Applying for the F-1 Visa after receiving your I-20

 

Received your admit from the university you have been aspiring to get into for so long? Have months of consistent efforts and hard work finally paid off in the make of I-20?

You must be confused about how to move forward with your visa proceedings. There are a few simple steps to be followed once you have your I-20 with you. Here, I will guide you on how to proceed after receiving the I-20 form in a simplified way.

 

Here are the steps to be followed:

 

1. File your DS-160 

 

To begin with,

What is a DS-160 form?

It is an online non-migrant visa application form that contains information crucial for the consular officer proceeding with the visa application. The form is for people traveling to the United States temporarily for specific purposes like studies.

Click here to access the DS-160 form.

1. Fill in the application form.
2. Submit the fully filled form. (Please make sure to enter the information carefully, with no discrepancy as compared to original documents)

It will take you around 80-90 minutes to complete the form.

If you do not want to complete the entire DS-160 form in one go, you can exit the form after saving the details. You have 30 days to return and complete your application.

 

Note: You will be issued a unique application ID at the beginning. You will need it each time you access your form, so keep it safe.

 

Here's how you can fill the DS-160 form without any slip-ups! We have made a step-by-step video for filling it up.

 

 

2. Pay the SEVIS fee

 

 

 Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) Fee is an amount that all the prospective students need to pay before getting their visa interview confirmed.

While making the payment, you will be asked the following information:

• SEVIS ID (find it on your I-20 form's top right corner)
• Your first and last name.
• Country of Birth
• Date of Birth
• E-mail address
• Country of citizenship
• School code (printed on I-20)

To make the SEVIS fee payment, visit fmjfee.com

The payment is to be made using a credit card. If you are unable to make the payment through your card, it is allowed to use a third party's credit card to confirm the payment.

However, for a student whose country of birth or citizenship is one among Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and Gambia, the payment should be made through one of the following:

• Money order
• Western Union Quick Pay
• Certified check from a U.S. bank

 

Keep your SEVIS fee receipt handy before your Visa interview.

 

3. Book your OFC and Consular Appointment slots

 

 

The most crucial part of the Visa proceeding is the Visa Interview. But before you appear for the visa interview in front of the consular officer, you are required to go through an Offsite Facilitation Center (OFC) appointment.

What is an Offsite Facilitation Center (OFC) appointment?

It is a simple process where you have to appear at the provided OFC center to give your biometrics and visa photos. This is done prior to the visa interview, with the sole aim of fastening the visa processing.

 

You can book your OFC and Visa appointment simultaneously by paying a fee of $160. For that, you are required to create an account here.

Select the slot for Offsite Facilitation Center (OFC). And finally, select the slot for your Visa interview.

 

Please note that the OFC appointment should be fixed at least one day before the visa interview.

Source: US Travel Docs

 

 

4. Start with proving your finances

 

 

As a candidate aspiring to study in the United States, you are expected to submit proof of your sufficiency that you are able in paying all the financial expenses.

This plays an important role in your visa application because the consular officer will reject the application if he/she felt unsure of the same.

You are required to clearly prove that you can bear the expenses of a full one-year academic term, which includes tuition fees and living expenses. In addition to that, you should also reflect that the expenses of the future academic terms will also be covered.

There are numerous sources you can use to prove your financial status:

1. Bank Statement of your sponsor Your education abroad can be sponsored by your parents, immediate relatives, or you yourself. 

You should avoid any step that might make the US government suspect you. For example, if the average balance history of your submitted account was low, but suddenly you have deposited a large amount to show enough funds, authorities will question you about the source of this credit.

2. Any assets your family holds, which can easily be converted to cash.

3. Scholarships, fellowships, or any other grants.

4. Study Loan documents

If you are planning to apply for a student loan, try our Education loan Support.

 

5. Prepare for your Visa interview

 

 

Visa interview is the big day and plays a major role in getting your application accepted or rejected. 

The interview will hardly go on for 2-3 minutes, but how you present yourself in that short time will make a big impact on the officer's decision.

The most effective way to get your boat to sail smoothly across the river is by preparing through Mock Visa Interviews where we will prepare you thoroughly so that you don't get stuck at any point when the actual day of the interview arrives.

Additionally, you should make sure to not be late for your interview, but not too early either. Keep your calm, carry all the required documents and wear formal clothes to the interview. 

 

6. Prepare to fly

 

 

Once you have got your visa approved, it's surely a time to party hard. 

There a few things you should get in order as soon as your visa is issued.

The first is to get your ticket to the United States booked. It is advisable to reach the US 20 days before the commencement of your academic term. It will help you adjust better to your new lifestyle and college.

Secondly, you should inform your university immediately, and they will assist you with the fee settlement and accommodation arrangement. Once everything is set, you are all ready to begin your life-changing journey.

Happy flying! And, Happy college life!

 

Bottomline

You will get the decision immediately after the interview. The result will either be accepted or rejected. Keep calm in both cases.

Even if the final result is "rejected", you can still appear for the interview again after 15 days.

The Visa officer will keep the passport with him/her for the approved candidates, it can be collected from the office after a certain time span allotted by them, or in case you have opted for premium processing, it will be shipped to your address within a period of 7-10 days (normally).

 

 

Why is the F1 visa rejected by the officer?

The reason for your rejection can range from a minute detail as a torn mark sheet or passport to you being a potential immigrant in the sight of the officer. They might ask you to submit your SOP, employment, or academic records if the officer had any doubts regarding your goals or documents.

What are the chances of getting an F1 visa a second time?

In another case, you will have to reappear for the interview. In the second chance for an interview, the most important aspect to be highlighted is "the changes you made to your application". You must imply strong modifications to be able to persuade the officer that your application is qualified for acceptance.

 

 

The Covid-19 scenario of F-1 Visa

The U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) which have been shut down in the wake of Covid-19, resumed processing F-1 visas for all students on March 15, 2021. However, due to limited appointment availability, one can not be certain if he/she will be able to get an appointment prior to the commencement of their academic term. You can check the visa wait time for your nearest embassy here. 

The US government also imposed a travel ban for citizens from the worst affected countries. Fortunately, F-1 students whose program starts from 1st August are exempted from the ban under National Interest Exception (NIE). 

In light of the current circumstances, applicants who are not able to secure an interview slot before their program start date can go for emergency appointments. Booking a regular slot is required before initiating the request for an emergency appointment and applicants are only eligible for it when 2 months are left for their program to start. 

To view the latest information about study requirements, I-20, online learning, Sevis fee, and employment, please go through the Immigration and Customs ICE FAQ.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Where can I find the DS-160?

You can access the DS-160 form by clicking on the Consular Electronic Application Center Website. Do not forget to save your Application ID as it is the key to retrieve your progress when your application times out. 

 

2. Are all the questions on DS-160 mandatory?

Most questions are mandatory to answer, you can leave the space empty for questions marked optional. However, if a mandatory question does not apply to your situation, you can write "does not apply" in the space provided.

 

3. DS-160 expires in how many days?

You can return to your partially completed application within 30 days as long as you saved your progress. To be able to access the application after 30 days, save it on your computer hard drive or USD flash drive.

 

4. How many times can I reschedule my US visa appointment?

The appointment can be rescheduled for a maximum of two times. In case, the second rescheduling attempt is canceled, the applicant can only make another attempt after 90 days.

Source: US Travel Docs

 

5. Can I reschedule to an earlier date if appointments are available?
Rescheduling is only possible for a later date from the portal. A request for rescheduling an appointment to an earlier date requires emailing support-india@ustraveldocs.com.

 

6. Why does a US student visa get rejected?

In most cases, the inability of students to prove sufficient financial backup is the reason. However, if the officer considers you a potential immigrant, he/she rejects the application right away. Hence never say that you want to stay in the US and look for a job. Instead, tell them you plan to come back to your country and how your degree will help you stand out.

 

7. How long does it take to get a US visa interview appointment?

Depending on the number of pending applications and seasonal workload, the length of the visa appointment can vary from 60 to 120 days.

 

8. How long does an F1 visa interview take?

The F1 visa interview hardly takes 3 to 4 minutes, sometimes even lesser.

 

 Hoping that this article will walk you through your queries, and you will land at your dream university within a few months. Sign up to get notified of the same via email!