Student Visa Info

Studying abroad echo like a great idea, and now it’s about a month before you’ll be traveling to the U.K. You’ve got all your paperwork sent in to the British High Commission in your home state, and you’re worried about the interview for the student visa. First of all, don’t be anxious too much because you may be granted a visa with no an interview if you have traveled to the UK in the past 10 years, and if you have paid 100% of your tuition and have the receipt to show it. However, if you are called for an interview, here are some of the questions they might ask you to assist you get ready your answers.

(1). Be ready to give details how this course is relevant to your previous studies. Why did you decide this institute in the U.K.? How did you find out about it?

(2). Be prepared to give the location of the university, and give details why you picked this university and not one in your home country.

(3). Be methodically knowledgeable about the course you will be studying: what it is, why you’re studying it, the structure of the course, its contents, the benefit of going to this school and the money (dollar amount) you hope to create after you graduate.

(4). Explain your potential vocation path. They may want to know if you plan to work in the UK after graduating, and if you have researched career prospects in whatever country you’re planning to reside in afterwards.

(5). Come prepared with information about your sponsor. They may ask who is sponsoring you, where you will hang about, proof that your back can support you, the income source of the sponsor, their relation to you, how many other dependents the sponsor has and how many brothers and sisters you have.

(6). Give them and draw round of financial commitment and era of study. They will want to know when the course begins, and the total cost per year.

(7). Have a list of any friends or family you have in the U.K. They may ask about that and where/how you will spend your semester breaks.

A K3 visa is a non-immigrant visa lets a foreign spouse to enter the U.S. and apply for a change of status for permanent residence. Obtaining the K3 visa is a multi-step process including a petition by the U.S. spouse to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), an application by the foreign spouse to their local U.S. consulate to obtain the visa and an interview. If you want to transport your foreign spouse to live in the United States, you’ll want to read the following steps.

(1). The phase in the process is for the U.S. spouse to submit a petition for their foreign spouse to apply for the K3 visa. The U.S. spouse submits an appeal for unfamiliar relative (Form I-130) to the suitable service center. Read the instructions on the form to determine which center services your area.

(2). The U.S. spouse receives notice of receipt from the USCIS then submits a petition for alien fiancé (Form I-129F) to the appropriate service center.

(3). The U.S. spouse receives notice of receipt followed by a second notice, approving the petition.

(4). The service center sends the petition to the National Visa Center and the National Visa Center sends the approved package to the foreign spouse’s local U.S. consulate.

(5). After the petition has been approved, the foreign spouse may apply for the K3 visa. The foreign spouse receives notice from the consulate that the package has been received, and a checklist is provided for additional items that will be required for the K3 visa interview.

(6). The foreign spouse gathers the required documents and sends the completed checklist to the consulate. Once received, the consulate will send a letter to the foreign spouse confirming the date and time of the visa interview.

(7). The foreign spouse attends a medical interview.

(8). The foreign spouse attends the visa interview. The interviewing officer will review all documents, question the foreign spouse and make a decision on the case.

(9). The foreign spouse may now travel to the U.S. At the port of entry, an immigration officer will review the paperwork and finalize the visa, allowing the foreign spouse to officially enter the U.S.

(10). As soon as the foreign spouse is able to, an application should be made for adjustment of status to permanent house. Or, if the alien relative petition is approved (I-130), the spouse may travel back to their country and come back to the U.S. as a permanent resident.

Education loans are given for chase all types of education viz. general, professional, technical and vocational courses. All public sector banks and few private sector banks are providing education loan to meet student’s study fixed cost in India and abroad.

The system enables the students to meet the following costs for studies in India as well as abroad: admission fees, books & stationery, instruments requisite for the course, monthly fees, examination fees, insurance premium for policy on life of the borrowing student, caution deposit/ building fund/ refundable deposit supported by bills/ receipts, expenses like study tours/ project work/ thesis etc. required to total the course, boarding and lodging expenses, and travel expenses/ passage money including air fare for amalgamation the course abroad.

 Eligibility to secure education loan:

(1). should be an Indian National.

(2). Secured admission to Professional / Technical courses through Entrance Test / Selection process.

(3). Secured admission to foreign University / Institutions.

(4). Student should have secured pass marks in the qualifying Examination for admission to Graduation Courses.

Whether you are seeking an F visa or J visa, you face the seemingly arduous task of traveling to a US consulate for a face to face visa interview. Since both visas fall in the “non-immigrant” category, there is a legal assumption that governs its issuance. In effect, you, the applicant, face a legal burden of proof the minute you walk up to that window.

Let us explain. According to US immigration law, every person who enters a US consulate to apply for a non immigration visa is presumed to be an intended immigrant unless that person can show evidence to the contrary. This is serious! It is an assumption under Section 214 B of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( INA).

The government of the United States has instructed every counselor at the window to believe that you might be using the student visa as a pretense for entering the US on a permanent basis. So you will have to show them that such is not the case when you get there. How do you overcome such a burdensome presumption?

The key is proper preparation and understanding what is required. Let’s talk about the documents:

Passport

You will have your passport. Generally, if you have traveled to the USA before and not violated the law or the terms of your visa, you are probably most likely to get the student or exchange visa. If you have traveled extensively in developed countries, that helps.

However, if you have been to Cuba or are from a Middle-Eastern or communist country, you may have to do some explaining. While these factors may not directly impact the decision, they are complications that will make the interview a bit more nerve wrecking.

Forms DS-156 and DS-157

You will fill out a form called the DS-156 (and the DS 157 if you are male). The first is the visa application form; the second is the security form. The form requires two passport photos with clearly indicated dimensions, and a $100 US or local equivalent application fee. The form itself is not complex. But you will need to have your intended address (so get it from the university), and you will need to answer questions about your plans.

One touchy issue on the form is about your previous travels to the USA. Records exist, especially for post 2001 activities, so be honest. Another touchy issue is that of relatives. If you have had a previous immigrant filing or a current immigrant petition, then it is not advisable to seek a student visa. You would not be able to clear the “intended immigrant” hurdle. Previous, but not current filing can be explained but might be a hurdle.

Having relatives in the USA is NOT an asset. Don’t believe for a minute that your uncle in New York or your sister in Los Angeles would work in your favor. On the contrary, it demonstrates ties to the USA and not your home country. If such a condition exists, be prepared to explain why it would not be a factor in your plans to return home after completing your degree.

Fees

Fees can be costly. So a mistake the first time could result in you having to re-apply and pay another $100. But even if you have everything right, prior to going for the interview, you must pay a SEVIS or form I-901 fee, in addition to your visa fee. That is also $100. You must have evidence that you have paid this fee online prior to arriving for your interview.

Making an Appointment

Online is a good way to make a visa appointment (where available), and also to submit your DS-156 and or DS-157. Submitting the forms electronically and arriving at the embassy for your scheduled interview can help to accelerate your case and give you a preferred place in line. You will have a bar-coded printout that you can take with you allowing easy access to your application.

Supplemental Documents

Supplemental documents are serious. In addition to the passport, photos, forms, and documents, always carry your financial information that you submitted to the school. But it is also wise to carry any additional evidence of present or future financial support.

Take all your academic documents and copies of your test scores. Carry any correspondence from your school particularly scholarship offers or housing confirmation. If you have a family business, a house, a significant other, a pending job, or a bond, or evidence of anything that suggests or compels you to return, then these are great things to carry.

Keep in mind, the purpose of the interview is to simply assure the counselor that you intend to go to school in good faith and complete the intended program and then obediently return to your home country. It is also important to convince him or her that you have the language skills, academic ability, and the financial means or support to total this. Given those situation, you should have no problems getting your visa.

An F1 visa is subject to international students who are presence an academic program or English Language Program at a US collge or university. F-1 students must maintain the minimum course load for full-time student status. They can remain in the US up to 60 days beyond the length of time it takes to total their academic program. In addition, an F1 student can stay for 12 months after securing a degree to work under the OPT (Optional Practical Training) program. F1 students are predictable to total their studies by the expiration date on their I-20 form (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status) which is give by the US College or university that the student has been accepted to and will attend.

In sequence to meet the requirements, applicants need to satisfy several strict criteria:

(1). Must have sufficient financial support;

(2). Must have strong ties to home country (e.g. job offer letter upon completion of studies, assets, bank accounts, and family).

(3). It may be possible to convert this visa to a temporary work visa upon completion of applicant’s studies. Spouses and minor children obtain F-2 visa status and are not authorized to work in the U.S.

(4). Must have a foreign residence and must intend to return there upon completion of studies;

(5). Can only study at the academic institution through which the visa was granted;

In our Working in the USA section, we provide detailed guidance on the various employment opportunities for F1 students in the USA. Generally, immigration regulations are very strict with respect to working while carrying a student visa. F-1 status, which is the most common status for full-time international students, allows for part time, on-campus employment (fewer than 20 hours per week.) Jobs available on campus typically do not pay much, certainly not enough to finance a university education. Do not count on this kind of a job for anything more than a supplement to other funds.

An F-1 student is generally entitled up to one year of post-completion practical training. Authorization for this type of practical training may be granted for a maximum of 12 months and only starts once you have graduated or completed your course of study.

Please visit our Working in the USA section for complete information regarding OPT and other permitted employment for F1 students.

Speak to the international students department of your university to get the necessary forms to apply. They will inform you of the different practical training options available to you. Find out about your practical training options when you start to study so you can adequately prepare for the future.

Applying for an F1 Visa

Different universities have different admission policies. Your university will inform you what they need from you in order to determine that you are academically eligible. Amongst other requirements, you will need to show the school that you have enough money to support yourself while studying without having to work and you may have to show health insurance in order to cover any medical expenses should you need any medical assistance. Always protect yourself by keeping a copy of everything that you fill out and send off. Once the university has determined that your application is complete and you are academically eligible, they will issue an I-20 form to enable you to apply for your student visa.

Applicants for student visas should generally apply at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate with jurisdiction over their place of permanent residence. This will normally be your home country, the country in which you live. Although visa applicants may apply at any U.S. consular office abroad, it may be more difficult to qualify for the visa outside the country of permanent residence.

You will need the following when applying at the consulate for your student visa:

(1). A passport valid for travel to the United States and with a validity date at least six months beyond your intended period of stay in the United States. If more than one person is included in the passport, each person desiring a visa must make a use.

(2). One photograph 1 and 1/2 inches square (37×37mm) for each applicant, showing full face, without head covering, against a light background

(3). For the “F” applicant, a Form I-20A-B. For the “M” applicant, a Form I-20M-N. This form shows that you have been admitted into a US college, university or other institution.

(4). You will need to show that you have enough money to support yourself.

(5). You will have to pay a non-refundable application fee. This means that if your visa does not get approved, you will not get your money back.

(6). An application Form DS-156, completed and signed. These forms are free at all U.S. consular offices.

(7). A DS-157 form for all males aged 16-45.