Student Visa for United States Guide

Requirements and Information of Student Visa for United States

Who requires a student visa?

Required by all except the following:

1. citizens of countries under the Visa Waiver Program
2. nationals of Bermuda and Canada, provided holding valid passports;
3. nationals of Mexico, provided holding a valid passport and a US Border Crossing Card.

Note: (a)Landed Immigrants of Canada and British residents of Bermuda who are citizens of, and have valid passports from, Common wealth countries or Ireland are no longer eligible to enter the USA without a visa. (b) The Transit Without Visa (TWOV) and International-to-International (ITI) transit programs have been indefinitely suspended as of 2 August 2003. All passengers using US airports for transit purposes are now required to obtain a transit visa. This does not affect qualified travellers travelling visa-free under the Visa Waiver Program (see below).

Restricted entry
The following are not eligible to receive a USA entry visa:

1. people afflicted with certain serious communicable diseases or disorders deemed threatening to the property, safety or welfare of others;
2. anyone who has been arrested (except for very minor driving offences) or who has a criminal record;
3. narcotics addicts or abusers and drug traffickers;
4. anyone who has been deported from or denied admission to the USA.

Note: Those who are ineligible may be suitable candidates for a waiver of ineligibility.

What documents will be required?

Valid passport required by all. Validity varies - for most countries a passport must be valid for the entire duration of the stay; check with the Embassy (see Contact Addressessection).

1. For nationals included in the Visa Waiver Program, passports must be valid for at least 90 days from date of entry (exceptfor nationals of Andorra, Brunei and San Marino, who must hold passports valid for at least six months beyond the intended date of departure from the USA).
2. Introduced on October 26 2004, all travellers entering the USA under the Visa Waiver Program now require individual machine-readable passports. Children included on a parent's passport also now require their own machine-readable passport. Travellers not in possession of machine-readable passports will require a valid USA entry visa.
3. Passports issued on or after October 26 2005 will need to have a biometric identifier in order for the holder to travel visa-free under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).

2 completed applicationforms
A passport valid for travel to the US, with avalidity date at least six months beyond the applicant's intended period of stay
1 photograph (1in x1.5in)
Evidence of sufficient funds

Postal or drop-box applications:

1. Completed visa application form DS-156.
2. Passport (valid through 6 months after entry).
3. 1 passport-size colour photo (5x5 cm, head size2,5 - 3,5 cm, front view, light background, max. 6 months old).
4. Copy of Embassy's red paying-in slip.
5. Supporting documents: DS-158 ( male between 16 and 45 also need a DS-157 ).
6. Stamped, self-addressed envelope.

Applications through travel agent:
In addition to mentioned above applicants should contact the travel agent for details on paying the visa fee.

Further documentation may be required to substantiate details such as the purpose of visit plus proof of intention to return to country of residence.

Note:

1. For nationals of countries under the Visa Waiver Pilot Program, passports must be valid for at least 90 days from date of entry (except for nationals of Andorra, Brunei, San Marino and Slovenia, who must hold passports valid for 6 months from date of departure).
2. For all othernationals, passports must be valid for 6 months from date of entry.

Interns: When doing an internship in the USA, a J1 visa is required. For the application you need the DS-2016 form (former IAP66). Usually the company or the organization arranges that. Male applicants aged 16-45 need to fill in the DS-157 form additionally. All persons who apply for F, J and M Visa have to fill in DS-158 ( Information on contact persons and the businessbackground ) additional.

Time required to issue visa:

Varies with each embassy; interviewa ppointment waiting time is usually 25 to 30 days (27 days for London Embassy), and visa processing time isusually five to seven working days (three days for London Embassy). Some applications, however, may take upto 60 days. It is important to allow sufficient time for processing the visa, and final travel plans should not be made until a visa has been issued. Applicationslodged during the peak travel season may take longer.

How do I apply?

Contact your nearest US Embassy or consulate.

What is the cost of avisa?

Tourist, Business, Transit and Student.Other types of visa are also available. The visa application fee is $100, regardless of whether the visa is issued or denied and regardless of the duration of the visa or entries required. The Embassy will provide a paying-in slip, which is attached to the application form DS-156.The fee must be paid in cash at a bank prior to submitting a visa application to the US Embassy, and the bank will issue a receipt of payment, which must be attached to the application form. The fee receipt, once paid, is valid for one year. Some nationals may also have to pay a reciprocal visa issuance fee.

How long is the visa validfor?

10 years. Some visas are valid for multiple entries.
The length of stay in the USA is determined by US immigration officials at the time of entry, but is generally 6 months.
For extensions and further information, apply to the US Immigration &Naturalisation Service

When you enter the United States on a student visa, you will usually be admitted for the duration of your student status. That means you may stay as long as you are a full time student, even if the F-1 visa in your passport expires while you are in America. For a student who has completed the course of studies shown on the I-20, and any authorized practical training, the student is allowed the following additional time in the U.S. before departure:

F-1student - An additional 60 days, to prepare for departure from the U.S. or to transfer to another school.

M-1 student - An additional 30 days to depart the U.S. (Fixed time period, in total not to exceed one year). The 30 days to prepare for departure is permitted as long as the student maintained a full course of study and maintained status. An M student may receive extensions up to three years for the total program.

As an example regarding duration of status, if you have a visa that is valid for five years that will expire on January 1, 2001, and you are admitted into the U.S. for the duration of your studies(often abbreviated in your passport or on your I-94 cardas "D/S"), you may stay in the U.S. as long as you are a full time student. Even if January 1, 2001 passes and your visa expires while in America, you will still be inlegal student status. However, if you depart the U.S.with an expired visa, you will need to obtain a new one before being able to return to America and resume your studies. A student visa cannot be renewed or re-issued in the United States; it must be done at an Embassy or Consulate abroad.

Other Information:

Visa Waiver Program

The following nationals, upon presentation of a valid passport, do not require a visa under the Visa Waiver Program: Andorra, Australia, Brunei, EU countries (except nationals of Cyprus, CzechRepublic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland and Slovak Republic, who do require avisa), Iceland, Japan, Liechtenstein, Monaco, NewZealand, Norway, San Marino, Singapore and Switzerland.

To qualify for visa-free travel under the Visa Waiver Program, nationals must travel on a valid passport, for holiday, transit or business purposes only and for a stay not exceeding 90 days.
If entering the USA by air or sea, passengers must hold a return or onward ticket or itinerary (if onward tickets terminatein Bermuda, Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean Islands, travellers must be legal permanent residents of those countries), hold a completed form I-94W and enter aboardan air or sea carrier participating in the Visa Waiver Program (lists of participating air or sea carriers are available from most travel agents or the carriers themselves).

If entering the USA by land from Canadaor Mexico, hold a completed form I-94W* issued by Immigration at the port of entry and a US$6 fee (only payable in US Dollars).

Note:

1. Passengers must have the full address and ZIP code of where they are staying in the USA to be able to fully complete the I-94W form.
2. Members of Visa Waiver Program countries who want to work, study or remain more than 90 days in the USA must apply for a visa before travelling, as should those who have been previously refused a visa,have a criminal record, or are in any way ineligible for an unrestricted visa.
3. Holders of UK passports with the endorsement British Subject, British Dependent Territories Citizen, British Protected Person, British Overseas Citizen or British National (Overseas) Citizen do not qualify for the Visa Waiver Program. Persons unsure about visa requirements (including those defined in Restricted Entry’ above) should contact the US Consulate General or the Visa Department of the US Embassy.

Can I work in USA?

Under an F-1 student visa,work is generally not permitted

Embassy contact information: