Congratulations on getting admission to your dream university. Your next big milestone is to have your visa in your hand. Most of the students who are applying to US universities need to possess an F1 visa in order to legally study across the US. An F1 visa is far from a guarantee as many applications get rejected by visa officers every year despite having admissions offers from US universities. But do not worry:
USA student visa process step-by-step
- Get accepted in one of the US universities: Your selected institution’s international student office will send you an I-20 form. This form needs to be safe as you will need it for your visa interview.
- Register with SEVIS and pay the fee: You need to register for SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System). They need to have your fee before the DS-160 is completed.
- Complete and pay for an online non-immigrant visa application: You will also be required to upload a photo of yourself that meets the requirements of the form and offer you any other requested documents.
- Schedule an appointment for a visa interview: You need to schedule an interview with the US Embassy or Consulate across the country where you can stay. At this interview, you will be questioned on things like previous test scores as well as your finances.
- Get a decision: At the interview, you will get a decision about your application.
What to expect at the F1 visa interview
The F1 visa interview is in English and this happens in front of a visa officer at the US embassy or the consulate. The interview is generally straightforward as well as quick and might last around just five minutes. The F1 VISA interview questions you have asked during the interview vary and often concern your choice of program, academic achievements, finances, post-grad plans, and also different universities. You must highlight you have no plans to remain across the US when the program finishes. It is often required that you have all the required funds so that you can buy a plane ticket home for the end of the program. It is important to prepare for the visa with ease.
What can you expect after the visa interview?
Your visa interview will have one of the three outcomes. Your visa will be “Visa Permitted”, “Visa Rejected”, or “Visa kept on hold under the administrative processing”. Once your visa gets approved, then your passport will be retained by the visa officer. It might take around 7-14 days for the visa to get stamped on the passport and arrive at the doorstep.
If your visa is rejected, then your passport will be returned to you immediately and you might book another appointment. You can interview with a different visa officer who might approve your visa. If your visa is placed under administrative processing, then your passport will be retained and you will be sent to the biometrics center where you need to produce additional documents after which your visa will be stamped and the passport will be returned to you. You need to be good about the interview.
The United States offers three different kinds of student visas: F-1, J-1, and M-1
- F-1 Student visa: This visa is for students who want to study at an accredited US college or the university or at an English language institute. It is one of the most common student visas.
- J-1 Exchange visitor visa: This visa is for students, visiting scholars, or lecturers who want to participate in an exchange program.
- M-1 Vocational/Non-Academic Student visa: This is another kind of visa for students who want to study or train in a vocational or non-academic program like vocational as well as technical school.
Select student housing while awaiting your visa
Selecting the best off-campus student accommodation Ann Arbor is one of the key decisions for any international student in his or her student abroad experience. You can get an all-rounded consultation for the best student accommodation. Be it private student housing Ann Arbor, shared apartments, homestays, or private rentals, each one has an individuality benefiting a particular section of the students based on one’s preference and needs. Check all the different kinds of housing preferences to ensure you have the best option.
How long does it take to get a visa after the interview?
Managing all the complexities of the visa application process can be daunting with different individuals left wondering about the timeframe post-interview. In such cases, how long does it take to get a US visa once the interview is over? Once the visa application is approved during the interview, it generally takes around 5-7 working days for processing. But that is not all. To make sure you get the visa without any problem, it is important to factor in a few more days for delivery.
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