U.S.A. F1 Student Visa: Process, Requirements and Rules

The urge to visit the United States of America has been the main desire of endless Indians from time immemorial. A lot of information has not been used by many of them resulting in rejection of visas and in many ill-informed candidates’ loss of huge money to unscrupulous inter mediaries who had tried to play with the emotions of students/professionals/ordinary citizens and cheated them at various levels. Let us learn the basics of issue of visas from the most authoritative body, namely, the U.S. Department of State which deals with the immigration law of U.S.A. Let me introduce you to various aspects of the U S visas. Obviously, the web site of the august body has been used extensively to understand the nuances. With the student visas under deep discussion recently, it is covered in depth at the end/

What is a U.S. visa?

A citizen of a foreign country who seeks to travel to the United States generally must first obtain a U.S. visa. Visas are placed in the traveller’s passport, a travel document issued by the traveller’s country of citizenship.

Certain international travellers may be eligible to travel to the United States without a visa if they meet the requirements for visa-free travel. The visa section of this website contains information on U.S. visas for foreign citizens seeking to travel to the United States.

I want to visit U.S.A., with the visa. Can I get more information?

How Can I Use a Visa to Enter the United States?

Having a U.S. visa allows you to travel to a port of entry, airport or land border crossing, and request permission of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspector to enter the United States.

While having a visa does not guarantee entry to the United States, it does indicate a consular officer at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad has determined you are eligible to seek entry for that specific purpose.

DHS/CBP inspectors, guardians of the nation’s borders, are responsible for admission of travellers to the United States, for a specified status and period of time. DHS also has responsibility for immigration matters while you are present in the United States.

(Recent admission of thousands of immigrants from various countries and the consequent chaos resulted therein can be recollected to understand the issue of visa)

One is naturally inquisitive to know about various types of visas.

Broadly classified as non-immigrant visas and immigrant visas, let us learn more about them.

35 categories of immigrant visas have been mentioned in the said website.

Some of the most popular or well-known visas with the name of the category is as under. (categories wise)

• Category A – Diplomat or foreign government official
• Category B – Domestic employee or nanny – must be accompanying a foreign national employer, B1.

Business visitor – B-1, Athlete, amateur or professional (competing for prize money only) B-1, Medical treatment, visitor for, B-2, Tourism, vacation, pleasure visitor – B-2

• Category C – Transiting the United States
• Category D – Crew member
• Category E – Treaty trader/investor
• Category F, M – Student: academic, vocational
• Category H 1B – Specialty occupations in fields requiring highly specialized knowledge.
• Category H 1B- J – Physician
• Category H 1B 1 – Chile – Free trade agreement professional, Chile
• Category H 1B 1 – Singapore – Free trade agreement professional, Singapore
• Category H – 2 A – Temporary agricultural worker
• Category H – 2 B – Temporary another worker
• Category V – Non- immigrant (V) Visa for Spouse and Children of a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR)
• Renewals in the U.S. – A, G, and NATO Visas
• Certain important approvals by other departments like DOL( Necessity to obtain foreign labor certification from the U.S. Department of labor), USCIS (S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) approval of a petition or application (The required petition or application depends on the visa category you plan to apply for.), SEVIS (program approval entered in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) are also needed before applying for visa at U.S. embassy or consulate.

The chart below contains different purposes for immigrating to the United States, and the related immigrant visa categories for which information is available on this website.

Let us discuss the conditions attached to certain important visas like student visas, which are applicable to 3.50 lacs of Indian students who recently went to U.S.A. for education.

F 1 Student visas

Let us raise questions and answers to understand it better.

To attend any university, high school, private elementary school, seminary, or conservatory a student visa, popularly known as F1 visa is essential.

Study leading to a U.S. conferred degree or certificate is not permitted on a visitor (B) visa, even if it is for a short duration negating obtaining of visitor visas to get education.

Stepwise, let me explain the process of the essentials in getting F 1 Visa.

Quoting from U S state website:

“The first step to studying in the United States is apply to a SEVP-approved school in the United States.  If the SEVP-approved school accepts your enrolment, you will be registered for the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and must pay the SEVIS I-901 fee.  The SEVP-approved school will issue you a Form I-20.  After you receive the Form I-20 and register in SEVIS, you may apply at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate for a student (F ) visa.  The student must present the Form I-20 to the consular officer when you attend your visa interview.”

How to apply for visa?

Online non-immigrant visa application, form DS – 160 has to be applied. A copy of this application may be needed at the time of interview. Required photo as per the prescribed requirements has to be uploaded.

Visa applicant in the ages of 14-79 years must schedule an appointment for visa interview at U S Embassy or Consulate.

Wait times for interview appointments vary by location, season, and visa category, so you should apply for your visa early. The student reviews the interview wait time for the location which may be relevant.

New Students – Student (F) visa for new students can be issued up to 365 days before the start date of a course of study.  However, student will not be allowed to enter the United States on student visa more than 30 days before the start date.

Due fees may be paid called as non-refundable visa application fee and visa issuance fee, if approved.

Documents required for visa interview:

• Passport valid for travel to the United States – The passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the period of stay in the United States. Each individual who needs a visa must submit a separate application, including any family members listed the passport.
• Non-immigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160confirmation page.
• Application fee payment receipt, if visa applicant is required to pay before the interview.
• Photo – You will upload your photo while completing the online Form DS-160.
• Certificate of Eligibility for Non-immigrant (F-1) Student Status-For Academic and Language Students, Form I-20 . The selected school will send a Form I-20 once they have entered the information in the SEVIS database. The student and the school official must sign the Form I-20.  All students must be registered in the Student and Exchange Visitor System (SEVIS).

Presuming a student get student visa “F1”, what are the dos and don’ts in view of the recent events reported in U.S.A.

Do’s

On arrival

To contact designated school official, not later than the program start date listed on  Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Non-immigrant Student Status.” Students to….

• Attend all their classes, and maintain normal academic progress. If school curriculum is too difficult, to speak with the DSO immediately. Historically, the first tern enabled some with the best grades A or A+ while a large number failed to meet the high standards of education in USA. Those who get Grade A or A+ are called scholars and some universities get their names printed in the newspapers and congratulatory letters sent to their parents.
• Maintain a full course of study each term. If one cannot study full time, contact the DSO immediately. One may be eligible for a reduced course loading limited circumstances.
• To speak to DSO before dropping a class.
• To get the guidance of DSO about requesting a possible program extension if the program schedule could not be completed on time, much during the course of study.

Annual vacation may be taken at least after one academic year at an SEVP- certified school. The students to automatically register for classes after the vacation.

Students to strictly follow the requirements of SEVP Policy guidance for adjudicators 1408-01 academic year.

Work and practical vacation for F 1 students

An F1 student may work when authorized within the premises of the college as permitted by DSO or U.S. Citizenship and immigration Services, USCIS.  

The following instructions from the authorized web site of the state government may be highly relevant for F 1 students who go to study in USA for broader vision and updated knowledge.

“F 1 students are eligible for curricular practical training (CPT) at either the undergraduate or the graduate level during the program of study. CPT employment must be an integral part of an established curriculum and the position must directly relate to your major area of study. Your DSO can give you the school’s policy on this option.

F 1 students are also eligible for optional practical training during or following the program of study. OPT is a form of temporary employment that directly relates to your program of study.

For more information about employment and training options available for F-1 students, visit the Working in the United States page and talk with your DSO.”

What is the Don’ts?

Students go to USA at enormous costs to study and hence must resist the urge to express their views on political matters; their social media accounts should virtually should refrain from any interactions  on political/religious matters and completion of courses with great scores will enable them later in life to achieve whatever goals set by them. Some of the greatest political leaders having had their education in USA later went to their countries to transform them as per their vision.

With a large number of illegal immigrants, American universities and their society in general want their students to concentrate on education and change the world at large after their education.

Finally, the students must take action to maintain legal status or depart the United States after completing the program of study.

Conclusion

Urged by the intermittent disruptions in the study of foreign students undergoing the education in U.S.A. I undertook this article to inform the students, the professionals who aspire for higher education or the parents who undertake enormous sacrifices to send their male/female children abroad to get the benefits of some of the best U S educational institutions built over the past one or more centuries. At a middle age, myself got my CPA from USA with huge hard work and learning. My children had the best education from US universities.

Let the American institutions built with the maximum sacrifices of the world at large flourish and remain the bacon of learning and removal of ignorance. The students getting an opportunity are expected to excel in academic/practical learning to empower the world in their later lives.

Reference

• https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/students/maintaining-status
• https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/study/student-visa.html

Caution

With nearly 350000 Indian students in USA, it is not surprising a large number of consultants/financial experts/Indian and foreign advocates illumine those students about the various tests for qualification, bio-data requirements, financial arrangements for huge cost of education and safe return of the children for a brighter future.

My article just explains the bare facts with no guarantee for admission or student living in US universities. All the experts mentioned by me will help the student or his/her parents.