Visa and Application deadline for study in USA

[Sachin Mishra]

Whenever a student desires to study abroad, there are certain formalities which need to be taken care of. Every country has its legal formalities, which are to be fulfilled by international students. For studying abroad it is necessary to acquire a student visa, as it acts as a legal document which states that the student is eligible to study in foreign country till the completion of the course he is pursuing. I-20 is a document issued by colleges, universities, and vocational schools; it confirms that the application has been accepted by the particular university.

 It assists the student in applying for the student visa. Students attending an accredited U.S. college, university, or English language institute will need an F-1 visa or a J-1 visa. Students those who are government sponsored, on exchange programs for a semester or year, or sponsored by U.S. government require J-1 visa. And those involved in non-academic pursuits at either trade or vocational institutions should apply for M-1 visa. Students are encouraged to apply early for their visa to provide ample time for visa processing. 

The U.S. Department of State requests that students apply for visas prior to 120 days from the beginning of the students’ respective registration dates. If you apply for your visa more than 120 days prior to your start date or registration date as provided on the Form I-20, the Embassy or Consulate will hold your application until it is able to issue the visa. Consular officials will use that extra time for application processing. Students enter the U.S. 30 days or less in advance of the course of study start/report date as shown on the Form I-20.Any student who wants an earlier entry into the U.S. (more than 30 days prior to the course start date), must qualify for, and obtain a visitor visa. 

The student is required to submit the following documents when applying for a student visa: 

1. Transcripts and diplomas from previous institutions attended; 

2. Scores from standardized tests required by the educational institution such as the TOEFL, SAT, GRE, GMAT, etc.; 

3. Financial evidence that shows you or your parents who are sponsoring you has sufficient funds to cover your tuition and living expenses during the period of your intended study.

 4. A passport valid for travel to the United States and with a validity date at least six months beyond the applicant's intended period of stay in the United States. The entire procedure of applying for visa is dependent on the program you are applying for.

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