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The first thing to know about applying for a student visa at the U.S. embassy or consulate in your country is that the officer at the embassy assumes that you are going to use the student visa to try to stay in the U.S. permanently. It is therefore your responsibility to convince them that you will return to your country when you finish studying. Failure to prove this is the most common reason visas are denied.

Make an appointment to go to the embassy or consulate right away, as it may take a few weeks to get the visa. The consulate or embassy can issue a visa up to 90 days before your program start date, and you may enter the country up to 30 days before your start date. There is no guarantee that you will get it, though. To find the consulate or embassy nearest you go to the following web page: http://travel.state.gov/links.html



What to bring to the embassy
Valid passport
Proof of financial support to show you can pay for your tuition and living expenses. This should be a bank statement or a letter from a sponsor, with his or her bank statement. You should also ask the bank for a letter stating how long the account has existed, and what the average balance has been. Show how your sponsor earns the money to support you while you are studying here, by bringing a letter from their employer, for example, stating what the job is, how long they've worked there, and how much they earn. Your application will be stronger if this financial support comes from family or employers located in your home country. If your sponsor is a U.S. citizen or resident they can fill out form I-134 to document their support. The amount of money on the bank statement should be more than the dollar amount listed on the I-20.
SEVIS form I-20, with your signature on #11
Pay the required visa application fee before your appointment, and bring proof that you paid this. Go to http://travel.state.gov/links.html to find out how to contact your local embassy to see how much they charge (usually $100).
Fill out form DS-156, application for nonimmigrant visa (use the same name that's on your passport). You can get this at the embassy or consulate, or by going to www.unitedstatesvisas.gov
Male students between the ages of 16 and 45 must also fill out form DS-156, Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application


Be prepared:
Consider the interview a formal event, and wear business attire
Give your information quickly and completely. Visa officers have only a few moments for the interview and they make their decisions quickly
You may ask for an interpreter
The visa officer will want to know specifically why you want to study in the U.S. They generally do not like vague answers, memorized speeches, or overly solicitous comments about how great and wonderful the U.S. is. They do like honest, specific responses to their questions.
Explain why it's better to study English in the U.S. than in your home country. The fact that English programs are available in your country is not a reason for them to refuse you.
Have information on the institution and where it's located, as well as where you plan to live.


Proving you will return to your country:
Think about your main reasons for returning to your country after you finish studying. Now determine how to document those reasons. Some examples are:

Contracts proving you or your immediate family have stable work. If you own a business bring bank documents and pictures.
Proof that you own a home
Deeds to land ownership
Photos of immediate family currently residing at home
If a brother or sister studied in the U.S. and then returned home, bring a copy of the certificate or diploma. If he or she is working, you can bring a letter from the employer to establish familial ties to your country. If he or she is studying, you can bring proof of that. You can also bring his or her passport to show that he or she returned to the home country.
You should not quit a job immediately before applying for a visa!
If appropriate, you can bring a letter from a company in your country stating that you will be hired for a specific job when you return. If that's not possible, you can ask for a letter stating you will be considered for a position with the company, and that they need employees with English proficiency.
If you are currently employed, a letter from your employer stating that English proficiency will be useful in your future employment with the company.
If an immediate family member has an important position in the government, education, or with private corporations, you can mention that, and if possible, bring a document showing what the position is.
If you have traveled to the U.S. or another country on an old, expired passport, it is a good idea to bring the expired passport to the interview to prove that there is a history of travel and return to your home country.

Be honest in answering their questions. You are a legitimate student who wants to learn English! Good luck!


Bridge-Linguatec Inc. - 915 South Colorado Blvd. - Denver, Colorado - 80246 U.S.A. - Phone: 303-777-7783