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Guidance & Support Services to Students

To get a student visa for the US, you can follow these steps:

  1. Apply to and get accepted to a US school that is approved by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). You should apply six to twelve months before you plan to study in the US.

  2. Receive Form I-20 or DS-2019 from your school.

  3. Pay the I-901 SEVIS fee.

  4. Find your nearest US Embassy or Consulate.

  5. Complete Form DS-160 online.

  6. Schedule your visa interview.

  7. Pay the visa application fee.

  8. Present Form I-20 to the consular officer at your visa interview.

You can apply for your student visa online up to 120 days before the start date of your program. The application fee for the student visa is $185. You might have to pay additional fees based on your country of origin and the US Embassy you are applying from.

There are two main student visas that are available for university study: (F1 and J1) as well as a separate visa (M1) for non-academic or vocational schools.
 

  • F1 Visa - Issued to students who will enroll in academic degree program or an English Language program. These visas are valid for the length of the degree program, (usually two or four years until the completion of your study).

  • J1 Visa - Issued to students who will study for a short term period (one or two semesters) or for practical training that is not available in their home country. This visa is usually issued for one year.

  • M1 Visa - Issued to students who will attend a technical or vocational school which is non-academic, non-degree. This type of visa is not for work (for compensation) in the U.S.

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UNIRCO staff are always available to assist students through the entire application process to secure their visa.

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 Secure a Visa for a US university the basic steps are:
Apply and be accepted to a U.S. university.

  • Provide the university with requested financial documents. This usually include a bank statement, affidavit of support and sometimes a separate university I-20 application. These documents must show students have the financial resources (from themselves, their families or sponsors) needed for their U.S. education.

  • The university will review all financial documents to make sure there are sufficient funds for the students' tuition, housing accommodations, travel, and misc. expenses. If approved, the university will issue the student an I-20 form.

  • Once a student receives an I-20, the next step is to contact the U.S. embassy or consulate in their home country to schedule an interview.

  • During the interview process, a U.S. official will discuss the students' plans to study in the U.S. and review their academic and financial documents.

  • Upon successful completion of the interview, the embassy will issue the appropriate visa.

  • Once a visa is secured, students can finalize their plans to travel to the United States and enroll at their selected university.

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