Prepare Your F1 Visa Application Before the Interview
Preparing documents for an F1 visa application to study in the US can be a complicated process. This easy-to-follow guide outlines what you need to do in order to legally study in America.
Steps
- Fill out the online visa application form (DS-160).
- Put "Does Not Apply" for any information pertaining to American residents and citizens, such as Social Security Number and Taxpayer Identification Number.
- Pay your SEVIS fee (US $200) online through the Form I-901 application. Here you need to fill out the I-901 form (important information includes the school code, your SEVIS number both printed on the I-20 form) and pay the fee using a credit card. Print the receipt for your records. You may also pay this fee such by mailing a money order to the Department of Homeland Security or using Western Union's Quick Pay Service.
- Arrange an interview appointment and pay US $160 visa application fee.
- Bring the following documents to the interview:
- Your valid passport (valid for at least 6 months from the date of interview)
- Form I-20
- SEVIS fee paid receipt
- Visa application fee receipt
- Interview appointment letter
- Application confirmation page (with bar code)
- Financial supporting documents
- Qualifications - Degree/Diploma certificates
- Transcripts
- Proof of English proficiency if applicable(TOEFL)
- Standardized test scores if applicable (SAT, ATC, GRE, GMAT).
- A standard passport photograph
Tips
- Consider having a cover page listing the documents you have or organising them in separate files.
- Make sure your documents are complete and gathered together in a folder. Being organized makes things easier for the consular officer.
Warnings
- This is only a rough guide. Each individual country might have extra requirements as to what documents to bring. Contact the US embassy or consulate in your country to request a checklist.
Things You'll Need
- A Passport
- A Passport Photo
- A completed DS-160 form (online)
- An address for where you will stay in America
- Application fees
- An appointment to interview for your F1 Visa
- Test Scores
- Admittance into an American college or university
