Step by Step guide to USA study visa.
                     STEP BY STEP 
GUIDE TO USA 
STUDY VISA
INTRODUCTION
• In order to legally attend school in the US, all 
international applicants that is, those without 
US citizenship or permanent residence must 
first obtain a US student visa. 
Source: www.prepscholar.com/
TYPES OF US STUDENT VISAS
• There are three types of US student visas:
• F-1 visa: This visa is for high school or 
college/university study in the US, applying to both 
undergraduate and graduate students.
• M-1 visa: This visa is for nonacademic or 
vocational study in the US. Such programs are 
usually short term and career focused. 
• J-1 visa: This visa is for exchange visitors, including 
study abroad students, scholars, interns, and au 
pairs.
Source: www.prepscholar.com/
WHEN SHOULD YOU APPLY FOR A US STUDENT 
VISA?
• You may only apply for a student visa after 
you’ve applied for and been accepted to an 
SEVP-approved school.
• Once you’ve secured admission to the school 
you wish to attend, you can begin the visa 
application process.
Source: The Times of India
US STUDENT VISA APPLICATION CHECKLIST
• Passport
• Passport procedures and costs vary by country. Check 
your country’s government website for details on 
obtaining or renewing a passport.
• Passport-Style Photograph
• you must submit a recent (within the past six months) 
passport-style photograph. 
• Money
• you’ll need to have a decent sum of money on hand so 
that you can pay the various visa-related fees. 
Source: India Education
REQUIRED FEES FOR A US STUDENT VISA
• I-901 SEVIS fee: 
• This fee is 200 USD for F-1/M-1 students and 180 USD 
for J-1 students.
• Visa application fee: 
• This fee is 160 USD. All applicants must pay this fee.
• Visa issuance fee (if required): 
• This fee is only required for applicants of certain 
nationalities. You can see whether you are required to 
pay a visa issuance fee by going to the US visas 
website
Source: Shikshya Study Abroad
STEP 1: RECEIVE FORM I-20 OR DS-2019 FROM 
YOUR SCHOOL
• Once admitted to a school, you’ll receive one 
of two forms: 
• F-1 and M-1 students will receive Form I-20 
(Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant 
Student Status)
• J-1 students will receive Form DS-2019 
(Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-
1) Status).
Source: Twitter
STEP 2: PAY THE I-901 SEVIS FEE
• Once you receive your I-20 or DS-2019 form 
from your school, go online and pay the I-901 
SEVIS fee. Once again, this fee is 200 USD for 
F-1/M-1 students and 180 USD for J-1 
students. 
Source: www.prepscholar.com/
STEP 3: FIND YOUR NEAREST US EMBASSY OR 
CONSULATE
• You must apply for your international student 
visa through your nearest US embassy or 
consulate.
• You can search for US embassies and 
consulates online through the US Department 
of State.
Source: USEmbassy.gov
STEP 4: COMPLETE FORM DS-160 ONLINE
• Next, complete the Online Nonimmigrant Visa 
Application, also known as Form DS-160. 
• To successfully fill out this form, be sure you 
have the documents ready.
Source: www.prepscholar.com/
STEP 5: SCHEDULE YOUR VISA INTERVIEW
• After you’ve submitted Form DS-160, contact 
your nearest US embassy or consulate 
(ideally, the one you input on your online 
application) to schedule your visa interview.
Source: The Logical Indian
STEP 6: PAY YOUR VISA APPLICATION FEE & 
ATTEND YOUR VISA INTERVIEW
• Next, pay the 160 USD application fee. This 
fee is the same price regardless of your 
country of origin and where you apply.
• The last big step in the visa process is the 
interview. 
Source: Schengen Visa
STEP 7: RECEIVE YOUR VISA
• Once you’ve completed all of the steps above 
and have received approval for an 
international student visa to the US, your 
embassy will return your passport to you with 
your new visa in it. 
Source: www.prepscholar.com/