Written by Eric Chambers from our Las Vegas, NV location. Call us today if you need any guidance with this process.

702-586-3131
Fax: 702-586-3232
2785 E. Desert Inn Rd. Suite #100
Las Vegas, NV 89121

Are You Familiar With All Of The Student Visa Requirements?

Getting a student visa or an F1 visa is so much fun because you get to travel abroad and see the world while studying. Many students travel to the US from other countries to experience life here. I live in a city where many students choose to stay. Many of them pick a different location each time and travel on a student visa every year. If you want to join that group and qualify for a student visa, you need to know what makes you eligible.

There are definitely certain steps you have to take. First, you have to be accepted into a school. If you are in school, then you can skip that step and move on to the next step. The next step is to pay what’s called the SEVIS fee, and then you are going to receive your I-20. After that, it’s time to get introduced to the F1 visa application form.

Once you have filled out the F1 visa application form, you’re going to schedule your interview. It’s important to prepare for the F1 visa interview so that you are comfortable and know some of the questions you might be asked. Then comes the F1 visa approval.

It’s easier to get approved for an F1 visa than a regular visa. That’s not saying that a regular visa is difficult. It’s just that as a student, your intention is to stay for a time in this country and then return to your home country and your school to finish up. You might even come back next year while traveling.

The authorities handle regular visa applications with a little more scrutiny. They want to make sure that people traveling here are indeed traveling on a visa and not intending to stay here. Let’s not get into the politics of the situation because it makes me uneasy writing that. The fact of the matter is it should be rather easy for you to get an F1 student visa for the most part.

The SEVP has to approve that school you attend, so keep that in mind. The fee you pay to complete the F1 visa application is non-refundable, so keep that in mind as you get ready to apply. That means you need to be organized and have all of your ducks in a row. Your next step as mentioned is to schedule that visa interview. Then you can start making your preparations.

Once you get approved for the visa, you can also start making your travel plans. But first, you’re going to have to make that interview. Not only do you need to think about some of the questions you will be asked, but you need to have all of your documentation ready. You need your passport, and you need to have your form DS-160.

You are also going to need to show the receipt for your payment to fill out the visa form or application. Then you also need to make sure you have a passport photo, and your certificate of eligibility. There are certain types of circumstances that can vary based on your individual situation. For example, there can be a visa issuance fee required.

If for some reason you don’t get approved for your student visa, you are going to be told why. You will know which one of the student visa requirements that you didn’t meet. Hopefully you don’t have to worry about that, and you’re able to do just get approved. It still requires a process, but you will be traveling to the US in no time. Where would you like to go?

I mentioned that many people like to visit the city where I live. Then they often pick a different city each time, from all over the US. Each person has different tastes. Where would you like to go? What are you going to study. Think of the endless possibilities, and get excited. Just make sure you take care of all of the necessary legwork to get you to traveling on a student visa. That F1 visa may seem hard to get, but it’s really just a meticulous process. Sooner than later, you will have met all fo the requirements, and you will be on your way.