A lot of international students apply to and attend US universities. This is unsurprising; American universities are regularly ranked among the best globally, and degrees from them are recognized and prized by companies and organizations around the globe. In addition, there is the cultural appeal of US universities, which exist in their own milieu, often a far cry from how university education occurs elsewhere.
We’ve written before about the challenges international students face, and given guidance on how they can apply to US colleges. In this article, we’re going to look at one key feature of this process: student visas. We’re going to cover what these are, why they matter, and how they impact you.
DISCLAIMER
Before we go further, we want to make clear that we are not lawyers, and this is not legal advice. We are college admissions experts, and are writing this article in an attempt to provide insight into one aspect of the admissions process that many students must deal with. Always speak with an attorney if you have legal questions about your Visa process.
With that sorted, let’s jump right into the matter at hand: your visas.
What Are Student Visas?
A visa, generally speaking, is permission granted by one country to the citizen of another country allowing them to visit. The purpose of this visit can vary, and there are different visa types for different categories of visits, from short term ones for vacations, to longer term ones for people seeking work or students seeking an education.
Each country has their own policies for how these visas work. We will be speaking about the US issuing visas to international students specifically here. These are long term visas, meant to allow students to study at university. There are also research specific student visas, which allow holders to conduct field research in a country, without taking classes at a university.
Thus a student with a regular student visa may enroll in a university and take courses, while one with a research visa may conduct fieldwork in the issuing country, such as observing moose in Alaska or doing a paleontological survey in the badlands. In both cases, these are long term but still temporary situations. Student visas are there so that you can visit, but are not intended to allow you to move to a country on a permanent basis.
Finally, note that there are two categories of visas. F-1 visas are the more common type, and allow you to enter into the US as a full-time student at a terminal degree program; that is a program that lasts a finite amount of time which ends in a degree. This is specific to academic programs. The M-1 visa is instead for students in vocational training programs. We will focus on the F-1 visa for the remainder of this article.
How to Get a Student Visa
The first step in getting a student visa is to get accepted by a school. This is true for both college students, and younger students who are attending a boarding high school for example. This is because one of the main requirements of the F-1 visa is to be a full-time student at an accredited school which has been approved to host international students by the Student and Exchange Visitors Program.
If you want more advice on applying to US colleges as an international student, schedule a free consultation with us today to learn how we can help.
Once you have been accepted by a university, their international students office will guide you through the process of applying for a visa. You can and should ask them for advice during this time; after all, they admitted you, so they definitely want you to be able to show up on campus and take classes. Note that the university is not the final arbiter of what visas are issued however; this is the job of the US government.
Once you have enrolled in your university, that school will enroll you in the Students and Exchange Visitors Information System (SEVIS). You will then have to fill out an F (4 year school or high school) or M (vocational school) visa application.
The college you enroll in will send you an I-20 form; this is required to get your visa. You will also need to pay a SEVIS fee to process your visa application. When applying for an F1 visa, you will need to submit the following items:
- Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application (DS-160) confirmation page.
- Visa application fee payment receipt – check the U.S. embassy or consulate website for specific instructions.
- Form I-20 issued by your university.
- Valid passport – must be valid at least 6 months into the future.
- Financial evidence – proof of sufficient funds for estimated cost of one academic year.
- SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt.
- University admission letter.
- One photograph – see the U.S. Department of State website for photo requirements.
You are required to visit an American embassy or consulate in your own country to fill out these forms, and to complete an interview with an employee there to determine your visa eligibility. This can be a lengthy process due to bureaucratic red-tape. Therefore, you should begin this early, and not wait until the last minute. You are allowed to apply up to 120 days before the start of your term. You may apply for a visa up to twice.
When considering you for a visa, the consulate will consider the following basic requirements:
- If you are going to be enrolled full-time as a student in a school which is approved to host international students
- You must either be proficient in English to start with, or enrolled in English proficiency coursework
- You must have sufficient funds to self-support during your time as a student
- You must maintain a permanent resident abroad during the entire duration of your visa
These are the minimum requirements, and a visa may or may not be granted even if you meet them. In most cases, there is no trouble with student visas. If you do encounter trouble, we advise retaining the services of an immigration attorney, and also asking your university for support.
You will need to maintain full-time student status in order to maintain eligibility for your visa. When your visa is due to expire, you will need to request an extension at least 30 days in advance of the expiration date. You will also need to maintain a valid passport the whole time, with at least 6 months until expiration.
When leaving the US, you will need to get all your documents in order at least 2 weeks in advance. You will need re-entry documents each time you leave the country. Finally, you will need to file a form 1040 NR with the IRS each year, whether or not you have earned income to report.
When travelling to the US, or within the US, while on a student visa, you will need to keep the following paperwork with you, ideally in your carry-on:
- Valid passport with valid F-1 visa sticker
- The original I-20 issued by your school
- I-901 SEVIS fee receipt
- Financial documents
- Admissions letter
Security officials will need to check these documents, and not having them could prevent you from entering the country.
Can You Work on a Student Visa?
You may not work off-campus during your first year on a student visa, but you may find work on-campus. In subsequent years, you may hold certain jobs off-campus. These are generally jobs which are required by your degree-granting institution, and which grant you college credit for completing. For example, if your major requires you to complete an internship as part of your graduation requirements, then that would be permitted.
In all circumstances, you should coordinate with the international students office at your university, to make sure you do not run afoul of any rules unexpectedly. These laws are not designed to trick you, but they are complex and often arcane, and are not the easiest to navigate. The international student offices at universities are well used to these however, and can give you necessary advice to deal with questions as they arise.
Final Thoughts
There are many challenges that come from applying to university, and a number of unique challenges for international students. Visas are just one such thing, but they are a particularly stressful one; they are not a test you can study for, nor an essay you can revise, but instead something cold and bureaucratic, completely out of your hands.
We hope this article has given you insight into how this process works currently, and in so doing take some of the stress away. You should make sure to work closely with whatever university you are admitted to in order to ensure your own process goes smoothly.
We understand that there is some stress currently among international students about how the current administration in the US will impact visa reviews. This is a legitimate concern, but there’s no use in worrying until something happens. If and when it does, we will be sure to write another article, updating you on everything you need to know about how things have changed. Until that time, if you need help with any of the less legalistic aspects of your application, Ivy Scholars is here to help. Schedule a free consultation today to learn how we can help you; we have a long history of helping international students get into great universities in the US and elsewhere, and are always happy to hear from you.
