Applying for a Student Visa 

Upon receipt of your Certificate of Eligibility (Form I-20) you will need to pay the $100 I-901 SEVIS fee and obtain a receipt. You will then need to make an appointment with the American Consulate or Embassy having jurisdiction over your place of permanent residence. Although you may apply at any U.S. Consular office abroad, it may be more difficult to qualify for the visa outside the country of permanent residence.

There is no time limit on how soon you can apply for the student visa. The sooner you apply the better. Consular offices get extremely busy during the late summer months (July, August, and September). Your visa will be issued to you up to (but not more than) 120 days prior to the program start date on your Certificate of Eligibility (Form I-20). Once you have obtained the visa, you may enter the U.S. up to (but not more than) 30 days before the program start date.

General Visa Application Requirements

  • Form I-20 from Hiram College (with Letter of Acceptance, Certificate of Finances, and original financial documents)
  • Form DS-156 (visa application) – The DS-156 must be the March 2006 date, electronic "e-form application"
  • Form DS-157 is required for all male applicants age 16-45 years. However, this form may be requested from any visa applicant
  • Form DS-158, a Contact Information and Work History form
  • Passport that is valid for at least six months beyond your proposed date of entry into the United States
  • Two (2) 2x2 photograph of yourself
  • An MVR fee receipt to show payment of the $100 Visa Application Fee
  • Receipt that shows payment of the SEVIS I-901 fee

NOTE: Individual Embassies may differ slightly regarding procedures for paying Visa Application Fees and requirements for an F-1 visa application Fees. Please visit or telephone the Embassy/Consulate with which you make your appointment for specific requirements.

The US Department of State has an excellent website to answer many of your visa application questions as well as several on-line forms.

Qualifications for a student visa

  • You must have a definite academic or professional objective. Be ready to say what you want to study and what kind of career it will prepare you for in your home country. Be prepared to explain why it is better for you to study in the U.S. than at home.
  • You must be qualified for the program of study.
  • You must be definite about your choice of schools as the visa is issued for you to attend a specific school.
  • You must be adequately financed and have documents to prove it. Except in the unusual case when employment is particularly authorized on the Form I-20 (i.e. graduate assistantship), you may not plan to use employment as a means of support while you are in the U.S.

Important Rules to Remember at your Consulate Interview

Before you apply for the visa, you should understand the process and the rules governing visas. Many visa applications fail. In some countries, most applications fail. Often it is because students do not know the rules or are not prepared. We do not want this to happen to you.

Please read the following carefully:

  • The consular officer will take a very legalistic view. In the U.S. , it is considered important to be impersonal when administering laws. This is considered rude or improper in many countries, but not in the U.S. , where the ideal is to apply laws equally to all regardless or status or gender. Do not try to negotiate or discuss personal matters.
  • The most important rule may seem strange to you. The consular officer who makes the decision on your visa application is required to think of you as someone who plans to come to the U.S. permanently and you must prove that you intend to return to your country after completing studies.

U.S. law very clearly states that an F-1 visa may be given only to persons who intend to remain in the U.S. temporarily.

  • Most interviews take less than 5 minutes so keep your answers short and to the point. Remain calm and polite. Practicing with a friend or counselor is good preparation for the actual interview.

Be prepared to show documentation to support your spoken statements.   When possible, have papers to show your connections to your home country.

  • If your family owns property, take copies of the deeds.
  • If your family owns a business, take bank letters that describe the business to the visa interview.
  • If you have a brother or sister who studied in the U.S. and returned home, take a copy of the brother’s or sister’s diploma and a statement from an employer showing that they have returned home.
  • If possible, show that an individual or company in your home country will give you a job when you return.
  • Even if most of your financial support comes from the U.S. , your visa application is stronger if at least part of your financial support comes from your home country.
  • Though limited work permission is possible for students in F-1 status (but not for dependents in F-2 status), employment is not guaranteed and cannot be used as part of your financial support for visa purposes.
  • Read your Form I-20. Some of the regulations for maintaining status are printed on page 2. Be aware of these regulations – especially the requirements that you study full-time.