U.S. Student Visas

The U.S. govt. provides three non-immigrant visa categories for persons wishing to study in the United States. Most non-U.S. citizens who study in the United States go on an F-1 student visa, but there are other visa types that are sometimes authorized. Here is a short description of the different visa types that involve study:

• F-1, or Student Visa: This visa is the most common for those who wish to engage in academic studies in the United States. It is for people who want to study at an accredited U.S. college or university or to study English at a university or intensive English language institute.
  
• J-1, or Exchange Visitor: This visa is for people who will be participating in an exchange visitor program in the U.S. The "J" visa is for educational and cultural exchange programs.
  
• M-1, or Student Visa: This visa is for those who will be engaged in non-academic or vocational study or training at an institution in the U.S.
  

Foreign students seeking to study in the U.S. may enter on any of these category provided they meet the following criteria:

• The student must be enrolled in an "academic" educational program, a language-training program, or a vocational program.
  
• The school must be approved by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
  
• The student must be enrolled as a full-time student at the institution.
  
• The student must be proficient in English or be enrolled in courses leading to English proficiency.
  
• The student must have sufficient funds available for self-support during the entire proposed course of study and
  
• The student must maintain a residence abroad which he/she has no intention of giving up.

Basic requirements

To be eligible for a student visa, you must:

• be a bona fide student with serious study intentions. Since you are applying for a student visa, it is expected that your purpose in going to the U.S. is to study. The Consular officer will expect you to be able to answer basic questions such as why you chose your university or what you plan to study, and how are you going to pay for your studies in the U.S.
  
• have sufficient academic qualifications.
  
• have been accepted for a short-term or a degree course (the document required is the SEVIS I-20 form sent by your college/university). 
  
• have sufficient scholastic preparation; useful documents include college transcripts, standardized test scores (GRE, GMAT, SAT, TOEFL, etc.), and any diplomas you may have. 
  
• have academic commitment-provide reasons for choosing to study in America, your particular college or university, major, and your career plans. 
  
• have adequate financial resources. You must demonstrate you can financially afford the first year of school in the U.S.
• have capability to remain in school until graduation.  
  
• show your intent to return to your home country. When you apply for a student visa, it is understood that you are seeking permission to be in the United States only for the period of time required to complete your studies. When you have completed your studies it is expected that you will return to your home country. Evidence can include your and your immediate family’s social and economic situation such as proof of employment, property ownership, and savings show your intent to return to your home country. 

The Application process

In order to apply for a student visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate, you must first have a SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) generated document I-20 or DS-2019 issued by a U.S. college or university or Department of State-designated sponsor organization. The SEVIS administered by the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is an Internet-based system that maintains data on foreign students and exchange visitors before and during their stay in the United States.

You will be required to submit this form when you apply for a visa. The U.S. academic institution or program sponsor will provide you with the appropriate SEVIS-generated form only when you have been academically admitted to the institution or accepted as a participant in an exchange program. The institution or program sponsor will also send you additional information about applying for the appropriate visa, as well as other guidance about beginning your academic program in the United States.

Once you have all the required documentation, you may apply for the visa. It is best to apply early for the visa to make sure that there is sufficient time for visa processing.

Visa Interview Process

a. All applicants should use the electronic visa application form available at U.S. VFS's website https://www.vfs-usa.co.in/Home.aspx.  All applicants for a student visa must complete forms DS-156 and DS-158. Male applicants aged 16-45 must also complete DS-157.
b. Students must pay a US$131 application fee (payable at designated branches of HDFC Bank). First-time applicants must also pay a US$200 SEVIS fee (payable online at http://www.fmjfee.com).
c. After submitting and printing the online forms, students must bring the printed forms, application fee receipts, I-20 form and supporting documents to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate at the time of the interview.
d. All students must be interviewed at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Prior appointments are needed.
f. About 70% of visa applicants are successful in India 
g. After you have secured a visa, your passport will be returned to you by a courier in 2-3 working days.

For more specific student visa application procedures and requirements, check U.S. Embassy's website- http://newdelhi.usembassy.gov/index.html.

Visa Interview questions

Possible questions for F-1 Visa Interview are:

1. Why do you want to study in USA?
2. Why have you chosen this particular university?
3. What is special about this university?
4. What are you going to study in this course?
5. Isn't this course available in your own country? If yes, why do you want to study this course in the U.S.?
6. Who will pay for your living and studies expenses in the U.S.?
7. Do you have enough funds to study in the U.S.?
8. What is your source of income?
9. Is your fund enough for study in the U.S.?
10. What do your parents do?
11. What are your plans after completion of your studies in U.S.? Do you intend to work in the U.S.? 
12. How can you assure me that you'll return back after your studies in the U.S.?
13. What you'll do if you'll fall in love in the U.S.?
14. Who lives with you in your family?
15. Has anybody from your family gone abroad?
16. Why don't you have good marks in your previous studies?
17. Which Universities did you apply to (both admits and rejects)? 
18. Where did you do your 12th grade? (For student intending to study Under Graduate level)
    
19. Where did you do your Undergraduate degree? (For student intending to study Post Graduate level)
    
20. Who is sponsoring/financing your education in the U.S.? 
21. What is your family's annual income? 
22. How many brothers and sisters do you have?
    
23. Do you have any relatives in the U.S.?
    
24. Where is your university located? What is the nearest airport?
    
25. Mention some professor's name. 
26. Where did your brother/parents completed their studies?
    
27. Why are you leaving your current job? (For job holders)
    
28. Have you ever been to the U.S. before?
    
29. What will you do after coming back to India?
    
30. You have other brothers and sisters so your parent''s saving is for all of you. How will they finance you?
    
31. Where do your parents live? 
32. Do you know anyone in the U.S.? In the University you are going to?
    
33. What will you do if your visa is denied?
    
34. Will you come back to India during summers?
    
35. If you scored less marks in past exams, you may be asked for the reason. Why its less?
36. Apart from the U.S. have you applied to universities in any other countries?

These are just the possible questions that you may be asked by a consular officer. Prepare well for these questions but don't expect that you would be asked only these questions. They can ask you anything they wish to know.

Above all, be confident, keep smiling and have a positive attitude!

Factors influencing Visa Interview outcome

Visa issuance is a very objective decision and not a subjective one, as it may appear sometimes. Consular officials have a list of requirements that they look for in a visa application. If the requirements are met, the visa is issued rightaway. If not, it is either withheld pending more information or it is denied. It is how these requirements are met that makes a visa decision seem subjective to the applicants. For instance, take the requirement of showing that you will return to your own country. If you provide unambiguous pragmatic evidence pointing to reasons for return, the official will have no reason not to grant a visa. A U.S. Consulate Officer says "Give a rational, objective reason that even a banker would believe". If, on the other hand, you only play with words and have nothing substantial to show, it looks like a subjective decision, since it is based upon subjective evidence.

Presenting proper documents alone doesn't determine your visa. What you say, how you say, matters a lot. Sometimes it can even make up for inadequate documentation. A U.S. Consulate Officer says "Some people complain that we did not see their documents. Remember, if we go through your documents when you are standing there, then that is a negative sign. It means we don't believe you and are checking the documents for proof or for grounds to reject you. So not seeing your documents in front of you is a good thing for you."

Combining both these substantial points, we strongly believe that proper documentation along with your good presentation skills before the Consular officer on the interview day will determine the outcome of your visa application.

Applying for Student Visa – Key Points to consider 

Most Indian students are able to obtain visas to study in the U.S. without any problems. However, we understand that the process of obtaining a visa can sometimes be the source of frustration and anxiety. The following advice might be useful in overcoming some of that anxiety. Please review this information carefully.

Be concise: Because of the volume of applications received, all consular officers are under considerable time pressure to conduct a quick and efficient interview. Typically, they must make a decision on the impressions formed during the first minute or two of the interview. Consequently, what you say first and the initial impression you create are critical to your success. Keep your answers to the officer’s questions short and to the point.

Be direct: The visa officer needs to know your specific objective for studying in the United States. Be direct and state your education plans briefly and clearly. Visa officers like to hear honest, specific responses to questions. They generally react poorly to applicants who give vague answers, memorize a speech, or make overly solicitous comments about how great and wonderful the United States is.

Be clear in objective: You should have a specific academic or professional objective. Be prepared to explain why it is better to study your specific field in the United States than to study in India. Be ready to say exactly what you will study and for what career your U.S. studies will prepare you

Supplemental documentation: It should be clear at a glance to the consular officer what written documents you are presenting and what they signify. Lengthy written explanations cannot be quickly read or evaluated. Remember that you will only have 2-3 minutes of interview time.

Not all countries are equal: Applicants from countries suffering from economic problems or from countries where many students have remained in the United States as immigrants will have more difficulty getting visas. Statistically, applicants from those countries are more likely to be intending immigrants. They are also more likely to be asked about job opportunities at home after their study in the United States.

Plan Early: One of the most important things you can do to ensure that you will be able to arrive in time for the start of your educational program in the United States is to plan well in advance, not only for the admission to your U.S. program, but also for the visa process. This means you will need to request and receive the appropriate visa-qualifying document (either an I-20 or DS-2019) from the U.S. institution or program sponsor well in advance of your planned departure to the United States.

Documentation: Among the things you’ll need to do is pay the SEVIS fee, pay the visa-processing fee, and make an appointment for the visa interview.  You should also make sure you have all the documentation you will need when you go for the interview, including the visa-qualifying document (I-20 or DS-2019), financial support documents, proof of payment of the SEVIS and visa fees, and completed visa application forms. Ensure that you complete the visa application correctly by following the embassy instructions carefully.

Finance is important: You must have adequate, demonstrable financial support to live and study in the United States. Visa applications are generally stronger if the financial support comes from family, employers, or other institutional sponsors located in the home country. If your parents will pay for your education, be ready to document how your family gets its income. Bring a letter from your parents’ employers stating what they do, how long they have worked at those organizations, and how much they earn. When visa officers see information that is contradictory or does not make sense, they do not grant visas. If your family can only show enough income to support you in the United States, the officer will become suspicious. Large sums of money in bank accounts may not be sufficient proof of financial support. When providing information about your bank accounts, ask someone at your bank for a letter that states how long the account has existed, and what the average balance in the account has been. That should convince the visa officer that you and your family have a long and stable history of business at the bank.

You must come back: Most student and exchange visitor visa applications from India are approved. The most common reason for a student or exchange visitor application to be denied is that the person applying for the visa has not proven to the Visa Officer that they will return to their country when they complete their studies in the U.S.A. This rule is called Section 214.b. To determine your “intent to return” home, the visa officer will ask you a series of questions about your connections to your home country and about your study plans.  You will have to demonstrate to the officer that your family has the ability to pay for the first year of your proposed stay in the United States and that you have realistic plans for a career back home. You should bring any documents that might help demonstrate why you will return to your country.

Employment: Your main purpose of coming to the United States will be to study, not for the chance to work before or after graduation. While many students do work off-campus during their studies, such employment is incidental to their main purpose of completing their U.S. education. You must be able to clearly articulate your plan to return home at the end of your program. If your spouse is also applying for an accompanying F-2 visa, be aware that F-2 dependents cannot, under any circumstances, be employed in the United States. If asked, be prepared to address what your spouse intends to do with his or her time while in the United States. Volunteer work and attending school part-time are permitted activities.

Dependents remaining at home: If your spouse and children are going to stay back in India, be prepared to address how they will support themselves in your absence. This can be an especially tricky area if you are the primary source of income for your family. If the consular officer gains the impression that your family members will need you to remit money from the United Stated in order to support them, your student visa application will almost certainly be denied. If your family does decide to join you at a later time, it is helpful to have them apply at the same post where you applied for your visa.

When to apply: There are two additional bits of information that are useful to know. The first is that the U.S. embassy or consulate cannot issue a visa more than 120 days before the actual start of the program in the United States. However, visa applicants are encouraged to apply for their visa as soon as they are prepared to do so. Thus, if the college or university to which you have been admitted states on the I-20 or DS-2019 that the program will start on September 1, a visa cannot be issued before May 1. Second, even if you have been issued a visa to enter the United States, you will not be allowed to enter the country more than 30 days before the start of your program, if you are an initial entry student. Returning students do not have this requirement. Using the earlier example, if the program of study starts on September 1, you will not be permitted to enter the United States until August 1 or later.

Maintain a positive attitude: Do not engage the consular officer in an argument. If you are denied a student visa, ask the officer for a list of documents he or she would suggest you bring in order to overcome the refusal and try to get the reason why you were denied in writing.

Visa Denial

Student visa and visitor visa are the categories more scrutinized by the visa officers of most countries. Due to thousands of applications from India for U.S. the visa officers may not be able to spend the required time on reviewing each case to make sure whether it is genuine or not. It is your responsibility to present your case for your successful visa issuance.

We provide below some important information to minimize your visa rejection chances. Visa refusal is not solely based on your documents or your academic performance. Showing  good funds and having admission in a top ranking university will also not guarantee your visa. 

The visa officer determines your true objective by asking very few questions or by viewing your documents. Sometimes their judgment could be wrong, in which case, you can go for a second time to present your case again. However unless you have a solid explanation to support your visa application it is highly unlikely to get the visa approval on the second time. It is very important to analyze your previous visa refusal before you apply again.

Reasons for student visa denial
The most common reasons for student visa denial for United States are:

Lack of Academic clarity 

The consular officer expects you to know the program and how it fits in your career plans. If you are not able to articulate the reasons why you will study in a particular program in the United States, you may not succeed in convincing the consular officer that you are indeed planning to study, rather than immigrate. You should also be able to explain how studying in the United States relates to your future professional career when you return home.

Poor Academic Records

If you are applying for student visa and have poor academic records, the universities may accept you because most universities are business motive, but most possibly you'll not be able to obtain student visa. This is because your poor academic record is the proof of your negligence that questions in your intentions on studying.

Impression on the Consular Officer

The impession you make on the consular officer is one of the major reasons for visa denial. To obtain student visa you need to create a good impression on the consular and your words must be impressing and understandable. You need to prove to the officer that you are a genuine student and your reasons for studying abroad makes sense. Sometime the mood of the consular also plays role in the student visa approval.

Insufficient Funds

If you are going to the U.S. without any financial assistance from the university, you need to show the entire amount listed on your I-20 in cash and ready to be transferred to the U.S. If you fail to show sufficient funds, or if the officer gets any doubts about the availability of funds, it is pretty much sure that you will be denied the visa.

Ties to home country

Under U.S. law, all applicants for non-immigrant visas are viewed as intending immigrants until they can convince the consular officer that they are not. You must therefore be able to show that you have reasons for returning to your home country that are stronger than those for remaining in the United States. “Ties” to your home country are the things that bind you to your hometown, homeland, or current place of residence: job, family, financial prospects that you own or will inherit, investments, etc. If you are a prospective undergraduate, the interviewing officer may ask about your specific intentions or promise of future employment, family or other relationships, educational objectives, grades, long-range plans, and career prospects in your home country. Each person's situation is different, of course, and there is no magic explanation or single document, certificate or letter that can guarantee visa issuance. 

Fraudulent Documents

Preparing fake academic or financial documents, is a sure-shot way of closing the doors to the U.S. once and for all. If your bank certificate or statement is fake and the consular officer recognize it, then they will not only deny you a student visa, but they will also blacklist you forever. However, they might not clearly mention to you that they believe the documents are fake, because they don't want to get into the process of proving to you that it is fake. Using fake documents is not a good idea, even if you are not caught. So never even think about it.

These are the few of the common grounds for students visa denial. If you have been denied a student visa for United States, you can apply again. Many students obtain student visa on their second application. But you need work on your weak points and fill any loopholes. A fax or e-mail from your U.S. school to the Embassy or Consulate in your city containing details about your qualifications, and requesting reconsideration, can be helpful in pursuing a successful appeal. Faxes should be addressed to the Chief of Non-immigrant Visas at the Consular post in question.

Some common misconceptions about the Visa Application Process

Qualification for a visa is based on presentation of documents.

This is not true. Qualification for a visa is based mainly on a brief oral visa interview conducted by a consular officer. In the interview the applicant must show their circumstances meet the requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

Documents play only a supporting role in the visa interview and must only be shown when the consular officer asks for them. The only documents that are relevant to a visa application are those that show an applicant's circumstances meet the requirements of the INA. Furthermore, no one document or piece of information can guarantee an applicant will qualify for a visa; this includes letters of recommendation or guarantee.

All the documents listed in our telephone message or in our website are suggestions of what an applicant should bring to their visa interview. If the applicant's versions of those documents fail to show their circumstances meet the requirements of the INA then these documents are irrelevant. Invalid documents are also irrelevant and fraud or misrepresentation can result in permanent ineligibility for a U.S. visa.

A person who does not qualify for a visa under Section 214(b) can qualify for a visa if they bring more documents to another visa interview.

This is not true. Qualification for a visa is based mainly on a brief oral visa interview conducted by a consular officer. In the interview the applicant must show their circumstances meet the requirements of the INA.

Consular officers are available to discuss visa applications after a visa denial.

This is not the case. Due to time and staffing constraints, officers cannot take phone calls or answer emails that relate to visa denials.