Tej Kohli

Hello Again! So now that you have decided to study in USA, you must know the ABC of Visa application procedure.

For such information, Tej Kohli Study blog is always at your service.

To start with, applicants should apply at the consular section of the American Embassy any working day, Monday through Friday, during working hours of the consular section.
Documents required are :

• Valid Passport
• One Passport size photograph (In a specified format)
• A Non-immigrant Visa Application (Form 156) available from the Consular section.
• Other require forms. (Will depend on the country you apply from)
• Form I-20 executed by the authorizing official of institution concerned, signed by the applicant.
• Evidence of financial ability to cover the costs of the education and maintenance involved
• Visa fee to (to be paid in the currency mentioned)

When to apply :

An applicant may apply for a student Visa not earlier than 90 days before the registration date specified on the FORM I-20. If the registration date is already passed or the applicant cannot reasonably expect to arrive at the school by the registration date, the applicant should obtain an amended I-20 or a letter of extension from the issuing institution stating by what date the applicant may arrive.

After the Completed application forms along with the documents are submitted;

In most cases, the visa will be issued within a few hours or days of the submission of the application. In some instances, the process may take longer depending on the time of year, consular caseload or other factors.

If your application is denied, you should ask the Consular Officer for a “written denial decision.” This will provide you with the official reason for your visa denial.

Source: U.S. Embassy

If you have any other query regarding visa application, do post in your comments!

Tej Kohli Blog gives a lot of important information for students. Tej Kohli has complied some handy Visa Information.

If you wish to obtain the student’s visa, you need to fulfill the following principal requirements:

1) Acceptance by University

Acceptance of the applicant by an institution of learning for a full course of study is essential. Evidence in support of this requirement consists of a Form I-20 filled out by the accepting school, and signed by the applicant and presented with the visa application.

2) Knowledge of English Language

Evidence that the applicant has sufficient scholastic preparation and knowledge of the English language, if required by the school to undertake a full course of study in the accepting institution. To establish their knowledge of English, applicants are encouraged to take the TOEFL, available in many countries around the world.

3) Proof of Financial Resources

This involves proof that the applicant has sufficient funds to cover the total cost of education and stay in the U.S. This implies evidence of readily available funds to meet all expenses for the first year, and of the availability of funds for the following years from reliable financial resources. To satisfy this requirement applicants may show that funds are available from the educational institution, from their personal resources or from sponsors,who have agreed to pay for their education.

If the support is from the educational institution, in the form of a scholarship, assistantship, on-campus employment, etc.,it is usually noted on the I-20.

If the support is from your home country, the applicant must produce bank books and statements or other documents showing a total amount in your currency equal to the dollar cost of the first year, and evidence regarding sources of funds for subsequent years. If the student is not paying his own expenses, an affidavit of support executed by the sponsor and sworn before a registered authority must also be presented, along with financial evidence indicating the ability to carry out the undertaking.

If the support is from outside your country, the sponsor must provide a letter from his/her bank indicating that the sponsor has sufficient funds to cover the costs involved, together with a current notarized Affidavit of support stating willingness to finance the applicant’s educational expenses. The sponsor should also provide evidence of current employment and income.

With regard to sponsorship, particular weight is given to promises of support from immediate family members. Affidavits from less than immediate relatives and family friends do not carry the same degree of commitment as do affidavits from immediate family members and should be accompanied by a statement explaining in detail what compelling reasons the person has to carry out the promises made on the affidavit.

The Embassy emphasizes that the commitment contained in an affidavit of support is not a mere formality. The U.S. Government regards Affidavits of support to be binding, legal documents that oblige the sponsor to be financially responsible for the student during his/her time in U.S.

4) Proof of Non-Immigrant Intent (Existence of permanent residence)

It is difficult to prove that you intend to return to home country after your studies are complete even though you sincerely intend to. This is because by law, all non-immigrants are viewed as “intending immigrants.” This means that the visa officer is under the assumption that you will be coming to the US and will remain in the US permanently.

You should carry with you documents that demonstrate ties to your home country and would help convince the consul of your intent to return. Such documents may include:

1. Proof of land ownership

2. Economic and Social ties are very important: An applicant’s future role in a family business, academic institution, government agency, professional organization are all possibilities. Bring letters from appropriate parties to demonstrate such facts.

3. If other family members have studied in the U.S. and returned it should be mentioned.

4. Letters from prospective employers recognizing the need for specialized training offered in the U.S. can also serve to aid an application in the applicant’s home country.

5. Providing an explanation of why equivalent educational training is not available in your home country, if applicable.

Most importantly, Consular Officials want to hear from the applicant. At no time, is it recommended that the applicants bring family members with them to the interview.

If you prove to the Consular Official’s satisfaction that you intend to come to the U.S. solely for the purpose of study and will return to your home country upon completion of the program, a visa stamp will be affixed to a page in your passport. You should apply for a multiple entry F-1 student visa. With a multiple entry visa you can travel between US and your home country during the duration of your stay in the Unites States.

If you are applying for F1 Student Visa to USA, must avoid these 4 Most Common Mistakes that may lead to denial of US student F1 Visa.
- by Tej Kohli

The 4 most common problems that affect students from getting to the USA on student visas, English skills, not a serious student, money & they have a relative who lives in the USA all ready. These problems are associated more with students that are from developing countries, developed nations students are not usually scrutinized to the same level, as the likelihood that they will stay illegally in the USA is much less.

1. English skill; you need to be able to do the school work in English. It is OK that you will need to get some additional English skills when you get to the US, but for most potential students you cannot go to the USA to study English. The higher your TOEFL score, the better your chances of getting a USA F1 Visa, if it is real low under lets say 200 you might want to study English at home and bring that number up as is true for most USA Visas, the first time you apply has the highest likelihood that you will get accepted.

2. You are perceived as not being a serious student. The thought is if you are not a serious student then you should be applying for a tourist visa which will allow you to take some classes. Serious students have good grades and they take lots of classes in their home countries before they try to go the USA.

3. Money It is expected that most students will work when they are in the USA, but you must have enough resources to support yourself and to pay your tuitions and book fees before you get the visa. The work that you would seek would be the traditional college experience, part time pizza money type job.

4. You have a relative that lives in the USA all ready. There is a high incidence of people who have relatives in the USA that they will go to work for that relative; you would think that it would help the applicant, but it is the other way around.

Any of these 4 problems are easy to fix if you feel that one of these problems affects you it is best to talk to a immigration lawyer or immigration specialist before you file your application; again your first application is going to have the best chance of success, so getting it right the first time is a big step towards achieving your goals.

Before you read any informative stuff  in this category on Tej Kohli Blog, Let’s first concentrate on the most fundamental question that I’m sure must have cropped up in your minds at some time or the other..What exactly IS a Visa???

A stamp in the passport issued by an American Embassy or Consulate abroad, allowing the holder to request entry to the United States in a certain visa status within the time period specified on the visa. A visa may allow one, two or multiple entries before the expiration date of the visa.

A visa is either a multicolored stamp or computerized document affixed to a page in the passport by a U.S. Consular office abroad. It allows international visitors to travel to the U.S. as long as the visa has not expired. Once visitors are admitted into the U.S., visas are no longer the most important documents governing their status. A visa is used only for travel to the U.S., but is not used to determine how long individuals may stay in the U.S.

A seal or endorsement made on a passport by the proper officials of a country that entitles the bearer to apply for entry into another country at the port of admission.

A visa allows a foreign citizen to travel to a U.S. port-of entry and request permission from the U.S. immigration officer to enter the United States. It does not guarantee entry into the U.S.

Those were some definitions of Visa on the web ..hope the article was helpful. More in subsequent posts.