College / School Admission and Student Visa

Obtaining your U.S. student visa doesn’t have to be a complicated process! If you start early, do your research, and work together with your new school and your country’s U.S. Consulate, then you’ll be well prepared to handle the U.S. student visa application process.

You’re probably wondering, “What do I do first to get a student visa in the USA?” Below we’ve outlined for you basic steps to obtain a U.S. immigration student visa:

Apply to U.S. Schools:

To get a student visa in the USA, you first must get accepted into a local college or university.

Obtain SEVIS Forms from your U.S. School:

Once you have been accepted, then your school will send you a send you a SEVIS I-20 or SEVIS DS-2019 U.S. immigration student visa form.

Contact your Local U.S. Consulate:

To apply for a student visa in the USA, you will also need to contact your local U.S. consulate to make an interview appointment. To locate your consulate’s address and contact information, please visit your consulate’s Web site.

Assemble Required Documents:

Before you go to your consulate appointment, be sure that you have gathered all of the required documents for your U.S. student visa. Be sure to obtain and complete all of these documents ahead of time!

Pay U.S. Student Visa Fees:

Before you arrive at your appointment, you’ll also want to make sure that you have paid all of your U.S. student visa fees. These include the actual U.S. immigration student visa application fees as well as the SEVIS fee. Go to a local bank to pay the U.S. student visa application fee—be sure to get a receipt as well, since you must present this as proof of payment when you apply for your U.S. student visa.

What Documents Do I Need to Apply for My U.S. Student Visa?

Immigrant Visas:

Foreign nationals who wish to live and work permanently in the United States are classified as immigrants. They must obtain an immigrant visa (“green card”) allowing them to stay indefinitely. Certain individuals may apply on their own behalf. All other persons are required to have a potential employer or relative apply for them.

Family Based Green Card and Employment Based Green Card are two major ways to get the US green card. Other ways include political asylum, refugee, and diversity lottery.

Family-based petition categories include: * The US Citizen filing for the foreign relative or fiancé; and
* The Permanent Resident (green card holder) filing for the foreign relative

The U.S. Citizen can file for their fiancé, spouse, parent, children, brother or sister. The green card holder can file for their spouse or children.

The length of the wait for an immigrant visa varies according to the country of nationality and the type of family relationship or work visa.

Once a visa becomes available, the applicants must show that they are admissible to the United States by:

* Obtaining someone willing to sponsor them so that the sponsored person does not become a public charge.

* Proving that they have passed a medical exam and have required vaccinations.

* Demonstrating that they cannot pose a security risk.

* Proving that they cannot have committed crimes or engaged in immoral behavior.
* Pursuant to the new immigration law.

* A person who leaves the US after being here unlawfully for over 180 days is barred from re-entering for 3 years.

* A person who leaves the United States after being here unlawfully for over one year is barred from re-entering for 10 years. (There are discretionary waivers in limited circumstances)

Employment-Based Immigrant Visas:

Employment-based immigrants will require a US company to sponsor them in order to obtain a green card.

Each year, nearly 140,000 applicants are awarded green cards under this category. Employment based visas are divided into five preference categories.

Some categories necessitate Labor Certification from the USDOL. (See PERM-Labor Certification) This category does not include:

* Immigrants with extraordinary abilities.
For example, athletes, musicians, artists, scientists, etc.

* Certain investors.

* Special immigrants.

For instance, religious workers and juvenile wards of the court.

Before a U.S. employer can sponsor a foreign employee, the employer must persuade the Department of Labor via Labor Certification, to certify that there are no American workers available for the position being taken by a foreign employee. Visas are sooner available for positions requiring at least two years of experience, than for positions requiring less experience.

How Visa helps to your family to visit in USA

US H1-B Visas:

spouse immigration and dependent immigration are permissible under this route and the spouse, partner or dependent children of an applicant may join them in the United States. Dependents immigrating to America will be granted a USA H-4 visa in order to join their H 1B partner in the country. H-4 America visas do not allow their holders to work in America, and as a result, a spouse or dependent will not be permitted to seek or undertake employment without applying in their own capacity for a USA work visa. USA H4 visas do however permit holders to study in the USA.

US H2-A and H-2B Visas:

Dependents Spouses and children under 21 years old are permitted to join the visa applicant in the United States by being granted an H-4 visa. H-4 America visas do not allow their holders to work in America, and as a result, a spouse or dependent will not be permitted to seek or undertake employment without applying in their own capacity for a USA work visa. USA H4 visas do however permit holders to study in the USA.

US H2-A and H-2B Visas:

Dependents Spouses and children under 21 years old are permitted to join the visa applicant in the United States by being granted an H-4 visa. H-4 America visas do not allow their holders to work in America, and as a result, a spouse or dependent will not be permitted to seek or undertake employment without applying in their own capacity for a USA work visa. USA H4 visas do however permit holders to study in the USA.

US F-1 Academic Student Visa:

Spouse Immigration and Dependent Immigration Whilst student visas for the USA are not intended as routes to permanent settlement, in most cases they will result in the applicant being in the country for a lengthy period. As a result, applicants immigrating to America through all classes of student permit may bring their spouse and/or dependents with them.

F visa:

In the case of holders, dependents are granted a US F-2 visa, allowing them to remain in the country for the same duration as the principal applicant and to study if they wish, although employment is not permitted.

US M1 Vocational Student Visa:

Spouse Immigration and Dependent Immigration Whilst student visas for the USA are not intended as routes to permanent settlement, in most cases they will result in the applicant being in the country for a lengthy period. As a result, applicants immigrating to America through all classes of student permit may bring their spouse and/or dependents with them. In the case of M visa holders, dependents are granted a US M-2 visa, allowing them to remain in the country for the same duration as the principal applicant and to study if they wish, although employment is not permitted.

US Business Visitors (B1):

Spouse immigration and Dependent Immigration In America, B1 visas are not regarded as potential routes to permanent residency or US citizenship;

They are specifically designed for temporary visits to fulfil a pre-determined purpose. Spouses and dependents cannot obtain a "Dependant Visa" to accompany the principle holder, but they may be able to secure a B2 in order to do so.

In cases where a B2 holder's dependents are applying to join the principle, they must qualify for and obtain their own grant.

Cost of Living in USA for student

US Universities fall under two major categories: public (state supported),
private (independent) institutions.

International students’ tuition expenses at state schools are based on nonresident costs, which are still usually less expensive than those of private universities.

It’s important to note that the cost of a program in a US school does not necessarily affect its quality.

A brief idea can be got from the following table:

University Type Average Tuition Fees :
(annual in U.S. Dollars)

Private Institutions: (High Cost) $ 25,000

Private Institutions: (Low Cost) $ 15,000

State Institutions: (High Cost) $ 20,000

State Institutions: (Low Cost) $ 10,000

The tuition fee is different for different universities and varies widely with courses. It can vary from as low as $ 5000 a year for state universities to as much as $ 30000 per annum for some private universities.

For more specific details, please contact the universities.

Living Expenses:

The approximate annual living expenses are about $10,000, which includes accommodation as well as other daily expenses.

However, the expenses are different for different people depending on the lifestyles and this is just a rough idea.

The main expenses can be split up as:
Rent $ 400 per month
(you can live alone with that amount in a place like Auburn or share an apartment with 6 people in NY)
Groceries $ 100 per month
Utilities $ 100 per month
Phone $ 100 per month
Sundry $ 200 per month
So, about $1000 per month is a good estimation.

Most people can survive with $700-$1000 a month.

The key here is to share apartments/houses so that you save on the utilities, fixed charge portion of phone and to some extent on groceries.

Top Ten Rules for Selecting a College or University:

If you have followed these rules there is an excellent chance your final college choice will be a good one.

Courses Handeled By U.S.A Colleges :

Associate certificate:

Graduate Degree :

Master Degrees:

Phd Degrees: