US F1 Visa Guide

for Aspirants

VISA VISA
Contents
What is F1 Visa? 01

How to Apply for F1 Visa? 02

• Filling the Online Visa Application Form
• Scheduling a Visa Interview
• Preparing for Visa Interview
• Application Fee
• Attending Visa Interview

Documents Required 03
• Additional Documentation (If Required)

Entry to the US 04-05

Extending Your Stay 06

Do’s and Don'ts 07

FAQs 08

About upGrad Abroad 09

 01

What is F1 Visa?
When it comes to obtaining a student visa for the United States, there are two types of
visas: F and M. The M visa allows international students to pursue vocational training or
attend other recognized nonacademic institutions. On the other hand, the F visa is for
those students who want to pursue a full-time degree course in the US institutes that
includes:
• College or university
• Private elementary school
• High school
• Conservatory
• Seminary
• Other academic institutions that also include a language training program

The F visa is further categorized into F1, F2, and F3 visas, while the M visa is
categorized into M1, M2, and M3 visas. Among all the visas, the F1 visa is one of the
most popular US visas provided to students studying a full-time course at American
universities or colleges certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).
The F1 Visa can only be applied after your study application gets accepted by an
accredited US institution.
 02

How to Apply for F1 Visa?

You need to follow several steps while applying for an F1 visa. The US Embassy or
Consulate website will help you with all the information you may need during all the
steps. Generally, the process of applying for an F1 US Visa includes the following
steps:

Filling Out the Online Visa Application Form

You need to fill out an online non-immigrant student visa application form called
DS-160. One can access this form on the Travel.State.Gov website.

Scheduling a Visa Interview

After filling out the visa application form online, you need to schedule an interview.
The appointment needs to be scheduled at the US Embassy or Consulate located in
New Delhi, Chennai, Secunderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai. Location, visa category,
and season impact the wait time for interview appointments. The wait time varies
depending on the following aspects:

• New Students- Student visas can be issued to new students up to 120 days in
advance from the commencement date of the course. It will let you enter the US not
before 30 days of the start date.
• Continuing Students- Student visas can be issued anytime to continuing students.
The only condition is that the student is enrolled at a SEVP-approved school or
institution in SEVIS. This allows continuing students to enter the US any time before
the classes start.

Application Fee
The F1 Visa application fee is USD 160 and is non-refundable.

Attending Visa Interview

The visa interview is one of the critical aspects you must clear to receive a student visa.
After the interview, your visa might get approved or require further administrative
processing. You will get notified about it. If approved, you may be asked to pay a visa
issuance fee. But this fee depends on your nationality.
 03

Documents Required
Following is the list of documents required before the visa interview:

• Passport:
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the period of stay in the
United States. If applicable, every individual must submit a separate application,
including all the family members on the list.

• DS-160 Form:
You need to fill out this non-immigrant visa application.

• Application fee:
Pay the application fee before the interview, if asked, and get the payment receipt.

• Photo:
You will be required to upload your photo while filling up the DS-160 form online. If
there’s a failure in uploading the photo, you must carry one printed photo with you.
Remember the photo format, as explained in the application requirements.

• Form I-20:
This form is needed to certify your eligibility for a non-immigrant F1 student visa.
Once your information has been entered into the SELVIS database, your university will
send you a Form I-20. It should have your and your institution’s official signature.

Additional Documentation (If Required)

An officer at the US Embassy or Consulate will interview you regarding your
qualifications for a student visa. As supporting evidence, they might request
additional documents, such as:
• Transcripts
• Degrees, diplomas, or certificates from previous schools
• Test scores
• Your purpose for leaving the US after completion of the course
• Funds proof for educational, living, and travel expenses
 04

Entry to the US
The permission to enter the US land depends entirely on the Department of Homeland
Security (DHS) and US Customs & Border Protection (CBP) officials. A visa allows you to
travel to a US port of entry or airport. Further permission to enter the US is given at
the airport by the authoritative officials. Their denial or approval decides if you can
enter the country.

You must present the officials with your visa, passport, and form I-20 at the US airport.
After providing all these required documents, a CBP official will make a decision for
your entry. If they allow you to enter the United States, the official will provide you
with an admission stamp, form I-94, or an Arrival/Departure record.

POINTS TO NOTE

The visa application form doesn’t guarantee

your visa issuance. So do not make final
travel plans. Wait for the visa before you buy
tickets.

If your visa is valid, but your passport gets

expires, then your visa is considered to be
still valid. Visa remains valid till its men-
tioned expiration date.
 05

Your valid visa in an expired passport can be

used along with a new one for traveling and
entry into the US.

If your spouse and unmarried minor children

intend to stay with you in the US during your
study, you can apply for an F-2 visa. A copy of
your F1 visa and relationship proof is required
in such cases. Your institution will individually
provide your spouse and children with the
form I-20. During this time, your minor children
get permission to attend school in the US.
 06

Extending the Stay

Being a foreign student with an F1 US visa, you get permission to stay for 60 days after
the program end date listed on form I-20. If you have any practical training, complete it
within these 60 days. Apart from this, you can even extend your stay in the US. The US
Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) helps you with this.

Moreover, you must leave the US on time to avoid being out of status. Section 222(g)
of the Immigration and Nationality Act under US law automatically voids the visas of
those individuals who are out of status. And further, the multiple entry visa that got
voided because of being out of status becomes invalid to get future entries into the
US.

Therefore, the untimely departure from the United States might result in you being
ineligible for visas in the future.
 07

Do’s and Don’ts

While attending the visa interview to obtain the F1 student US visa, try following the
below-mentioned points:

Do’s
Be formal with minimal accessories and light and solid
colors.
Be confident.

If your passport photo has glasses, wear them at the time of

the interview.

Keep a smile on your face.

Have a complete conversation in English.

Prefer having a conversation by looking at the interviewer.

Carry all your required documents. Offer them only when

you are asked to.

Don’ts
Do not over-dress.

Don’t be nervous.

Don’t speak with a forced English accent.

 08

1. What is the process of visa renewal?

The process remains the same whether you are applying for a fresh visa or want to renew
your visa. You must follow all the processes you follow during the fresh visa application.

2. Can I enter the United States more than 30 days in advance?

No, you cannot. You only get 30 days in advance before you enter the US on your student
visa.

3. How do I get OPT in the US?

You can only get OPT if you have completed your full-time course of bachelor’s, master’s, or
doctoral degree from a US educational institution. You should have an F1 US student visa.
 09

About upGrad Abroad

upGrad is an online education provider that helps individuals to develop their
professional potential in the most engaging learning environment. upGrad Abroad,
the study abroad division of upGrad, through its collaborations with accredited and
highly-ranked institutions has introduced a portfolio of distinctive study abroad
programs. These innovative programs provide an invaluable opportunity for
international students to leverage initial online learning to pursue their dream to
study abroad in a flexible and affordable manner. Students begin their program
online with a partner institution in the home country, then transition to on-campus
with one of the upGrad destination academic partners.

upGrad students also have the support of our student services team to assist with the
application processing, and visa assistance, as well as support upon arrival to campus.

Reimagining Global Education

upgradabroad.com

Call us to clear your doubts at +918068792928