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Visa information
 Tourist
visa/Student visa
A visa is necessary for visits longer than four weeks. Consult
the consular section at the nearest United States embassy or consulate
as early as possible to determine the specific procedures and
documents necessary to apply for a non-immigrant (F-1) student
visa. These may differ from country to country.
The following documentation is required for
ALL visa applicants:
- Passport, valid for at least six months after the date you plan
to leave
- Visa application form
- A photograph, 5 cm by 5 cm, with your signature in English on
the back
- Certificate of Eligibility for Non-Immigrant F-1 Student Status
(Form 1-20 A-B)
- Affidavit of financial support form and evidence of support
- Evidence of English language ability
- Such documents as would tend to demonstrate (1) the purpose
of your trip, and (2) to provide proof of your intention to leave
the United States after your temporary stay. For instance:
Professional/business ties as shown by: pay slips or bank
statements from the past three months, employment contract, or
tax returns.
Family ties as shown by: marriage certificate, birth certificate
Medical necessity as shown by: doctor's statement with
proof of medical insurance or financial capacity.
Other ties outside of the U.S. as shown by: rental agreement,
social security benefits, etc.
Prior travel to the US, and back, as shown by: prior visas
in old passports, or photocopies thereof.
Student Visas
F1 Visa
The F1 visa applies to students who have been admitted to an
American university for full-time courses or language study. You
should ask for the F1 visa only after you have been admitted to
the university. For entry into the United States, the institution
endorsed on the visa and the institution you plan to attend must
be the same.
To apply for an F-1 student visa, present the above documents
to a U.S. consular officer. The consular officer usually interviews
applicants and will examine your documents and review your educational
plans. Although the visa application process normally is not time-consuming,
it is a good idea to apply early. Any questions that might arise
about your qualification to receive a visa can be dealt with without
delaying your departure.
You will be required to fill out an I-20 form(certificate of
eligibility).
Note: The I-20 Form is not a visa, nor does it guarantee a
visa. Be sure that you have read the form before you go to
the interview and have completed any statements required of you.
The holder of the F1 visa is not allowed to work off-campus for
the first year of studies. The second year of studies, however,
the holder is allowed to work a maximum of 20 hours per week.
Cost of visa: $ 45
J1 Visa
The J1 visa applies to students who study in the U.S. on an exchange
or scholarship program. On-campus work is automatically authorized(i.e.
researcher, intern, assistant etc.).
Cost of visa: $65 to $110
M1 Visa
The M1 visa applies to students who have been admitted into an
American university as a full-time student for technical or professional
studies during a limited time of one year. The holder of the M1
visa is not allowed to work at all while there.
Working Visa
Immigration in the United States is regulated
by very strict laws and national quotas. As everyone knows, the
famous "Green Card" is very difficult to get(it allows
one to live and work in the United States for an unlimited amount
of time).
For a temporary stay there exists many other
types of visas(for temporary work) that correspond to specific
situations:
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Visa Type
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Description
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H1A
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Registered nurses for temporary employment
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H1B
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Persons in specialty occupations that require
a college or advanced degree; artists, entertainers, athletes
and fashion models of distinguished merit and ability (may
include persons assisting in their performances)
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H2A
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Temporary or seasonal agricultural workers
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H2B
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Persons filling temporary jobs that cannot
be filled by US citizens or residents
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H3
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Professional job trainees in an American
company or in the US office of a foreign company
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I
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Representatives of foreign information media,
representatives of a foreign tourist bureau, or film crew
members holding professional journalism credentials and
intending to work on news or non-commercial documentaries
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L
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Managers or executives of multinational
corporations, transferred to the company's US office, that
have a minimum of one years experience with the company
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O
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Persons of sustained national or international
acclaim in the sciences, arts, education, business or athletics,
coming to the US to work or perform in their field of achievement
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P
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Entertainers and athletes coming for specific
competitions or performances, or who are participating in
a reciprocal exchange program between the US and their country.
This also includes those performing in culturally unique
programs
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Q
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Participants in an international cultural
exchange program for the purpose of explaining or sharing
their country's culture
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Forms/Procedures: For each of the above visa categories,
you must have a valid job offer and, before any visa can be issued,
your employer in the US must first file Form I-129 (Petition for
Non-Immigrant Worker) with the US Immigration and Naturalization
Service (INS). Once approved, the employer is sent Form I-797("Notice
of approval"), as no work visa can be issued without this
approved petition form. When you apply for your work visa, you
must present the ORIGINAL Form I-797 to the consular officer.
The approval of a petition does not guarantee visa issuance to
an applicant found ineligible under provisions of the Immigration
and Nationality Act (INA).
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