Student Visa Info

Any global student who wants to enter US student should obtain legal consent from the country, by applying to a nearby US embassy or consulate. There are mainly two types of student visas that exist for studying in the USA. ‘F1 Visa’ is the ‘Student Visa’ meant for students who register in any academic or language program. The students who get this F1 visa are allowed to be there in the country for the entire period of the course and sixty more days. ‘J1 Visa‘ is the second kind of student visa for pursuing studies in the USA, generally called as ‘Exchange Visitor Visa’. This is issued for students needing practical training that is not obtainable in their resident country to complete their academic program.

In the latter case, the training must be directly related to the academic program. The J1 visa obligates international students to return to their inhabitant land for a minimum of two years after the completion of their studies in the US before being eligible to apply for an immigrant or enduring visa. The essential and most important documents generally required for getting the US student visa are a valid passport known by the country you belong, your new passport sized photographs and a non-immigrant visa claim available from the Consular section.

Proof of financial ability to cover the costs of the education and maintenance involved is needed and visa fee is to be paid in the currency form of your native country by a Bank Draft. You will be asked to offer details like income details of your parents, your regular annual living expenses, details of your and your parents’ belongings assets and sources of funding for your education other than from the university or the school. However, the students are advised to search for the help from the respective embassy place of work or consulates for the precise details.

H-1B Visa The H-1B or “Specialty Worker” visa is available for a United States company who wishes to directly employ a foreign article for a temporary period (initially 3 years) in a “specialty occupation.” A specialty occupation is defined as “an occupation, which requires theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge to fully perform the occupation.” The location or the job for which the foreign national would be hired must be one that requires a baccalaureate or a higher degree or the equal, and the degree requirement must be common to the industry or the company must show that it in general requires the degree in such position. The H-1B specialty worker status is limited to an initial three years period, but can be extended upon application for not more than three more years, for a total stay of six years. To obtain an H-1B nonimmigrant visa, a United States company must file a petition at the regional Citizenship and Immigration Service (CIS) service center. When filing the petition the company must post a job-site disclosure, declaring the actual salary paid, and all the locations where the foreign national will be employed. The company must also file a Labor form Application with the U.S. Department of Labor, attesting that it is offering the foreign national not less than the prevailing salary for such a position in the region of employment. The filing process for an H-1B petition is quite complicated and the requirements are quite wide. Therefore, it is recommended that one should seek professional help to prepare it.

B-1 Visa B-1 (Visitor for Business) VisaThe B-1 visa is available for any foreign national who wishes to enter the United States for any business-related function, such as to attend conferences, take orders, to negotiate with accessible businesses or customers, or to execute service agreements. However, the visitor must be conduct temporary business activity for a foreign employer, and the trip must not lead to gainful employment in the United States. B-1 status is approved for the period of time necessary to complete the business activity and usually does not exceed six months. However, should the visitor require more time, s/he may apply for an addition while in the United States at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service. The application for extension must be received by the CIS before the expiry of the B-1 status. To obtain a B-1 visa one must apply directly at the U.S. Consulate. The applicant must prove that s/he has a permanent residence status in another country and has no intention of abandoning this status. However, there are state of certain countries, who do not need a visa beat from a U.S. Consulate to enter the U.S. for a maximum temporary period of 90 days under a Visa Waiver Pilot Program (VWPP). There is no extension of the 90-day period, and those who enter the U.S. under the VWPP may not be able to change to a different nonimmigrant status or to permanent resident status, except for the immediate relative (spouse or children under 21) of a U.S. In order to obtain a different status, the visitor must leave the country and then apply for a new visa.

Immigration and Citizenship To enter the United States you require either a provisional or immigrant visa. You can apply for either one at an American consulate or embassy outside the United States. The temporary visa allows you to visit the United States for a limited period of time, while the immigrant visa allows you to live in the U.S.A. permanently. Holders of temporary visas can apply for an “alteration of status” when in the United States to convert their visas into immigrant visas, but the process is complicated.

There are two types Visas in Us

Temporary visas:

Temporary visas are given for a number of reasons, most commonly for tourists, students, businesspeople or people seeking medical care in the United States. Most visitor visas are valid for six months. There is no limit to the number of temporary visas issued. People applying for temporary visas may often have to prove that they intend to return to their countries (rather than live in the U.S. as undocumented aliens) before the visa will be decided. A person with a temporary visa may also be denied entry into the country at the border if the INS believes the person is politically subversive, a disease carrier, or is likely to attempt to stay in the country permanently.

Immigrant visas: (permanent residence visas)

Immigrant visas are partial to a certain number per year and per country for most preference categories. Refugees and certain relatives of U.S. citizens are not subject to numerical limitation. The emphasis of the system is on keeping families together.

To check the progress on an request, if you have not heard within the current 5-10 working days processing time, please track your application through the VFS website. You will have been given these details and a location number when you submitted your application. If after 10 working days your application is still listed as being at the High Commission then please emails us. We should pressure that candidate should only email after 10 working days have beyond. The only email address What happens next?Once a visa officer has assessed your application, they will choose to:Issue your visa refuse your visa or invite you for an interview. This process is the same whether you are applying for a settlement visa or a non-settlement visa. If an interview is required you will be contact by a member of UK visas staff in Pretoria and you will be given a date and time for your interview.

Where are interviews held?

At the British High Commission in Pretoria

What to take to the interview

Take the interview letter and any original documents (as well as photocopies of these) which you did not send with your application.

After the interview

At the end of the interview, we will tell you whether your visa will be issued, or whether your application has been refused. If we issue the visa You will receive your passport and visa back soon after your interview.

If we refuse the visa

Your passport and other documents will be handed over to you at the British High Commission after the interview or they will be returned to you by VFS with reasons for refusal clearly provided. General informationWe cannot refund visa fees once you have paid them.

Step 1. Decide the kind of UK Visa or Permit, if any, for which you are qualified to apply. This is an important step and you can find information to help you with this question on the British Government’s official visa and work permit information sites. If you do not seem to be qualified for any of the UK Visas, Certificates or Passports listed, or the consulate or embassy tells you that you need to be sponsored by a UK employer - you will likely need a UK Work Permit.

Step 2. Once you know for what you are eligible to apply, you will need to contact your nearest British High Commission, Consulate or Embassy and ask to have the suitable application forms sent to you, or you can often download these forms quickly and easily from their websites.

Step 3. Read through the forms cautiously to make certain you qualify and to see what documents you will need to supply. Fill out the forms completely and return to the British High Commission or Consulate in your country with all of the information and supporting documentation they have requested. If you have questions about filling out the forms, you should contact the British High Commission or Consulate on the number provided on your UK visa application forms.

Step 4. Wait for receipt of written confirmation of your successful UK Visa application from the British High Commission or Consulate to which you applied. If there are any problems they will contact you, usually by phone.

Step 5. If you are preparation to work in the UK and have not already created a UK file online with WORK gateways – you can do so now! Apply for jobs and to agencies to start your UK job search. Be sure to upload your resume and keep your file updated as your travel plans become clear. Have a great time in the UK! If you are just “thinking about going” you can donate to to our e-newsletter.

Timing: When to apply for your visa

With regards the timing of your application, you should check with the individual UK High Commission or Embassy as they all have different processing times. However in general, be careful not to apply too early (a year ahead) for your UK Visa as they often have a ‘use before’ date. However don’t leave it too late either! Most UK Visa applications (Ancestry, Working Holiday, Right to Abode, Spouse etc) will be processed within six weeks in most Commonwealth countries, but that is not a guarantee. If you are applying for the Highly Skilled Migrant Program this may take much longer and you should give yourself several months. It is not in general recommended to purchase your airline tickets until you have received your UK visa if this is something that will effect whether you go to the UK or not.

This information should be used as a principle only. For official information on work visa and permit processing times please contact your nearest British Embassy or Consulate.