How to Apply for a F1 Visa

Any international student wishing to study at an academic institution in the United States must obtain an F1 student visa from their nearest US Embassy. There are a number of steps that must be followed while applying for the F1 student visa and documents must be submitted to the embassy for review before a f1 student visa can be issued. This article lists all the steps that students must take when they are applying for their F1 visa. Consider this a check list that you can refer to while preparing to apply for your F1 visa.

Mandatory Documents

1. Form I-20A-B, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status-For Academic and Language Students: The I-20 form will be provided to you by your educational institution once you have accepted an offer of admission from the institution. The I-20 will contain such information as your name, address, name of college, intended major, cost of attendance, scholarships (if any), etc. Make sure all of this information is correct before you apply for your F1 visa. If any of the information on the I-20 is incorrect, contact the educational institution that provided you the I-20 and ask them to send you a new I-20 with the correct information. The I-20 must be signed by the designated school official and by you.
2. A completed application, Nonimmigrant Visa Applicant,Form DS-156, together with a Form DS-158. These are your F1 visa forms. You can get them online or obtain them from your nearest US Embassy. Both forms must be completed and signed by you.
3. A valid passport: The passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of your intended stay in the US. So if you plan to stay in the US for 4 years, your passport must be valid for at least 4.5 years.
4. One 2*2 photograph.
5. A MRV fee receipt and a SEVIS I-901 fee receipt.

Supporting Documents

1. Result sheets, diplomas, etc. from previous schools attended.
2. Standardized test scores that are required by the institution, eg. TOEFL, SAT, GRE, GMAT
3. Documents that prove the sponsors ability to pay for all tuition and living expenses incurred. This can be in the form of bank statements, pay stubs, income tax documents, business registration, etc.

Even with all documents in perfect order, there is no guarantee that a F1 visa will be issued. Therefore, it is a good idea not to buy non refundable tickets before the F1 visa is issued. Bit hopefully, if everything is in order, you will get your F1 visa to come and study in the United States.

Further reading: 10 Commonly Asked Questions at the F-1 Visa Interview