F1 Visa Requirements _ A student visa is a basic requirement for every candidate who wishes to study in the United States. In the United States, F visas are a type of non-immigrant student visa that allows foreigners to pursue education in the United States.
However, if you enter the USA through this visa, you are required to complete the whole duration of the course. Only the US Embassies and USA consulates outside the US have the authority to issue F-1 Visas.
No other governing body or agency can issue F-1 visas. However, extensions in stay or changes in the status of the applicant can be done within the US through legitimate agencies.
Further, the spouse and/or children of the F-1 Visa candidates need to get the dependent’s F-2 Visa. The F-2 Visa holders are not permitted to join any form of employment although the children are allowed to attend public schools.
Since the visa procedure is a strenuous process, you should start applying beforehand. As soon as you receive your admission or acceptance letter from the university and the I-20 form, you should apply for F-1 Visa.
Once you receive the acceptance letter from your preferred US University, you will be registered with the SEVP (Student and Exchange Visitor Program) and have to pay the one-time application fee (SEVIS). Students need to show the funds and pay the deposit if required by the university to get the i20. Once you receive the i20 then you need to pay the SEVIS fee.
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The I-20 form will act as a supporting document to prove that you have enough funds for your entire stay duration, as there is a limited number of legal employment opportunities.
This form will also serve as the medium to schedule an appointment for your interview with the local US Embassy or Consulate.
F1 Visa Requirements | F-1 Visa Documents Required for F-1 Interview
Before we share the list of documents required for the F-1 Visa interview, we would like to reiterate that you would not be asked for any documents other than your application/ appointment letter.
However, being prepared is always advisable and you should keep these documents handy for that one in a million chance of the interviewer asking to see any document.
Also, file them neatly so that they are easily accessible. In addition, your original passport should be readily available, as you would be requested to submit the same.
Set 1: Personal Information
- Passport (current and all the previous ones)
- MRV Fee Receipt
- Visa Interview Appointment Letter
- DS 160 Confirmation Slip (with the bar code clearly visible)
- SEVIS Fee Receipt
- Passport Size Photograph (as per regulations mentioned)
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Set 2: Educational Documents
- Academic Transcripts like Class 10th and 12th Certificates and mark-sheets
- GRE/GMAT/SAT scorecard
- IELTS/TOEFL/PTE scorecard
- Bachelor’s Degree/ Provisional Degree Certificate or course completion certificate or mark-sheet for all the years as well as the consolidated mark sheet (if applicable)
Set 3: Work-related Documents (if applicable)
- Joining Letter
- Salary Slips (last six months)
- Relieving Letter
- Set 4: Financial Documents
- Loan Approval Letter (if applicable)
- Saving Bank Account Statement (recommended: last three years)
- Fixed Deposit Certificates (recommended: last three years)
- Tax Returns for the past three years Property
- Documents (residential, commercial, ancestral and/or farmland)
Set 4: Financial Documents
- Loan Approval Letter (if applicable)
- Saving Bank Account Statement (recommended: last three years)
- Fixed Deposit Certificates (recommended: last three years)
- Tax Returns for the past three years
- Property Documents (residential, commercial, ancestral and/or farmland)
Once you have all the documents ready, you need to start preparing for the visa interview. Remember to arrive a few minutes ahead of your scheduled time with all the documents and receipts.
