FAQ on Student Visa
What is the right time to apply for visas?
Anytime, though according to the rules, one can apply only 120 days in advance of the date of enrollment mentioned in the I-20 form.
I plan to do my Ph D in the US. My I-20 says my funding is for one year, after which it will be reviewed.
Will I have to show funds for the rest of the three or four years of study?
At the visa office, students must show funds (academic plus living) for one year, and access to funds for subsequent years.
If your aid covers your overall expenses for the first year, it is okay.
How many attempts are allowed if a student visa is denied?
Unlimited attempts are allowed with a gap of three working days between each attempt. You must produce fresh documents for each new attempt.
Visa consuls go by the rules, and if the same papers are submitted, the application hardly stands a chance.
Each time you will also need to pay fresh visa fees of Rs 4,400 plus Rs 441 as service fee.
If I plan to fund my Masters programme in the US, what should I do?
You will need to show how you can would transfer your funds from India to the US.
Do you have a foreign exchange release permit from an authorised bank or a sponsor in the US to take care of your living and education in US dollars?
Also, you should convince the US Consul that you have strong ties in India which proove you are not an intending immigrant.
What is considered conclusive proof that a student will come back? How much assets or liquid cash should be shown for a student visa?
There are no fixed amount of assets or liquid cash specified in the US immigration law.
The interviewing US Consul should be convinced that the applicant is a bonafide student, genuinely wanting to pursue higher studies in America and return after his/ her education and apply his/ her knowledge in India.
The ties you could show would involve your economic attraction in India after graduation; and the social roots to which you will return.
Statistics in the past have shown that seven to eight out of 10 students do not return. Thus, consulates in India are very careful in granting student visas.
Is a student visa guaranteed when a university issues an I-20 form?
A student visa is not guaranteed on the issuance of the I-20 alone, as the applicant has to convince the US Consul that s/he is not an intending immigrant by showing proof of his/ her permanent ties in India.
If sufficient funds are not available, can a loan from banks or other institutions help get a student visa?
If you take a loan, you will need to convince the visa officer about its repayment. And that, in doing so, you will not become an intending immigrant.
Are student visas rejected if I have brothers and sisters in America?
This is an individual situation. The decision depends on a case-by-case basis.
If the US Consul feels you are trying to get to the US in the guise of a student with possible support of siblings in America, you may be rejected.
Likewise, if your brother or sister had gone to the US on a Non-Immigrant Visa and adjusted status to permanent visa, the applicant does become a 'risk candidate'.
It will then be left to the interviewing officer's judgement to decide.
Is it true that people with the last name (surname) Patel or Singh are unlikely to get a student or visitor visa?
There is nothing in the US immigration law that discriminates against the name or surname of applicants.
It is, however, true that US Consulates in India have not had favourable experiences with candidates with the last name Patel or Singh.
Cases of many Patels going on NIVs and not returning are quite prevalent.
Nonetheless, applicants with the last names Patel or Singh are closely examined for their bonafides and genuinity.
How long is the interview and how should I prepare for it?
Look into the eyes of the official during the interview, demonstrate respect and confidence.
The interview may only be one to three minutes.
Be prepared to answer why you selected the school in which you have received admission. You may be asked how many admissions you have received and the number of rejects from various US universities you have applied to.
You must demonstrate how your education and your degree will be of value to you in India.
Be ready to clarify your goals upon returning home.
Will having a relative in the US affect my visa application?
If you have a close relative like a parent or a spouse who is a US citizen or a permanent resident in the US, the consul may presume you are going there to join your family and will not return to India.
While the law does not prohibit the issuance of student visas to applicants who have close relatives in the US, it puts an additional burden on the applicant to prove his/ her non-immigrant intent.
In any case, it is extremely important to provide such information truthfully on your application. You must prove your financial ties, ie a substantial financial stake in your family property by showing property papers, etc. You must also express strong social ties with your parents or with your spouse and kids in India.
What about a foreign sponsor?
The motive has to be clearly established.
Sixty per cent of the students who go to the US for education do so on some sort of aid.
Education in the US is a costly proposition. So, if someone is funding you, the US consul would want to know why and under what terms. The sponsorship could be from family/ relatives in India or from family/ relatives in the US.
If you are being sponsored, is it for or against your case if the sponsor is (a) a US citizen, (b) an Indian citizen?
There is no regulation for or against the nature of the sponsor's citizenship.
Is there a specific number or quota annually for student visas?
There is no ceiling on student visas according to US immigration laws.
I am a student going to America for a PhD. My I-20 says my funding is for one year, after which it will be reviewed. Will I have to show funds for the rest of the 3-4 years of study?
The I-20 is a form issued by the American university declaring your admission.
At the visa office, you must show funds (academic plus living) for one year and access to funds for subsequent years. If your aid covers your overall expenses for the first year, then it is okay.
What is the right time to apply for visas?
One can apply 120 days before the date of enrolment mentioned in the I-20 form.
What about shifting schools once I get there?
Once you are in the US, you are governed by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services rules. Accordingly, you cannot change your school before completing a year in it. It is advisable you make your choice carefully, and avoid problems later.
I get my visa on one I-20; then I get another I-20 from another school, which I now want to join. What will I have to do?
You will have to apply for another visa.
How many attempts are allowed if a visa is denied?
You can apply any number of times after visa refusal but, each time you reapply, you have to pay the visa fees (Rs 4,600 Rs 276 as service charge), fill fresh application forms and show 'new evidence' compared to the documents you presented when your visa application was rejected.
The new evidence should reveal changed circumstances with regard to your financial ties that will prove you are not an intending immigrant.
Visas are often denied due to the applicant's inability to prove he/ she is not an intending immigrant and sometimes also because he/ she do not communicate well enough ie deliver answers to-the-point.
Also, if you have two refusals in a period of the last six months, you will have to wait in the normal queue for a visa appointment. You will not get a priority appointment to meet a university deadline if you have been refused a visa twice.
Does the reputation of the college have any bearing on my visa application?
Not always.
However, the reputation of the college establishes the motive.
If you are going to a reputed college, your intention is clear. But if you are going to an institution no one has heard of, and which has not asked you to take any standard tests, it might make the US consul suspicious.
In some cases, when students are going for some specialist courses not offered anywhere else, a marginal school would do.
Does it help if I have been chosen by 10 schools?
Yes, it establishes that you are a superstar. There is no direct relation, though it completes the picture for the consul and helps it evaluate the case better. Mention this during your interview.
if I plan for graduate (Master's) study in the US and am financing my education myself?
You will have to show how you will transfer your funds from India to the US.
Do you have a foreign exchange release permit from an authorised bank or a sponsor in the US to take care of your living and education in dollars? The RBI issues the permit.
Moreover, you should convince the consul you have strong ties in India to prove you are not an intending immigrant.
For students going for further studies, what is considered conclusive proof that they are coming back? How much assets or liquid cash on hand should be shown for a student visa?
There is no fixed amount of assets or liquid cash specified in the US immigration law.
The law that operates is that the US consul who interviews you should be convinced you are a bona fide student, genuinely wanting to pursue higher studies in America. He should also be convinced you plan to return to India after your education and apply your knowledge here.
The ties shown by you should involve your economic attraction to India after graduation and the social roots to which you would return rather than stay in the US.
Statistics in the past have shown that seven to eight out of 10 students from India do not return. Therefore, consulates in India are very careful while granting student visas.
Is a student visa guaranteed when an I-20 form is issued by a university?
A student visa is not guaranteed with the issuance of the I-20 alone. You have to convince the US consul you are not an intending immigrant by showing proof of your permanent ties in India.
If sufficient funds are not available, can a loan from banks or other institutions help in getting a student visa?
The US consul will have to be convinced about how you will repay the loan.
If huge loans are shown, getting a visa can become difficult. It is preferrable to have a smaller loan.
Can a student be partially sponsored by a US-based sponsor and partly by an India-based sponsor?
The US consul has to be convinced about the genuineness of the case. Prima facie, the case cannot be rejected because two sponsors are involved.
Do visas for students get rejected if the applicants have brothers and sisters in America?
This is an individual situation. The decision depends on a case-by-case basis.
If the US consul feels you are trying to get into the US in the guise of a student, with the possible support of your siblings in America, your application may be rejected. Likewise, if your brother or sister had gone to the US on an NIV (Non Immigrant Visa) and adjusted that status to permanent visa, you become a 'risk candidate'. It will then be left to the judgment of the interviewing officer to decide.
Do I have to pay the first year's tuition expenses in advance and show a receipt from the university?
No, paying the tuition expenses in advance is a good way to show proof of funds, but it is not a requirement.
How do I prove I can afford to attend school in the US?
Part 7 on the I-20 shows the amount of funding you must have available to cover the first year's expenses. The total amount includes tuition and fees, living expenses, expenses of dependents (if applicable) and other expenses (as applicable). You must prove you have immediate funds available to cover this amount.
If you are going to a two-years Master's programme, you must also show that funds are or will likely be available to cover the same amount for the second year.
What if my university does not require I take the TOEFL or GRE?
You should provide a letter from the university stating the same. However, the embassy strongly recommends that all student visa applicants provide standardised test scores.