Applying for an F-1 Student Visa
Who should buy this package?
You should buy this package if you are interested in applying for an F-1 student visa to study in the United States and you would like a bit of guidance as to how to complete this process as quickly and painlessly as possible. This package is designed for applicants who are currently outside the United States, and who are thinking about applying for an academic program within the United States in order to attend school on a full-time basis.
This package is intended only for individuals who have “clean” criminal and U.S. immigration histories. You should not buy this package if you have a serious criminal history (including any convictions for drugs, no matter how minor) or you have committed violations of U.S. immigration law in the past. In either case, you might not be eligible for a student visa unless you qualify for a waiver. If you have any reason to suspect that you might not be eligible for an F-1 visa, you should consult with an experienced U.S. immigration attorney prior to filing your application.
What is in this package?
- Overview of the process of obtaining an F-1 student visa, from start to finish.
- Checklist of evidence that you will need to take to your interview at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
- Step-by-step instructions for obtaining an F-1 student visa. The step-by step instructions will guide you through the process of collecting necessary evidence, filling out your paperwork, submitting your visa application, preparing for your interview at a US Embassy or Consulate, and everything in between.
- Checklist of documents to bring to your Consular Interview. Consular officers will expect to see a number of documents at the time you attend your consular interview. Reviewing this checklist will help to ensure that you bring everything that you need to your interview.
- Frequently Asked Questions, answering some of the most common questions that applicants have when filing applications for F-1 visas.
How to use this package?
Follow the step-by-step instructions on how to submit an application for an F-1 visa with the U.S. Department of State and how to prepare for your interview at an U.S. Embassy or Consulate. The package starts with an overview of the process of applying for a student visa, provides detailed instructions for how to complete the visa application form, and provides a checklist of the documents that you’ll need to take with you to your consular interview. Following the guidance in the package will help make sure that you only have to go to the Embassy or Consulate once!
Special instructions
U.S. immigration law generally prohibits certain classes of individuals from receiving visas and entering the United States, including people with certain criminal convictions and certain previous violations of U.S. immigration law. If you suspect that you may be ineligible for a U.S. visa, you should speak to an experienced U.S. immigration attorney before filing a visa application.
In order to obtain an F-1 visa, you will need to be accepted to an academic program within the United States at a school that can issue Form I-20. Most post-secondary schools in the U.S. have the power to issue Form I-20, but, if you are interested in a particular school, you should check to make sure that the school is authorized to sponsor your F-1 program prior to beginning the visa application process.
While a conviction for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol (DUI) will not necessarily prevent you from obtaining a visa to enter the United States, a DUI conviction sometimes leads US consular officials to request that you undergo additional medical evaluations to prove that you do not have a substance abuse problem. If you have been convicted of a DUI in the past, you should start the visa application process as soon as possible so that you do not have to delay your travel plans in order to comply with these additional requirements. Please also note that multiple DUI convictions may impact your eligibility for a US visa, and you should speak with an experienced immigration attorney prior to filing your application.