There are two categories of student visas: F1 and M1. The M1 visa is given for non-academic or vocational education for a duration of less than a year, and it includes fields such as gemology, aviation etc. F1 visa is given for a full-time program leading to a degree such as a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree, which lasts at least one year. In this blog, we will discuss about the F1 visa. Below are a few important and frequently asked questions.
a) Where can you apply for an F1 visa?
Before COVID-19, applicants could only apply for appointments at the consulate closer to their residence. For example, applicants residing in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh could only apply to the US Consulate – Mumbai.
But now, there is no such restriction. You are allowed to apply to any Consulate where the appointment dates are available. Sometimes, you may get an appointment for OFC at one consulate and a visa interview at another.
The current visa application fee is $185, payable in INR 15540/-.
b) When will appointments for F1 visas begin for Fall 2024 applicants?
Applicants can apply for an F1 visa within 365 days of the course’s start date mentioned on the I-20. In other words, to ensure you get an early and timely date, you may apply for a visa as soon as you receive an I-20 from any university. Every year, the US consulate tries to accommodate all the students intending to apply for an F1 visa. However, since the number of students applying for visas is quite large, it becomes difficult to get an interview date if they apply in July or August. Therefore, it is advisable that students apply for the interview date as soon as they receive the I-20 from any university.
Later, if you receive an I-20 from the desired university, you can fill out a new DS-160 mentioning the name of the new university. You must bring the original DS-160 confirmation page you have used to schedule your appointment AND the corrected DS-160 confirmation page to the consulate or document drop-off location on the day of your appointment. If you are unable to bring your original DS-160 confirmation page and your corrected DS-160 confirmation page, you must cancel and reschedule your appointment by entering your corrected DS-160 application number.
Still figuring out which universities to apply to and their deadlines? Here’s a Complete Guide to Fall 2024 MS Program Application Deadlines
c) What is an I-20 form and how do I obtain it?
The Form I-20 is an official US Government form issued by a certified school, which a prospective non-immigrant student must have to get an F-1 or M-1 visa. Form I-20 acts as proof of acceptance and contains the information necessary to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee, apply for a visa and be admitted into the United States. Form I-20 has the student’s SEVIS identification number, which starts with the letter N followed by 10 digits, on the top left-hand side.
The Student and Exchange Visitor Information Service (SEVIS) has been introduced by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (IMS) for students. Before appearing for an F1 visa interview at the consulate, you need to pay SEVIS charges of US $350.
d) If my visa was rejected the first time, can I reapply for it?
Students are allowed to reapply as many as they want.
e) What is the Dropbox facility (Interview Waiver)?
With effect from 1st January 2024, if you have any other valid US visa except a B1/B2 Visa, then you are eligible for a visa through Dropbox, which is nothing but a visa interview waiver that allows eligible individuals to obtain a visa without a face-to-face interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Instead, these applicants can submit the required documentation at a designated Dropbox location.
To become eligible for the Dropbox facility,
- The visa has to be issued after 1st January 2008
- The visa should be issued after your 14th birthday.
If your visa has already expired, you can avail of the Dropbox facility, provided your visa expired not more than 4 years ago.
f) How long will it take to receive my passport if I apply for the F1 visa through Dropbox?
You are likely to receive your passport within 7 working days.
g) How to book an F1 Visa appointment?
- Fill up the D-160 form
- Create a profile on www.ustraveldocs.com
- Choose the schedule appointment option and select visa type (Non-immigrant)
- Follow all the instructions given on the website
Ready to take the next step towards your US academic journey? Contact us today to explore our exclusive USA visa counseling services. Our Services consist of the following:
- webinar providing detailed information about the Visa process and guidelines
- help with the preparation of financial documents
- one-on-one appointment with Mr. Dilip Oak for a mock visa interview.
You are also eligible to attend the pre-departure orientation program organized in June.
To enroll, call us at 020-67444222 or email us at support@dilipoakacademy.com.