Student visa requirements in the USA

To apply for a student visa, you must first apply and be accepted by an institution in the USA that is certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).

Once accepted, you will receive a Form I-20 from the institution's international student office, which is a paper record of your information in the database called the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).

You will need the following documentation for your visa application:

• A current passport that is valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the USA (unless exempt by country-specific agreements)
• Acceptance at a SEVP approved school and your Form I-20
• Application fee payment for the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System
• Non-immigrant visa application and the Form DS-160 confirmation page
• One or two photographs in the requested format.

When you receive your visa, you must ensure that you:

• Do not enter the USA more than 30 days before your study program begins.
• Contact your designated school official when you first enter the USA.
• Contact your designated school official again and no later than the program start date listed on your Form I-20.
• Make sure your visa remains valid.

To ensure your visa remains valid, you will need to:

• Fulfill the purpose for why the Department of State issued the visa.
• Follow any regulations associated with that purpose.

• You must attend and pass all of your classes. If you are finding your studies too difficult, you should speak with your Designated School Official (DSO) immediately.
• If you think you will be unable to complete your program by the end date listed on your Form I-20, you must talk to your DSO about requesting a possible program extension.
• You must take a full course of study each term. If you cannot study full time, contact your DSO immediately.
• You cannot drop below a full course of study without consulting with your DSO.

IDP offers an array of services designed to take the stress and confusion out of the process of applying for a student visa. Speak to an IDP counsellor today.