The Complete Guide to USA Student Visa Process

Jessica RajputApril 7, 2022

If you are looking to go and study in the US, there are a few things that you will need to know about applying for a visa. Since this can be a long process, it’s not something that should be undertaken without necessary preparations and details worked out at least a couple of months down the road before your preferred course starts. So, we recommend that you take the time to consult with our recommended site so as not to get any unnecessary surprises along the way during your application process. There is often more than one part when it comes down to obtaining an appropriate American student visa; because there are lots involved with each embassy or consulate.

Here are all the steps you will need to go through for getting your USA student visa according to GoTo University, the best USA student visa consultant in UAE:

1. Applying to SEVP accredited institution:

   The first step in getting a visa to study in USA is applying to SEVP accredited institution. As an international student, you need to research all options when it comes time to choose an institution and program. Accreditation is a great way for you to see which institutions are recognized by the government’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program. Your accredited school should have a web page explaining everything from its diploma programs to tuition costs, but if you’re still confused or don’t know where to begin, look into government websites such as Study in the States or International Education sites as well.

You’ll want to streamline this information so that if you speak with someone who needs more than just a list of top universities then they can easily compare different programs based on high-level details such as location, degrees offered and type of accreditation that is needed. Once you apply to retain your student visa, the institution will enrol you into the SEVIS system and you will be sent a form pertaining to your specific category. The SEVP manages international students in the F and M visa classifications, while the Department of State (DoS) manages Exchange Visitor Programs (EVP) and international graduates on J Visa classifications (available for specific universities). Both SEVP and DoS manage students using SEVIS to track students across their educational journeys.

1. Paying the fees: Next step to fulfilling your dream to study in USA is paying the fees. You are required to pay a deposit of US$200 for an F/M visa or $180 for a J visa for the SEVIS program any time at least 3 days before you file your application for a US visa. You can find more information about this at https://www.ice.gov/sevis/. In order to make the payment, you must either fill out a paper form or an online form (see link above). Make sure that you enter the details correctly because in case there are any mistakes it will automatically reject your payment and you would have to start over again. The cost of the I-901 fee is currently $200 if you’re holding an F/M J visa and $180 if you’re holding a J student visa. If you happen to be visiting as camp counsellors, au pairs or doing summer work or travel (J-1 only), then $35 should be paid instead.

While you may complete and pay for your visa application without an account, to actually obtain it once you’ve paid, we need a copy of your payment confirmation, which can be found both in the receipt as well as on ICE’s website. It’s essential to have this printed somewhere on hand when you go down to the US embassy/consulate so that they have something physical that states that you’ve already paid. If ever you go back home or change your status while on vacation, you will also need this same piece of paper with its receipts nicely stapled together to show customs at your chosen US Port-of-Entry.

1. Complete US student visa application: Once you’ve gotten hold of your student visa application forms and paid your student visa application fees, you can book an appointment with a US consulate or embassy in your country. Depending on when your training course is due to start, this needs to be booked well in advance as visa processing durations are highly variable. It might take up to 120 days for your visa to be issued before you enter the country to study in USA. It’s best to check this with the US Department of State’s dedicated website before beginning the process. The website address will depend on which country is yours and can be accessed from this main page that outlines every country’s process and requirements.
2. Paying the VISA fees: The visa application fee is also called the Machine Readable Visa Fee, or ‘MRV fee. Be sure to double-check the fee payment guide on methods
3.      as they may vary. Many US Embassies require that you provide the receipt from this funding source when applying for your visa in order to prove your qualifications. Remember not to be confused by fees that are not related directly to buying a visa or obtaining a visa – some visas have no cost associated with them! Programs involving direct financial aid, similar work and study exchange programs, and those that meet other program guidelines qualify participants without MRV fees being assessed at all.
4. Attending the interview: The final step in the process to study in USA is attending the interview. A US student visa interview can be arranged either over the phone or through the embassy or consulate. There is an option to apply for a student visa without an interview but it will come with restrictions. Once you decide on your reservation date and time your consular contact will send you a list of things that you will need to bring with you to your visa interview. These things may include: certified documents of enrolment/admission, proof of financial support, documentation showing ties to family in the home country (e.g., marriage certificate), health records, school transcripts, vaccination records, etc.

We hope you enjoyed our article on the USA Student Visa Process. There are many steps to be taken before you study in USA. We wanted to create a complete resource on the entire process of getting a student visa in the USA. If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact GoTo University, the best USA student visa consultant in UAE.