Wondering how to apply for U.S. student visa?
Summary
TLDRThis video, presented by EducationUSA in partnership with the U.S. Mission in Pakistan, provides crucial information about student visas for Pakistani students aspiring to study in the U.S. Senior EducationUSA advisor Shiza and U.S. Consular Officer Denise discuss various student visa types (F, J, M), application procedures, required documents, interview tips, and common misconceptions. They also emphasize honesty in the interview process, early visa applications, and using official sources for guidance. The session encourages prospective students to pursue U.S. education and offers tips for a successful visa application experience.
Takeaways
- 🌍 Education USA provides free advising services for students in Pakistan interested in studying in the U.S., with centers in Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi.
- 🎓 There are three main types of U.S. student visas: F (for most academic programs), J (for exchange programs), and M (for vocational programs).
- 📄 Students receive an I-20 form (F and M visas) or a DS-2019 form (J visa) from their academic institution or sponsor once accepted.
- 💻 To apply for a visa, students must fill out the DS-160 form online, pay the visa fee, and schedule an interview. They also need to pay the SEVIS fee.
- 📅 F and M visas can now be issued up to 365 days before the program start date, giving students more time to prepare.
- 🗂 For the visa interview, students should bring their passport, a recent photo, I-20 or DS-2019 form, and receipts for visa application and SEVIS fees.
- 🗣 During the visa interview, the Consular officer wants to learn about the student's academic goals, financial ability, and plans after completing their studies.
- 🚨 Honesty is key during the visa application process, as providing false information can lead to serious consequences, including visa denial.
- 🔄 If a visa is refused, students can reapply if significant circumstances have changed, or they can provide new information.
- 🎯 Some Pakistani students may be eligible for the interview waiver program, allowing them to renew their visas without an interview if they meet specific criteria.
Q & A
What services does Education USA provide to students interested in studying in the United States?
-Education USA provides free advising services to students considering pursuing their bachelor's, master's, or PhD in the U.S. They help students find a U.S. academic program that best fits their needs by offering accurate, comprehensive, and current information through one-on-one appointments, emails, phone calls, and online sessions.
What are the different types of U.S. student visas, and which one should students apply for?
-There are three categories of U.S. student visas: F, J, and M visas. Most students apply for the F visa, which covers academic and language programs. The J visa is for specific exchange programs, while the M visa is for vocational or non-academic programs. Students should apply for the visa that matches the program they are accepted into (F or M for academic programs and J for exchange programs).
How do students obtain the I-20 or DS-2019 form necessary for their visa application?
-Students receive the I-20 (for F or M visas) or DS-2019 (for J visas) from their U.S. academic institution or program sponsor after being accepted into a program. These forms are necessary to apply for a U.S. student visa.
What is the process for applying for a U.S. student visa after receiving the I-20 or DS-2019 form?
-Students should start by filling out the DS-160 form on the Consular Electronic Application Center website (ciac.state.gov), pay the application fee, and schedule an interview. They also need to pay the SEVIS fee at fmjfee.com. During the interview, students must select the appropriate student visa category.
What documents are required for the U.S. student visa interview?
-The required documents include a valid passport, a recent photo taken within the last six months, the I-20 or DS-2019 form, and receipts for the visa application fee and SEVIS fee payment. Students are also advised to bring financial and academic documents, though the consular officer may not ask to review all of them.
What is the consular officer looking for during the student visa interview?
-The consular officer wants to learn about the applicant’s academic interests and future plans. They may ask about the student’s chosen field of study, reasons for selecting the program, how they plan to fund their education, and their plans after completing their studies in the U.S. The officer focuses on the applicant's story rather than reviewing extensive paperwork.
How early should students apply for a U.S. student visa?
-Students should apply as early as possible to avoid missing their program's start date. F and M visas can now be issued up to 365 days before the program's start date. It's advisable to schedule the visa interview as soon as the I-20 form is received.
What should students avoid when preparing for the visa interview?
-Students should avoid providing false information or fake documents, as this could have serious consequences, including affecting future visa eligibility. It's essential to be honest and genuine during the interview.
Can a student reapply for a visa if it is refused?
-Yes, students can reapply if their visa was refused for reasons such as immigrant intent, but only if their circumstances have changed or they have new information. However, if the refusal was due to administrative processing, students should wait until the processing is complete before reapplying.
Is there a misconception that only students applying to well-known U.S. universities are granted visas?
-Yes, there is a misconception that students only get visas if they apply to top or well-known universities. This is not true, as both public and private institutions of all sizes in the U.S. are approved to admit international students. The student's choice of university is not grounds for visa refusal.
Outlines
🎓 Welcome to the Education USA International Student Visa Talk
The speaker welcomes the audience to the Education USA event, highlighting its partnership with the U.S. Mission in Pakistan. She introduces herself as the Senior Education USA Advisor in Karachi and explains that Education USA provides free advising services for students interested in pursuing higher education in the U.S. The organization operates over 400 centers worldwide and offers support through one-on-one appointments, emails, and phone calls. The speaker encourages students to visit the Education USA website for more information.
👩💼 Introduction of U.S. Consular Officer Denise Austinmer
The speaker introduces Denise Austinmer, a U.S. Consular Officer, who will address common questions regarding international student visas. Denise emphasizes that the U.S. welcomes international students and understands that many have questions about the visa process, interview requirements, and eligibility. The goal of the session is to clarify these concerns and assist prospective students in navigating the visa application process.
📑 Types of U.S. Student Visas Explained
Denise outlines the three main categories of U.S. student visas: F, J, and M. She explains that F visas are for most academic and language programs, J visas are for specific exchange programs, and M visas are for vocational or non-academic students. The speaker clarifies that the type of visa depends on the program a student is accepted into and the form they are issued (I-20 for F or M visas and DS-2019 for J visas).
📝 How to Obtain the I-20 or DS-2019 Form
Denise explains that students receive the I-20 or DS-2019 forms from their academic institutions or program sponsors after acceptance. These forms are essential for applying for a student visa. Students should also receive additional guidance on visa applications and preparing for their program start in the U.S.
💻 Student Visa Application Process: Step-by-Step
Denise walks through the process of applying for a U.S. student visa. Students must first fill out the DS-160 application form on the Consular Electronic Application Center website, pay the necessary fees, and schedule an interview. Additionally, students need to pay a SEVIS fee at a separate site (fmjfee.com) and ensure their passports are valid for at least six months after their planned U.S. arrival.
✅ Key Tips for Completing the DS-160 Form
Students are advised to be honest when filling out the DS-160 form and ensure that their personal details, such as name and birthdate, match their passport. Denise answers the frequently asked question about how soon students should apply for their visas, recommending that they start the process as early as possible to avoid delays. She also shares an update: F and M visas can now be issued up to 365 days before the program start date, providing students more time to prepare.
🗂️ What Documents to Bring to the Visa Interview
Denise provides a list of required documents for the visa interview: passport, a recent photo, the I-20 or DS-2019 form, and receipts for visa application and SEVIS fee payments. She suggests students also bring financial documents, academic transcripts, diplomas, and standardized test scores. Although not all documents may be reviewed, students should be prepared to discuss their academic journey and personal background during the interview.
💬 What the Consular Officer Wants to Know During the Interview
During the visa interview, the Consular Officer focuses on getting to know the student and their academic plans. Questions may include details about the student’s chosen program, funding for their studies, and future plans after completing their degree. Denise assures students that the officer understands they may not have all the answers yet and may not possess established ties to their home country. The officer’s primary goal is to determine the student's genuine interest in studying in the U.S.
🗣️ Top Advice for Visa Interviews: Be Honest and Genuine
Denise advises students to be honest and ready to share their unique academic story during the interview. She acknowledges that studying abroad is a significant decision and financial investment, and encourages students to explain why they chose this path. Providing false information can have serious consequences, including affecting future visa eligibility.
🚦 Possible Outcomes of a Student Visa Interview
Denise outlines the possible outcomes of a student visa interview. If approved, the visa will be granted. If denied, students will be informed of the reason, commonly for not overcoming immigrant intent or requiring additional information. Denise explains that U.S. immigration law assumes non-immigrant visa applicants are intending immigrants, and it is up to the student to demonstrate otherwise. Administrative processing may also be required in some cases, and students are encouraged to apply early to avoid delays.
🔄 Can You Reapply If Your Visa Is Refused?
Denise clarifies that if a visa is refused for immigrant intent, students can reapply if they believe their circumstances have changed or if they have new information. However, students should not reapply if their visa was refused for administrative processing until that process is complete. She also highlights the expansion of the interview waiver program, allowing some Pakistani students to renew their visas without an interview if they meet certain criteria.
🛫 When Can Students Travel to the U.S. After Visa Approval?
Denise explains that students can travel to the U.S. no more than 30 days before the start of their program, even if their visa was issued earlier. She emphasizes that students need to be mindful of this rule when making travel arrangements.
📝 Debunking the Myth About University Choices and Visa Success
Denise debunks the common misconception that only students applying to top universities are granted visas. She assures students that the size or prestige of the university does not affect visa approval, as long as they can explain why their chosen program is the best fit for their academic goals.
❌ Visa Consultants Don't Influence the Application Process
Denise addresses the misconception that visa consultants can influence the visa application process. She stresses that visa consultants have no insider information, and relying on them to guide interview responses can result in students not presenting their genuine stories. Instead, students are encouraged to use credible sources like Education USA for free, reliable guidance.
📅 Conclusion: Wishing Students Success in Their Visa Applications
The session concludes with Denise thanking viewers and encouraging students to visit the Mission Pakistan website or contact an Education USA advisor for further questions. She expresses hope that students will find the U.S. educational experience enriching and full of lifelong memories.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡EducationUSA
💡Student Visa
💡F Visa
💡J Visa
💡M Visa
💡I-20 Form
💡DS-2019 Form
💡SEVIS
💡DS-160 Application
💡Interview Waiver Program
Highlights
Education USA is your official source for U.S. higher education and provides free advising services to students pursuing bachelor's, master's, or Ph.D. degrees in the U.S.
Education USA centers in Pakistan are part of the U.S. State Department network, staffed by professional advisors with firsthand experience of studying in the U.S.
There are three types of U.S. student visas: F, J, and M. F visas are for most academic and language programs, J visas for exchange programs, and M visas for vocational studies.
Students applying for F or M visas will receive an I-20 form, and J visa applicants will receive a DS-2019 form from their U.S. institution.
The visa application process starts by filling out the DS-160 form at the Consular Electronic Application Center website, followed by paying the visa fee and scheduling an interview.
In addition to the visa fee, students must pay the SEVIS fee at fmjfee.com, a system managed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
It is recommended that students apply for their student visa as early as possible to avoid delays, especially in the summer when appointment wait times increase.
As of January, F and M visas can be issued up to 365 days before the program's start date, giving students more time to prepare.
During the visa interview, officers focus on the student's academic interests, financial ability to cover their studies, and future plans after completing their program.
Documents required for the visa interview include a valid passport, recent photo, I-20 or DS-2019 form, visa fee receipt, and SEVIS fee receipt.
Students should be honest and genuine during their visa interview. Providing false information or fake documents can have serious consequences for future visa eligibility.
A visa can be refused if the applicant does not overcome the presumption of immigrant intent or if additional documentation is required.
Some Pakistani students may be eligible for the interview waiver program if they have previously had a U.S. visa and meet other requirements.
Students can travel to the U.S. up to 30 days before their program start date, even if their visa was issued in advance.
Students do not need to attend a top U.S. university to get a visa. Public and private institutions of all sizes, including community colleges, are acceptable.
Visa consultants have no influence on the visa process, and students should rely on official sources like Education USA for guidance.
Transcripts
assalamualaikum everyone it is my
pleasure to welcome you all to education
USA's international student visa talk in
partnership with the U.S mission in
Pakistan my name is senior education USA
advisor based in Karachi Pakistan
education USA is your official Source on
us higher education and provides free
advising services to students thinking
about pursuing their bachelor's Masters
or PhD in the United States we are a
part of U.S state Department network of
over 400 advising centers and more than
170 countries sponsored by the U.S
government education USA centers in
Islamabad Lahore and Karachi are staffed
with professional advisors with
first-hand experience of studying the
United States and or state department
approved training we are here to help
you find a U.S academic program that
best fits your needs by offering
accurate comprehensive and current
information through one-on-one
appointments emails phone calls and now
also online
for more information or to know how to
register for our free advising services
please visit www.educationusa.pk
and today we will talk about
international student visas I would like
to introduce Denise austinmer a U.S
Consular officer who will be helping us
answer some of our most frequently asked
questions regarding student visas
hi shiza thank you for having me on
today the United States welcomes
International students to come
experience the U.S culturally socially
academically and we know as advisors you
get a lot of questions from students
about the visa application process the
interview eligibility requirements and
so on so I hope we can cover most of
these questions today to help all
prospective students who are interested
in applying to U.S universities
wonderful so let's just jump in with our
first question I understand that there
is many kinds of U.S non-immigrant visas
which ones should the students look for
so there are three categories of student
visas FJ and M visas and I'll briefly
explain these so most students apply for
f Visas so the F Visa is for most
academic and language programs in the
United States we also offer the J Visa
which is called The Exchange visitor
visa and these are usually for specific
programs for a discrete amount of time
they can be for secondary Secondary
School students professors research
Scholars and some college and university
students and then there's the mvisa
which is for vocational or other
non-academic students so the best way to
determine which Visa category to apply
for is to pick the program that best
fits your needs so when you get accepted
into an institution if you are an F or M
student the institution will issue you
an I-20 form if you are a j student they
will give you a DS 2019 form so you can
then choose the Visa category that
matches the form that you've been given
oh so thank you for clarifying that so
you mentioned the I-20 and the DS 2019
forms so how do students get those
so the U.S academic institution or
program sponsor will give you the
appropriate form only when you've been
accepted into the school or accepted or
accepted as a participant in the
exchange program the institution or the
program sponsor will also give you some
additional information on applying for
your visa and they should also give you
information on starting your program in
the United States so once you get
accepted into a program and get your
I-20 or DS 2019 how do you go about
applying for your student visa so you
start by going to our website the
Consular electronic application center
at
ciac.state.gov and filling out the
online ds160 application form so once
you've filled out the form you pay the
fee and you schedule your interview when
you schedule your interview make sure
you select the correct student visa
category that you're applying for
in addition to that you'll have to pay
the service fee and you can pay that at
fmjfee.com this is a separate fee from
the ds160 application fee so sevis which
stands for student and exchange visitor
information system is a program that's
administered by the U.S Department of
Homeland Security not the state
department so for any service related
questions you'll have to go through your
school or to DHS so in one tip that I
would give is that you should make sure
that your passport is valid for a six
months after your planned arrival in the
United States if it's not then you'll
need to get a new one before you start
your application
okay thank you for sharing that I also
wanted to ask uh what should the
students keep in mind once they're
filling out the ds-160 so just be honest
when you're filling out the form and you
should also make sure that the personal
details the information that you put
into the form matches your documents so
for example you should make sure that
your name and your date of birth that
you put on the form matches what's on
your passport another question that we
get asked frequently is how soon should
the students start applying for this
Visa as a U.S concert officer what would
your recommendation be so we recommend
that students apply as early as possible
to avoid missing their Program start
date so student visa applicants are one
of our top priorities here in Mission
Pakistan so we work hard to ensure that
there are Visa appointments available
for students in the summer months we
usually have a student rush because
there are a lot of students who are
applying before the start of the fall
semester so appointment wait times can
fluctuate and for some cases they will
require administrative processing which
will add additional time to the Visa
adjudication process but one exciting
update is that now F and M visas can be
issued
365 days before the start of the program
that's listed on the I-20 so that's one
full year in advance of the program
start date before this these visas could
only be issued 120 days or four months
in advance of the program start date the
U.S Department of State announced this
change in January to better facilitate
the visa interview and travel process
for students so this means that students
can apply for their visas as soon as
they get an I-20 from the program that
they really want to go to
that's amazing I'm sure that our viewers
are thrilled to hear about this good
news it will definitely give them more
time to prepare for their visa so let's
move on to the interview process a lot
of our students ask that what documents
should they bring on the day of their
interview
so the required documents that you need
to bring with you are your passport
your recent photo that's been taken
within the last six months your DS 2019
or your I-20 form
and the receipts for your visa
application fee and your service fee
payment so on our website on the mission
Pakistan visa application website
there's also a list of other suggested
documents so some of these could include
Financial or other documents that show
that you have readily available funds to
cover your first year of tuition and
access to funds to cover the rest of
your expenses while you're in the United
States and you could also consider
bringing documents that show your
academic preparation so these could be
your transcripts with your grades they
could be your public examination
certificates your diplomas or your
standardized test scores and for those
originals are are preferred so you can
feel free to bring whatever you think is
relevant for your interview but you
should be aware that the Consular
officer may not choose or may not ask
just to review all the documents that
you bring that's because as Consular
officers we want to spend our interview
time talking to you and getting to know
you not reviewing paperwork
so what is the Consular officer looking
for during the interview so during the
visa interview the Consular officer
primarily wants to learn about you who
are you and what is your story we want
to hear about you and your academic
interests in your own words so we could
ask you things about what are you
planning to study why did you choose
that particular subject and that
particular program how do you plan to
pay for it do you have the funds
available for the first year of your
program and do you have a plan in place
to cover the rest of your expenses and
finally what do you want to do with your
degree what are you planning to do after
your program is completed in the United
States
we know that many of our student visa
applicants are more often than not young
so you might not have the same
established economic ties or social ties
back to your home country like other
non-immrogant Visa applicants do we know
that you might not possess property or
employment back in Pakistan yet and we
know that you might not have had the
chance to travel internationally outside
of Pakistan and we know that you might
not have your full long-term plan after
a graduation fully figured out yet and
that's all okay our primary goal during
the interview is to learn what makes you
a unique and genuine student who is
interested in studying in the United
States
thank you for sharing that that answer
probably clears a lot of misconceptions
the students might have regarding
interviews just building off of that
what would be your top advice or one
piece of advice to students who are
preparing for their visa interviews so
my top tip is that you come prepare to
explain your unique academic story in
your own words and just to be honest so
we know that deciding to study abroad
leaving your friends and family back in
Pakistan isn't always an easy decision
and we know that studying overseas can
be a significant financial undertaking
for you and your family so we want to
know why you decided that that was the
best plan for you so just be genuine and
be yourself providing false information
or fake documents during your interview
can have serious consequences including
impacting your eligibility for a Visa in
the future
okay so what I'm getting is that honesty
is key so what are the possible outcomes
of a student visa interview
so if the interviewing officer
determines that you are eligible then
your Visa will be approved otherwise
it'll be denied and you will get
information about why it was not
approved so some of the most common
refusals for students under the
immigration and nationality act are that
you did not overcome immigrant intent or
that additional information was needed
so U.S immigration law explicitly
presumes every non-immigrant Visa
applicant to be an intending immigrant
and places the burden of proving
otherwise on the applicant so during the
interview Consular officers examine each
application individually to determine if
the applicant qualifies for Visa
issuance according to U.S immigration
law and regulations so it is your job to
demonstrate during the interview that
you meet student visa requirements
including having a residence abroad that
you do not have an immediate intention
of abandoning
of intending to depart from the United
States at the conclusion of the approved
activities and possessing sufficient
funds to pursue the proposed course of
study
some Visa applications will be refused
because additional information is
required such as an updated I-20 with a
new date or the marriage certificate for
your spouse if that's the case you will
receive a document detailing the
additional information or the
documentation that we need from you in
some cases your Visa will be refused for
administrative processing and additional
steps will need to be taken in this
situation you will also be given
instructions on the information or
additional documents that you will need
to provide
each summer the Department of State
prioritizes the administrative
processing of students to help ensure
that students can get to the United
States before the the start of their
studies but the length of administrative
processing varies based on the
individual circumstances of each case
which is why we encourage you to start
the application process as early as
possible and we will notify you as soon
as the administrative processing has
concluded
it's wonderful to hear the student visa
applicants are given priority if their
case goes into administrative processing
because it can be a lengthy process so
in case the student visa does get
refused can they apply again
so if you were refused for immigrant
intent you can apply again if you truly
believe you qualify but before you do
you should carefully consider if
something significant has changed in
your circumstances or if you can present
new information that was not available
during the first interview if your
application was refused for
administrative processing you should not
submit a new application until that
processing is complete all right so my
next question is that mission Pakistan
has recently expanded its interview
waiver program which allows certain
Pakistani Nationals to renew their visas
without having to prepare for an
interview does that apply for students
as well yes in certain cases some
Pakistani students may be eligible to
apply for their student visa through the
interview waiver program
if you've previously had a U.S visa if
you've submitted your fingerprints
either at the embassy in Islamabad or
the Consulate General in Karachi and if
your most recent visa interview did not
result in a refusal then you may be
eligible to apply to the interview
waiver program you can go to our website
the mission Pakistan visa application
website for the full list of
requirements for interview waiver and
see if you qualify and this policy is
currently in effect through the end of
the year you should also know though
that even if you apply and you're
eligible to the interview waiver program
some applicants will still be requested
to appear for an interview that's
another great initiative thank you for
sharing that so please do check the
mission Pakistan website on whether or
not you're eligible for an interview
waiver program
okay so let's say that a student has
successfully granted or issued a Visa
how soon can they travel to the US
the earliest a student can travel is 30
days before the start of their program
so even if your Visa was issued in
advance you cannot travel before 30 days
from the start of your program and this
is very important to keep in mind if you
applied for your Visa early
so one misconception that we usually get
from students is that they can only get
a Visa if they apply to certain
universities what do you have to say
about that
so it's a common myth that students not
only students going to top universities
or big universities will get student
visas and that's wrong public and
private colleges and universities of all
sizes in the United States are approved
to admit International students so
planning to attend uh maybe a
lesser-known university or college or a
community college is absolutely not
grounds for a refusal at your visa
interview you should be able to explain
why you chose the program that you did
and why it might be the best for your
particular situation thank you Denise
for clearing that while we're talking
about misconceptions another frequently
Asked question that we get from students
is that they're more likely to get a
student visa if they're going through a
consultant what would you like to say
about that
so I want to emphasize that Visa
Consultants have no sway over the Visa
adjudication process and they have no
inside information about the process
either so if you're relying on a Visa
consultant to tell you what to say
during the interview then you're not
telling your own genuine story during
the interview we know there's a lot of
information on the internet about the
application process and there are
certain Consultants who are looking to
make a profit off of students who want
to study overseas that's why we always
recommend that students use official U.S
government sources for information and
resources such as education USA who
provide free and credible academic
counseling well that's it for today
thank you so much niece for taking out
the time and providing in-depth
information regarding student visas
you've actually managed to answer most
of our frequently asked questions
if you have more questions regarding
student visas please feel free to visit
the mission Pakistan website or talk to
an education us advisor at advising
uscfp.org we wish you all the best for
your student visa applications and if
you do decide to wear study in the
United States we know that your lives
will be enriched with lifelong
experiences and friendships that will
last a lifetime Allah Hafiz
Ver Más Videos Relacionados
Powerful Podcasts for English Fluency | Episode 10
Yonsei University 2022-23 Study Abroad Q&A
F1 Visa Interview Preparation Tips • Plan Visit • What to Wear
What Visa Officers know at the time of the interview (and the 3 things they check for!)
How do you bring your spouse to the US?
My F1 Visa Rejection Experience | Don’t do this mistake | #usavisa #f1visainterview #interview #visa
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)