Many students from different countries want to study in the United States. There is a belief that the US offers them more opportunities. If you’re one such student interested in getting a US visa, you should know how to apply.
Applying for such a document could be a time-consuming process. So you need to start preparing in advance. Applying for a visa usually involves several steps. Part of the preparation involves reading the instructions available online. After that, go through the basic steps for application.
Determine the type of visa to apply for
Aside from a tourist visa to the USA, the most common type of visa is the F-1 visa. This is a requirement for students who want to pursue academic studies in the US. You can only apply for this visa if you plan to study at accredited schools. These include accredited US universities or colleges, private secondary schools, or approved English language programs. The F-1 student visa is also required for a study course of more than 18 hours each week.
For short-term recreational studies, you only need a Visitor B visa. This type of visa allows enrollment in a short recreational course of study. Usually, this isn’t for credit toward an academic certificate or degree.
Receiving a scholarship from the university
One of the best ways for students to get an international scholarship to the US is to apply directly. Learn what you need to do to increase your chances of getting accepted. If you feel too much pressure at school, seek help from a professional essay writer. You can trust the online essay writing service EduBirdie to complete any essay or research paper for you. This service will be of great help so you can achieve your goal of getting a US scholarship.
Prepare all the required paperwork
If you’re worried about how to get a student visa in the US, it’s not that difficult. Just make sure you have all of the visa requirements. The documents are the most important. Allot plenty of time in the completion and submission of paperwork. When applying for an F-1 visa, you should first get accepted into a degree program. This needs to be at an accredited institution of higher education in the US. After fulfilling this requirement, start the application process.
Receive the required documents and pay the fee
After getting accepted to an accredited school in the USA, you will receive a form. As an F-1 or M-1 student, it’s Form I-20. This is the Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status. As a J-1 student, it’s Form DS-2019. This is the Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange (J-1) Status.
The school will send the required form. It should contain certain information. This includes your SEVIS ID, the address of the school, and other significant information about the program. You need this form for the visa interview. It’s also needed when paying fees. After receiving the form, go online to pay the I-901 SEVIS fee. It’s possible to pay with a credit card. That is unless you’re from Gambia, Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria, or Ghana.
Complete the application process
After receiving the SEVIS form and paying the corresponding fee, it’s time to continue the visa application process. Set an interview appointment with the US embassy or consulate in your country for your visa application. It’s recommended to apply as soon as possible, no matter when your program will begin. The reason for this is that visa processing times vary. You could get the visa up to 120 days before entering the US.
Schedule an interview
The final step in obtaining a US student visa is to set an interview appointment. There are two ways to do this. First, apply online. It’s also possible to call the US consulate or embassy closest to you. Either way, it’s essential to first complete the MRV fee payment. You will need the MRV fee number issued for the interview. This step is very important. The visa application process won’t get completed if you don’t appear before a consular officer for an interview.
Conclusion
Although it might take some time, getting a visa to study in the US is relatively easy. Most colleges, schools, and universities in the USA are very accommodating to students from other countries. The application process for students might be a bit confusing at times. But despite the minor inconvenience, hundreds of thousands of students still apply. Now that you know how to apply, it’s time to take action.
Author’s Bio
Mary Spears understands how difficult and overwhelming it is for students to cope with academic pressure, especially writing assignments. This is one of the key reasons she decided to enter the field of writing and become a professional writer. She’s a go-to writer for many students whenever they need an essay or a thesis done that has superior quality.