How Should Indian Students Apply for US Study Visa?

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Cyril Zachariah
Updated on Oct 31, 2022 11:02 AM IST

Getting a US Student Visa is not an easy process! But our study abroad experts can make this very complicated process a simple one for all Indian students who are all set to begin their undergraduate or graduate studies in the US. Find out how!

How Should Indian Students Apply for US Study Visa?

With the United States of America reinvesting efforts into welcoming international students, more and more students are beginning to choose US as their study abroad destination. However, as the US continues to rework on its visa application processes and requirements, students are finding themselves in a little bit of a pickle. The US government has worked on the application processes, the list of documents needed for a US Student Visa, regulations and guidelines for a US student, all contributing for a better and easier US student visa application process for international students.

Indian students comprise a large portion of the international student community across the US and have contributed billions to the international education sector of the country over the past few years. With the change in the US Government administration, the focus of the government has shifted towards attracting more international students.

With such drastic changes, US universities have once again become one of the top destinations for Indian students to study abroad. Here are the steps that a resident of India needs to follow while applying for a US student visa.

Also Read: USA F1 Student Visa Guide: Application Requirements, Interview Tips

Steps to Apply for US Study Visa for Indian Students

Step 1: Apply to a SEVP-approved School - Prospective students can find the entire list of SEVP-certified schools at the official website of the US Department of Homeland Security. It is an easy-to-navigate site, through which one can search schools based on education type, visa type, state/ territory, city and more.

Step 2: Be Accepted to a SEVP-approved School - After shortlisting SEVP-approved schools of choice, one must be accepted by at least one of them. The applicant must then respond to the letter of acceptance and confirm his/ her admission to the school.

While you will be able to select a good college for yourself, our counsellors, with their experience in sending thousands of Indian students to study across the US, can help you apply to your desired universities. Apart from providing assistance for the application process, our experts don't leave you mid way. They keep you connected with the universities through students and alumni. Once you get admission, you will also get visa assistance from our experts who will ensure that you meet all travel guidelines.

Get Visa Assistance from Our Study Abroad Experts to Study in the US!

Step 3: Pay the SEVIS Fee - Students must make sure that they pay the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee at least three days before applying for a US visa. The same can be paid in either online or offline mode, which can be accessed through the official website of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) SEVP. All the required details should be added, as required on the I-20 form along with the payment of a SEVIS fee of USD 350.

Step 4: Apply for US Student Visa - After successful payment of the SEVIS fee, a prospective student should apply for a US student visa by making an appointment with the US embassy or consulates in India. It is best to apply for the visa as early as possible as the visa processing time may vary. The visa may be issued up to 120 days/ 2 months before the scheduled date of arrival in the US. While applying, submit all the required documents mentioned above.

Step 5: Pay the US Student Visa Application Fee - Also known as the Machine Readable Visa Fee (MRV fee), one must pay the visa application fee in person, by phone or online.

Step 6: Schedule a US Student Visa Interview - The final step is to arrange and attend a visa interview, which will be taken by a consular officer and be held at the embassy or consulate. One must make sure that he/ she carries all the necessary documents while going to attend the interview. After the visa is issued, one may have to wait for further administrative processing, about which the consular officer will inform.

US Student Visa Fees

Fees for a US student visa involves a SEVIS fee and the F, J or M application fee or MRV fee. Find out how one has to pay to complete the visa application process:

Type of Visa

Description

Visa Application Fee

SEVIS Fee

F

Student (academic)

$160 / INR 11,520

$350 / INR 25,113 (Approx.)

J

Exchange Visitor

M

Student (Vocational)

Also Read: Application Deadlines 2022-2023 for Popular US Universities

Note: The visa application fee is non-refundable and non-transferable and only those participating in a US-government sponsored programme would be exempted from the SEVIS fee.

Need More Information on US Student Visa?

Confused about how to go about applying for a US Student Visa? Connect with our study abroad counsellors at abroad@collegedekho.com and browse through our study abroad services designed to help you apply without hassle.

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