USA Student Visa Requirements – A complete guide for students

Categories: Blog, Study Visa
USA Student Visa Requirements - A complete guide for students

Introduction

The education system in the United States is widely regarded as superior on a global scale. The availability of a diverse range of study programs attracts students from all over the world to apply.

Furthermore, educational institutions offer funding options to international students, which encourages them to pursue their studies in the US. This has resulted in both international and domestic recognition for these students. If you are planning to embark international educational experience, it is crucial to understand USA student visa requirements mentioned in this blog post to start your journey to get a US student visa.

List of top Universities in USA

If you are looking for the best study options in the US, here are some recommendations to consider:

  • University of California, Berkley Extension, California

  • University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin (Pre-College)

  • University of California, Irvine, California; Division of Continuing Education)

  • University Of South Florida, Tampa, Florida (Only UG)

  • Yeshiva University, New York City

  • Bryant University, Smithfield, Rhode Island(Only PG)

  • University of California, Riverside, California (Graduate Business Programs & College of Engineering and UCR Extension)

  • Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 

  • University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas (Only UG)

  • University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware (Only UG)

  • University of Connecticut, Connecticut (Public Ivy – Only UG)

  • Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland (School of Engineering – Only PG)

  • Arizona State University, Phoenix, Arizona

  • UMass Amherst (ECE MS 1+1 Programs)

  • University of Massachusetts Amherst (Masters Programs)

  • George Washington University, Washington D.C. (MS in Finance & Applied Finance)

  • Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (College of Engineering)

  • Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (UG Gateways and IEP)

  • University of Illinois at Chicago, Illinois

  • University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, Alabama

  • Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, California

  • Auburn University, Alabama

  • University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah (Only UG)

  • University of Cincinnati, Ohio

  • Ohio University, Athens, Ohio (Only UG)

  1. University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina
  2. University of the Pacific, Stockton, California
  3. University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Maryland
  4. University of Albany, The State University of New York, Albany (SUNY Albany)
  5. University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio
  6. University of Colorado Denver, Colorado
  7. University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, Colorado 
  8. State University of New York at Geneseo (SUNY Geneseo)
  9. SUNY Polytechnic Institute, Utica, New York
  10. The State University of New York at New Paltz (SUNY New Paltz)
  11. State University of New York at Plattsburgh (SUNY Plattsburgh)
  12. State University of New York College at Old Westbury, New York
  13. State University of New York Oswego (SUNY Oswego)
  14. Culinary Institute of America ( New York, California, and Texas Campus) Only UG
  15. American University Washington D.C.
  16. Miami University, Oxford, Ohio (Only UG)
  17. Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana (Only UG)
  18. Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
  19. University of Massachusetts, Lowell, Massachusetts 
  20. “University of Massachusetts, Boston, Massachusetts (UG, PG Pathway and Direct Entry)
  21. University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, Massachusetts
  22. University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire
  23. Adelphi University, New York- Garden City and Manhattan Campus
  24. San Jose State University, San Jose, California
  25. San Francisco State University, San Francisco, California
  26. California State University, Los Angeles
  27. California State University, Northridge
  28. California State University, Fresno
  29. California State University, East Bay
  30. California State University, Channel Islands
  31. California State University, Sacramento
  32. California State University, Bakersfield
  33. California State University, Bakersfield (Extended Programs)
  34. California State University, Dominguez Hills
  35. California State University, Stanislaus
  36. California State University, San Bernardino
  37. Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, California
  38. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (College of the Extended University)
  39. Seattle University, Seattle, Washington
  40. California Baptist University, Riverside, California
  41. New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, New Jersey
  42. Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochestor (UG Programs)
  43. Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochestor (PG Programs)
  44. Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, New Jersey
  45. Portland State University, Portland, Oregon (Only UG)
  46. Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Florida
  47. Pace University, New York City
  48. Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, Georgia
  49. DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois (Direct Entry and UG/PG Pathway)
  50. University of Hartford, West Hartford, Connecticut (Direct Entry and UG/PG Pathway)
  51. Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, Connecticut
  52. Florida International University, Miami, Florida (All UG Programs) (PG Programs – Chapman Graduate School of Business and College of Engineering)
  53. Kent State University, Kent, Ohio
  54. Nebraska Wesleyan University Lincoln (Only UG)
  55. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University (Daytona Beach, Florida & Prescott, Arizona)
  56. University of New Mexico, Albuquerque
  57. Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  58. University of Nevada, Reno
  59. Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana
  60. Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio
  61. Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, PA
  62. Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio
  63. Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas
  64. Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona
  65. University of North Texas, Denton, Texas
  66. University of North Texas at Frisco, Texas
  67. Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee
  68. University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska
  69. The University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee
  70. Tennessee Tech University, Cookeville, Tennessee
  71. Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas
  72. University of North Florida, Jacksonville, Florida
  73. Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida
  74. Nova Southeastern University, Davie, Florida
  75. University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama 
  76. Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana
  77. The University of Scranton, Scranton, Pennsylvania 
  78. Milwaukee School of Engineering, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  79. Auburn University at Montgomery, Alabama
  80. Purdue University Northwest, Indiana
  81. Long Island University, Post, New York
  82. Long Island University, Brooklyn, New York
  83. Texas A & M University, Corpus Christi, Texas
  84. Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, Kentucky
  85. Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, Missouri
  86. Youngstown State University, Youngstown, Ohio
  87. University of Illinois Springfield, Springfield, Illinois
  88. Lewis University, Romeoville (Illinois) and Albuquerque (New Mexico) Campus
  89. Governors State University, Chicago, Illinois
  90. Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, Illinois
  91. Western Illinois University, Macomb, Illinois
  92. University of New Haven, West Haven, Connecticut
  93. Dakota State University, Madison, South Dakota
  94. Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, Kansas
  95. University of Bridgeport, Bridgeport, Connecticut
  96. Murray State University, Murray, Kentucky
  97. Marshall University Huntington, West Virginia
  98. University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky
  99. Midwestern State University, Wichita Falls, Texas
  100. NY Tech, New York (NYIT)
  101. Bay Atlantic University, Washington D.C
  102. Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Michigan
  103. Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Michigan
  104. Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Michigan
  105. Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, Michigan
  106. University of Michigan-Flint, Flint, Michigan
  107. Texas A&M University – Kingsville, Kingsville, Texas
  108. Felician University, Rutherford, New Jersey
  109. Saint Leo University, St. Leo, Florida
  110. Midway University, Midway, Kentucky
  111. Johnson and Wales University, Providence, Rhode Island
  112. Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville, Missouri
  113. California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, California (School of Management)
  114. Saint Mary College of California, Moraga, California
  115. Weber State University, Ogden, Utah
  116. University of Tampa, Florida, USA
  117. University of Nebraska, Kearney, Nebraska (Only UG)
  118. Southern New Hampshire University, Manchester, New Hampshire
  119. Troy University, Troy, Alabama
  120. Texas Wesleyan University, Fort Worth, Texas
  121. Dallas Baptist University, Dallas, Texas
  122. York College of Pennsylvania, York, Pennsylvania (Only UG)
  123. Southwest Minnesota State University, Marshall, Minnesota
  124. City University of Seattle, Seattle, Washington 
  125. Western New England University, Springfield, Massachusetts
  126. Rivier University, Nashua, New Hampshire
  127. Northwood University, Midland, Michigan (Only UG)
  128. Northwest Executive Education (Northwood University)
  129. Rider University, Lawrenceville, New Jersey
  130. Valparaiso University, Indiana
  131. Trine University, Angola, Indiana
  132. Saginaw Valley State University, University Center, Michigan
  133. Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania
  134. Golden Gate University, San Francisco, California
  135. Westcliff University, Irvine, California
  136. University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Wisconsin
  137. University of Wisconsin–La Crosse, Wisconsin
  138. University of Wisconsin–Stout, Wisconsin
  139. Charleston Southern University, Charleston, South Carolina
  140. East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina (Only UG)
  141. James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Virginia (Only UG)
  142. Tiffin University, Tiffin, Ohio
  143. Academy of Art University, San Francisco, California
  144. Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
  145. Webster University (St. Louis Campus)- UG Programs
  146. Webster University (St. Louis Campus)- PG Programs
  147. Webster University (San Antonio Campus)- PG
  148. Augustana University, Sioux Falls, South Dakota (Only UG) 
  149. Park University, Parkville, Missouri
  150. Hult International Business School Boston, San Francisco, New York campus
  151. Simmons University, Boston, Massachusetts (Only UG women-focused)
  152. Lipscomb University, Nashville, Tennessee (Only UG)
  153. “Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington
  154. Marist College, Poughkeepsie, New York
  155. Monroe College, Bronx, New York
  156. Berkeley College, New Jersey & New York
  157. Fisher College, Boston, Massachusetts
  158. (On Campus Boston) Curry College, Milton, Massachusetts
  159. Santa Monica College, California
  160. Green River College, Auburn, Washington
  161. Seattle Central Community College, Seattle, Washington
  162. San Mateo Colleges of Silicon Valley (Cañada College, College of San Mateo, & Skyline College), California
  163. Santa Rosa Junior College, Santa Rosa, California
  164. The Contra Costa Community College District, San Pablo
  165. Foothill De Anza College, Los Altos Hills, California 
  166. Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia (ESL Programs only)
  167. IPERC Academy: International Exchange Programs
  168. Marymount University, Arlington, Virginia

Types of Study Visas

The type of visa you need for studying in the US depends on your age and the type of program you plan to pursue.

F-1 Student Visa

This visa is for students who intend to study at accredited US colleges or universities as well as for those who wish to enroll in English language institutes. The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee for an F visa application is $350. 

J Exchange Visa

This visa is for exchange program students, covering high school and university studies, among other educational opportunities. The SEVIS fee for J visa application is $220.

M Student Visa

This visa is for students who want to pursue non-academic study, vocational study, or training in the US. The SEVIS fee for an F visa application is $350.

Documents Required for a US Student Visa

To begin with, you must apply to a US institution that has been approved by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). Upon acceptance, the international student office at the institution will provide you with a Form I-20 that contains your details from SEVIS.

Moreover, you will need:

  • A passport valid for at least 6 months after your stay in the US

  • Acceptance at a SEVP-approved school and Form 1-20

  • Application fee for the SEVIS

  • Receipt of paid F1 visa fee i.e., $160

  • Recent passport-size pictures

  • Proof of funds (bank statements provided either by you or your sponsor)

  • Acceptance letter provided by the educational institution

  • Copies of previous educational certificates and diplomas

  • A language proficiency certificate (such as IELTS, TOEFL GRE, and GMAT)

  • Proof of purchased health insurance 

Application Process for F1 Visa

The application process for an F1 student visa involves the following steps:

  • Pay the SEVIS fee and get Form I-20 from your educational institution.

  • Pay the visa application fee and collect the visa application form

  • Fill out the D-160 form and submit it with visa documents for scheduling your visa interview

  • Attend a visa interview at the US Embassy or Consulate

Note:

You can enter to US 30 days before the commencement of the degree program.

F1 Visa Processing Time

After your visa interview, you’ll get an immediate response. The interviewer will either congratulate you or provide a document explaining the denial. The visa processing happens before the interview, which is the final step for the embassy to decide whether to issue the visa. Sometimes, the F1 visa response takes a few days, so be patient.

After Arrival in the US

It is crucial to get in touch with your designated school official as soon as you arrive in the US. Additionally, make sure to reconnect with them before the program start date mentioned on your Form I-20.

F1 Visa Validity / Renew

Your visa may be approved for the full duration of your studies or a shorter period. If your program takes one year, you’ll likely get a one-year visa. If your degree is two years and you get a one-year visa, renew it. 

Your F1 visa is valid as long as stated on your I-20 and I-94 forms. To renew, follow the same procedure and waive the interview if you’ve already done it. You can travel to the US 30 days before your program starts.

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