Most Frequently Asked Questions About Visas

1) What must I do to get an American student visa?

Step 1: Get the 1-20 or IAP-66 Form (which should be sent to you by your institution or placement organization)

Step 2 : Fill out an application for visa

Step 3 : Go to the embassy and hand in the application and pay application fee if necessary

Step 4 : Go to an interview with a Consular official

Step 5 : If necessary (depends on country) pay for your visa

2) How much does a visa cost and how long does it take to get it?

Depends on country: costs are reciprocal, application fee always $45

In Bangladesh, 1-year visa costs $195 ($45 application fee + $150 visa fee)

In Bangladesh, 3-year visa costs $495 ($45 application fee + $450 visa fee)

Usually it takes you one day to get a student visa.

3) Where can I get more information?

Need Info

4) What kind of documents do I need to provide to get a visa?

You should take the following documents to the embassy:

Passport valid at least 6 months after the proposed date of entry, longer if possible

Completed visa application

2 photos 3x4 cm

I-20 or IAP-66 Form

Supporting financial documents (see question 7)

5) Does an I-20 guarantee that I' ll. receive a visa?

An I-20 alone is not considered sufficient financial documentation and does not guarantee that you' ll be granted a visa. You MUST bring appropriate supporting financial documents to the embassy and you MUST prove to the interviewing officer that you are a serious, qualified student.

In general, applicants for F-1 visas are screened more closely than applicants for J-1 visas because there is an assumption that J-1 applicants have already been through an initial screening process by a US government agency.

6) How can I prove I have funds to cover educational expenses? Can I bring my money to the embassy and show it to a Consular Officer?

It�s a BAD idea to bring the cash to the embassy. This looks very suspicious and can give the impression that you are trying to bribe the Consular Officer. DO NOT bring a lot of cash to the embassy.

There are 2 kinds of financial certification documents for those students who are paying by themselves:

employer's statement (a statement from your or your parents' employer showing last year's total income)

bank statement (if you or your parents have a bank account). Russian banks seldom agree to complete any of the forms you give them, instead they prefer to give you a statement that shows the current amount of money on your account. The statement should carry the bank seal and be signed by a bank official. A bank statement is the most "respectable" financial certification. PLEASE NOTE: You need to show availability of funds OVER TIME. Showing that there is a large sum of money in your account on one day of the year does not prove that the funds are maintained for a long period of time. This is important in establishing financial support in the future.

7) Do I need to bring financial support documents or any medical forms?

You are not required to show a proof of medical insurance if you're applying for F-1. Students applying for a J-1 visa can be asked about medical insurance because US law requires all J-1 visa holders to obtain medical insurance before they enter the US but this is usually handled through the placement organization giving the grant.

Certification of financial support from a source in the United States is only essential for immigration visas. However, it can be helpful to have the following with you:

scholarship letter (if applicable)
sponsorship letter (if you are supported by a sponsor in the US)

Certification of financial support from a source in your home country is essential and is covered in Question 5 above.

Basically, you will need the same financial documents you've submitted to your institution during the application process.

8) How many days ahead of my school start date (as listed on the I-20) does a visa normally allow you to enter the USA?

An F-1 visa may be issued no earlier than 90 days before the reporting date on I-20. You can enter the US on any day between the date of visa issuance and the reporting date.

9) Where can I get an I-94 Form (Arrival/Departure record)? To whom should I give this form?

An I-94 is issued when you enter the US. This form indicates the date and location of the person�s entry, the visa classification and length of stay. For most students there will not be a specific date but the letters "D/S", meaning duration of status.

An I-94 is a very important document and you should always keep it together with your passport and your I-20.

10) What does "duration of status" mean?

One�s "duration of status" is the time in which the person maintains the legitimate status of "student." This includes the study period, a practical training period (if approved by the INS) of up to one year for F-1 visa holders or 18 months for J-1 visa holders, plus 30 days grace period to pack up and leave.