary | |
Conservatory | |
Another academic institution, including a language training program | |
Vocational or other recognized nonacademic institution, other than a language training program | M |
Documents Required for US F1 Visa
Here is the F1 visa documents checklist for students
Valid passport
Receipts of SEVIS and visa fee payment.Form I-20 sent by your college/university.
Confirmation slip after submitting your DS-160.
Appointment letter of visa interview.
Passport-size photos as per specifications.
Originals of your school and college transcripts.
Scorecard of your English language proficiency tests such as IELTS or TOEFL.
Bank statements of three years to prove that you have enough funds to pay tuition fees. and living expenses.
Payslips and letter of employment (if employed).
Tax Returns for the past 3 years (Form 16).
Scholarship letter (If you have one).
Loan approval letter by the bank or concerned authority if you have taken a student loan.
Documents for M-1 Visa Application
Passport valid for at least six months.
DS-160 confirmation page.
Visa appointment letter.
Receipts as proof of having paid the visa and SEVIS fee.
Passport-size photos as per specifications.
Copies of your school and college transcripts.
Scorecard of your English language proficiency tests such as IELTS or TOEFL.
Bank statements of three years prove that you have enough funds to pay tuition fees and living expenses.
Tax Returns for the past 3 years (Form 16).
Scholarship letter (If you have one).
Loan approval letter by the bank or concerned authority if you have taken a student loan.
5-Year Student Visa USA Requirements
International students applying for a 5-year student visa must ensure that their passport is valid for the entire duration of their study and post-study stay in the country. In some instances, students are required to demonstrate their funding assistance for the 5 years of their stay in USA.
Student visa details of other countries
How to Apply for USA Student Visa?
Here is the step-by-step process on how to apply for a USA student visa:
Steps to Apply for USA Student Visa
Step 1: Complete the online visa application and print the application form.
Step 2: Upload your photo while filling out the online Form DS-160.
Step 3: Schedule a Biometric appointment and interview with a consular officer.
Step 4: In-person fingerprinting and photo-taking are required to obtain an American student visa.
Step 5: Pay a USA student visa cost of USD 185.
Step 6: Once the interview answers are convincing, interviewers will keep the passport to issue a visa stamp that will become the USA student visa.
Also Read:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the processing time for the US student visa?
The processing time for your visa can vary from a week to a few months. But in most cases, the student visa is processed within a few days. But to be on the safe side it is always better to make your visa application 120 days before your departure so that you are prepared for any delays.
2. What is the age limit to apply for an F1 visa?
There is no age limit for applying for an F1 visa as part of a student visa for USA. The only requirement is your acceptance letter from one of the schools in the United States.
3. Who can sponsor my F1 student visa?
Your parents and relatives can become your sponsors for your F1 student visa. You can also explore the option of education loans to sponsor your study program. Also, your employers (if applicable) can become your sponsors for your F1 visa.
4. What is b1/b2 visa documents checklist?
The B2 and B2 visas are temporary nonimmigrant visas applied for short travelling to USA for tours and business trips. Generally, the documents required are a passport, proof of funds proof of ties, etc. Students learning short courses which are less than 18 hours a week can apply for this B visa.
5. How many documents are required for a USA student visa?
For a US student visa required documents include a valid passport, DS-160, SEVIS fee receipt, I-20 form, interview appointment letter, photographs, and financial and academic documents.
6. How much bank balance is required for an USA student visa?
The U.S. Embassy doesn’t mention minimum bank balance. A minimum of USD 20,000 to 60,000 is required to manage the living expenses for one year in the United States.
7. What are the new rules for student visas in the USA?
For a new F and M student visa, you are granted up to one year (365 days) before, the start of the course of study. However, applicants are not permitted with their student visa over 30 days before the start date in the USA.
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Hi there
Yes you can try to learn various courses that are for approximately 3 months to 6 months in duration.
Yes you can learn before going to us. Learning skills definitively adds some value to the life of a candidate and also improves in getting good recognition in life..
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Anushri Varshney 12 June,2022
Hello Samarasimha,
YES, you can MS in UA after completing Bsc in Statistics. . All you have to do is score good marks in your PG and prepare for GRE. You should also decide upon the country and the university in which you are going to study.
Furthermore, the requirements to pursue MS in USA are as follows :
- 3 to 4 years bachelors degree in relevant field.
- 3.5 or higher GPA, equivalent to 87% in bachelors.
- GRE score of 330 or above.
- Statement of Purpose.
- Research Internships/ Published Research Papers.
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- 2-3 Letter of Recommendation.
- Social & Leadership Activities.
Further, requirements for Software jobs in USA are as follows :
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I hope that this will help.
Piyush kesarwani 13 May,2022
Dear aspirant hope you are doing well..
To study at foreign universities/abroad in U. S , the admission process will require the candidate to give one language exam and one standardized exam. However, depending on the country, course, college, or university you are applying for you may be exempted from standardized exams. The language test will showcase your English proficiency skills. These exams are required for pursuing almost all courses abroad. Different countries have different language exams such as
- TOEFL exam for getting admission to the universities in the US and Canada. The score of this exam is valid for two years after the declaration of results
- There are plenty of universities abroad where you can apply to do master-level course, MSc in statistics, MSc in Operation Research, and Applied Mathematics, MSc in Mathematical Modeling, etc are some of the Master level Course in Mathematics that are available abroad. Students who have completed their graduation or bachelor's degree in Mathematics can apply for these courses. Foreign universities like Uppsala University, Dublin City University, Oxford Brookes University, University of York, University of Liverpool, etc offer all the above-mentioned courses in mathematics.
Top university of The USA for master degree courses
- John Carroll University
- Missouri University of Science and Technology
- Michigan State University
- West Virginia University
- Rhode Island College
- University of Arkansas
- Vanderbilt University
- DePaul University
- Delaware State University
- Texas A&M University-Commerce
- University of South Florida
- California State University Northridge
You can get the detailed information about the process how to apply for MS in USA. read the given article. Link is given below
https://studyabroad.careers360.com/articles/how-apply-for-ms-in-usa/amp
Hope it's helpful for you..
Thank you
AVINASH KUMAR 23 February,2022
There are many ways to choose your university such as fees, the ranking of the university, which state it is located and scholarships. My suggestion is to choose your research focus and write academic papers. In the US, PhD in Commerce admission into the university depends on what you want to study (your area of research) and your already completed research papers. You can begin your research by searching online for US universities offering PhD in Business Administration. One example is University of California Los Angeles (https://www.anderson.ucla.edu/degrees/phd-program/admissions#app-req) .
Tabitha 08 January,2022
Hello Student
You are aBHM means Bachelor in Hotel Management so after doing BHM,to gain a bright future inthis trade you have to do MSc in Hotel Management,post graduation in Hospitality Management,Master degree in travel and tourism management,or MBA in hotel management,AFter doing post graduation in Hotel management or travel and tourism management will give you the best return in employment opportunity.
Hope this will help.
Sohamsengupta8 13 February,2022
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