Get Your F1 Student Visa Easier Than You Imagine

If you have been reading up on studying in the USA, then you will have come across the term F1 visa. For those who wish to learn more about this, an F1 visa is the US’s legal visa/permit that allows any foreign national to pursue higher studies at a recognised US university or college. In fact, the F1 visa is one of the three visas that foreign nationals can apply for if they plan to pursue higher studies in the USA.

For context, the M1 Visa is offered to foreign nationals who wish to pursue a non-academic or vocational programme like culinary arts, flight school, or any trades like electrician, plumber, mechanic, among others. Meanwhile, the J1 visa is offered to students who have enrolled in a government-approved student exchange programme with a US university to teach, study or even receive training. Let us dive deeper into the USA’s most popular US student visa, i.e. the F1 Student visa.

What is the F1 Student Visa?

The F1 visa is the official visa offered by the US government to foreign nationals wishing to enrol in an academic programme at the undergraduate, graduate or doctoral levels in one of the top universities in USA. International students can study in the US at institutions, i.e. universities and colleges, approved by the Student and Exchange Visitor Programme (SEVP) with the F1 Student Visa USA, which is a non-immigrant visa.

Being a non-immigrant visa, those travelling to the US on this visa are expected to return to their home country after the completion of their programme. In other words, regardless of the immigration pathways the US has offered to international students who graduate from a US university, immigration should not be the primary goal of any applicant applying for the visa.

As per regulations, the validity period of an F1 student visa will be determined by the length of the programme you have enrolled in, with an additional 60-day grace period to either apply for an OPT or return to the home country. Moreover, the completion date for the programme you have enrolled in will be specified by the university on the I-20 form that they will provide you for your student visa application.

What are the Benefits of an F1 Visa?

For any student planning to pursue a full-time academic programme at any one of the top colleges or universities in USA are required to apply for the F1 student visa in USA. Let’s check out the benefits of applying for an F1 visa.

• Access to World-Class Education: You will have access to the best universities, faculty, courses and research programmes in the world and at the end of the programme, you will be recognised as a student with a degree from one of the more prestigious educational systems in the world.
• Freedom to Travel:  All international students are permitted to travel, both within and outside the USA, during their studies under their F1 visa (with conditions).
• Bring Your Family: All F1 visa holders are permitted to bring their spouse, family members, dependents and children under the age of 21 to the USA under the F-2 status.

Also Read: The Benefits of Studying in USA

F1 Student Visa Requirements

Before you apply for the F1 visa, it is important to ensure you qualify and have sufficient documents to prove your eligibility to receive the F1 visa for the upcoming academic year. All applicants are required to provide valid and accurate documents to confirm their identity, motivation, liabilities, and ties to their home country to qualify for an F-1 visa in the USA. Here are the F1 student visa requirements that all international students must adhere to:

• Apply to and be accepted into a programme at a US institution that has received SEVP approval.
  • The SEVP-approved educational institutions can include high schools, language programmes, seminaries, private elementary schools, conservatories, and more. They are not limited to universities.
  • You have to be a full-time student at the university.
• Prove your language proficiency by providing valid English language test scores through popular tests like IELTS Academic, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, or any other accepted tests.
• Possess documentation proving they have enough money to support their studies in the US.
• Since the F-1 visa programme is a temporary visa, you must have ties to your home country that demonstrate your intention to return after you have completed your studies in the United States.
• Must be a foreign national at the time of application.

Photograph Requirements

• Passport-size photographs taken in colour, such that the head of the candidate is about 50% to 69% of the photograph’s total height or 22mm to 35mm.
• The photograph must be taken no more than 6 months before the submission of the form.
• Candidates should be standing in front of a plain or off-white background, directly facing the camera, such that their entire face is visible.
• Candidates must pose with a neutral facial expression, with both eyes open and in clothing that candidates normally wear every day.
• Candidates should not wear any uniforms apart from religious clothing that is worn daily.
• Candidates must not wear hats or head coverings that cover their hair or hairline unless those hats/head coverings are worn every day for religious reasons.
• No headphones, hands-free devices or other similar items should be visible in the photo. Hearing devices or other medical aids may be worn in the photograph if they are also worn on a daily basis.
• Eyeglasses are not acceptable articles of clothing except in certain circumstances, such as;
  • Medical circumstances where applicants are medically advised to wear eyeglasses to protect their eyes.
  • In this case, a medical statement signed by a medical professional/health practitioner should be provided.
  • The acceptable eyeglasses should not be placed in such a manner that their frames cover the eyes of the applicant.
  • The photograph must be taken, ensuring that there is no glare on the eyeglasses that obscures the view of the eyes.
  • Similarly, no shadows or refractions from the eyeglasses should obscure the view of the eyes.

Note: To get a better understanding of the type of photo that is acceptable for the visa, you can visit the official website and check out the different examples. Or connect with AECC Counsellors and get expert guidance in applying for the F1 student visa this year.

How to Apply for an F1 Visa?

Once you have ensured you meet the necessary prerequisites to apply for the appropriate visa, you can complete the following steps to apply for the F1 student visa.

• Be Accepted by a US University: Before applying for a visa, be accepted by an institution that has earned SEVP certification.
• Receive the I-20 Form: You will receive your I-20 form after you are accepted/enrolled, which you will need to submit along with the F1 student visa application form.
• Online Visa Application: Complete the online visa application, i.e. DS-160 form and take a printout of the filled-out application to bring to your interview.
• Submit Photographs: You must submit a photograph of yourself as per the instructions provided for the photograph.
• Schedule the Student Visa Interview: Schedule the F1 student visa interview at a date and time appropriate for your convenience at the closest US embassy or consulate. The wait times for the student visa interview can vary depending on the time and location; therefore, schedule the interview as early and quickly as possible.
• Pay Student Visa Fees: Pay the non-refundable F1 student visa fees of US $185 and a SEVIS fee of US $350.
• Compile Documents: Gather the required documents for the student visa. (Check out the list of documents required below.)
• Appear for the Interview: Attend the student visa interview on the scheduled date and time. Your biometrics will be taken on the day of your interview.
• Await Response: It can take up to 2 months in India for the student visa to be processed. You must make arrangements to receive the passport and visa.

Note: New students travelling to the USA on an F and M visa can receive their student visas as early as 365 days before the start of their studies. However, students can only enter the country as early as 30 days before the start of their classes. Additionally, the issuance of the visa only permits foreign nationals to travel to the country. At the port of entry, all foreign nationals will be required to meet with officials from the Department of Homeland Security and the US Customs and Border Protection to receive the final permit to enter the country.

Documents Required for an F1 Student Visa

When applying for the F1 student visa this year, it is important to ensure you have the following list of documents before you submit the application form.

• A passport with a validity period that lasts at least 6 months beyond the required duration of your stay in the country.
• Non-immigrant visa application, i.e. the DS-160 confirmation page.
• Receipt of the application fee payment, if you are required to pay before the interview.
• A photograph, abiding by the specifications mentioned above, if uploading the same photograph failed at the time of completing the online visa application form (DS-160)
• Printed copies of the SEVIS payment confirmations on pages DS-160 and I-901, and the I-20 document.
• Official test results and your school transcripts as required for the university application.
• Diploma, if relevant
• Proof of sufficient funds to cover the costs of studying and living in the USA as an international student.
• A statement outlining your intent to leave the US upon completion of your studies.

What is the Processing Time for an F-1 Student Visa?

The F1 student visa processing time will vary depending on several factors, including the number of applications received, geopolitical reasons and others. As per official sources, it can take up to 2 months for the visa to be processed. Therefore, plan for delays that can last more than 2 months when applying for the student visa.

Tips to Clear F-1 Student Visa Interview

The fate of your student visa acceptance depends on how well you perform during the F1 student visa interview. Here are some tips and tricks to enhance your chances of success during the student visa interview this year.

• Groomed and Well-dressed: Like any formal interview process, it is important to be well-groomed and dressed appropriately. Avoid wearing too much jewellery, strong scents or perfume, keep clothing accessories and articles to a minimum, unless required by your religious beliefs and be well-groomed on the day of the interview.
• Gather and compile all the documents that have been mentioned above, and organise them neatly in a folder in a manner that keeps you prepared for the interview. This will showcase your preparedness and motivation to pursue higher studies with a serious intent.
• Display True Intent: When preparing the Statement of Purpose (SOP) or the application essay, it is important to be truthful about your intent to earn a US degree and how it impacts your career and plans.
• Research about the University: Learn everything you can about the university and the course that you have been enrolled in, as the interviewer may ask you why you chose the specific university and the course during the interview.
• Connect the University to your Career/Academic Goals: Understanding the impact of the university on the education or academic discipline you wish to pursue and the boost in career prospects will help mould the perfect answer.
• Know your Finances: Understand and learn how you would cover all expenses, including university/tuition fees, accommodation costs, and living expenses, as well as other costs.
• Get Professional Help: Connect with AECC counsellors to get expert guidance and visa interview preparation tips and tricks to improve your chances of success.

All foreign nationals planning to pursue higher studies in the USA must ensure they qualify for and obtain an F1 student visa to remain in the country to pursue a US degree. The student visa is designed not only to help students study in USA, but also to take up work, either during their studies or after graduation. Commonly called the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme, eligible international students can find relevant work opportunities to gain valuable work experience that can make them qualified professionals for employers in the USA and the world over.