US F1 Study Visa application process and fees

 

The US F1 Study Visa is a Non-immigrant Visa that allows foreign nationals to enter the United States to attend a University or college, High School, Private elementary school, Seminary, or Conservatory. Most of the students apply for this Visa to complete a degree program in the United States. Foreign students are also allowed to do Part-time work on an F1 Visa. More details about the Visa requirements and the process are given below.

 

US F1 Study Visa Application Process

The process for obtaining a US F1 visa to become an international student involves several steps:

 

1) Get Accepted to a SEVP Approved School

Before applying for the Visa, you’ll need an acceptance from a school/university approved by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). You can check if your school or university is SEVP-approved or not from here.

 

2) Get Form I-20

If you have secured admission, your institute will issue you a Form I-20, which is a key document for your visa application.

 

3) Pay the SEVIS Fee

SEVIS fee, also known as the I-901 SEVIS Fee, is a mandatory fee for international students and exchange visitors coming to the United States. It stands for Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. The SEVIS Fee for F1 visa costs are around $350 per application, and you should apply at least three months before your course start date.

 

What is the SEVIS Fee?

The SEVIS I-901 Fee is a one-time fee that must be paid by all students seeking F-1/J-1 status. This fee is used to cover the costs of operating the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and is separate from other visa and reciprocity fees.

 

The SEVIS fee must be paid at least 3 business days before your visa interview at the U.S. Consulate or Embassy.

Once you have paid the SEVIS Fee you may print out a SEVIS Fee Receipt.  The SEVIS Fee Receipt will be required at your visa appointment.

 

4) DS-160 Visa Application

The DS-160 is the online non-immigrant visa application form. You will need to fill out the complete application. You can apply for this visa online from the US Embassy consulate of your country. Once done with your application you  will be required to pay visa application fee $185.

 

5) Visa Interview

Once you submit the Visa application, you will be asked to schedule the appointment at the embassy. Bring all the documents on the day of the interview. The interview will be at the U.S. Embassy.

 

6) Decision on Visa

A consular officer will interview you to assess your eligibility for the F-1 visa. Once your visa is issued, you can travel to the United States.

If your visa is approved, you may also pay a visa issuance fee/reciprocity fee $265 for Tanzania, if applicable to your nationality. Fee information is provided below:

 

Noted expenses.

i.Application fees $185.ii.SEVIS Fee $350 iii.reciprocity fee $265.

 

Helpful Resources

Official Website of the US Embassy.

 

Remember, this is a general overview. It’s advisable to visit the official website for up-to-date information and processing time.