Student Visas

I-20 application procedure:

If a prospective student would like to apply for an F-1 Student Visa in his or her home country or at a United States Consulate located outside the United States the following procedure must be followed:

Complete an application, make a tuition deposit, and register for full time course.  If the student is unable to be issued a student visa by the us consulate, he or she may apply for the tuition refund, the student must return the original I-20, and submit a letter from the consulate which reports the denial.  There usually is a mailing fee involved for this type of procedure.

Complete the I-20 application form, and have the affidavit of support notarized.  The I-20 application form must be accompanied by one of the following documents:

• A bank statement which shows the current balance in terms of U.S. Dollars.  
• A letter from the sponsor's employer which states the yearly salary and indicates whether the position is permanent or temporary.
• a copy of last year's income tax returns if the sponsor is self-supporting
• If a company or private organization will financially sponsor the student it will need to submit a letter in which it promises to be financially responsible for the student's full tuition and living expenses for the duration of his or her studies.

The I-20 form will be mailed to the student.

Change of Status Information:

If you are presently in the US under a non-immigrant status (such as B-2 tourist) and you want to be an F-1 student, then you need to apply for a change of status.  The approval or denial or you application depends upon your current non-immigrant status and the facts of your case.

Two options to receive F-1 student status:

Travel:  You will submit the required financial documentation to the foreign student advisor, and will be issued an I-20.  You will take the I-20, your passport, and financial documentation with you to an American consulate outside the US where you will apply for the F-1 visa stamp.  You will need to show your passport, I-20, and financial documentation to the Immigration Officer when you re-enter the United States.

Within the US:  You will submit the required financial documentation to obtain the I-20 form.  You must also complete an application form to extend or change non-immigrant status (I-539).  Once your application has been reviewed, you will be given instructions to send your papers to INS by certified mail, return receipt.  you must submit the following papers:

• the I-539 form.  (application to extend/change non-immigrant status)
• Your I-94 card.  (the small white card in your passport)
• your I-20 application form and financial documentations (bank statement)
• a check or money order for $75.00 made payable to Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Your papers must be received by the immigration service before your permission to stay expires.  The approval of your application is solely the decision of the immigration service.

Visa waiver Program:

There are 21 countries whose citizens can come to the USA as tourists without getting visa stamps in their passports.  However, they are not allowed to change status in the us, they can stay a minimum of 90 days, and their I-94 card is marked WT.

Countries listed alphabetically:  Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, and United Kingdom.

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disclaimer:  the above information is meant to be a guide, nothing else, use it wisely, contact your student adviser for actual instructions and information.  What I'm trying to say is don't sue me if you mess up on the way.  Moreover, don't sue me at all.