Documents Required For F1 Visa Interview – 2023 – 24

Reading Time 5 minutes/Published 10-12-2021

The United States remains one of the most sought-after destinations for students planning to pursue their bachelor's degrees. According to the latest stats by Open Doors, approximately 1.6 lakh Indian students enrolled in US colleges in the 2020–21 academic year.

The United States remains one of the most sought-after destinations for students planning to pursue their bachelor’s degrees. According to the latest stats by Open Doors, approximately 1.6 lakh Indian students enrolled in US colleges in the 2020–21 academic year.

With the increasing demand among Indian students to pursue their education in the USA, it is important for them to know about F1 US Student visas.

What is an F1 Visa?

The F1/F-1 Visa is the non-immigrant US student visa granted to international students who dream of pursuing their higher education in any academic institution in the US. Licensed through the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), the F1 Visa covers a range of educational levels, starting from the primary or elementary school level to the college and university level with different degrees.

You can best follow up on your F1 Visa after a well-recognized US institution accepts the authenticity of your application. Once the approval is done, the F1 Visa lets the applicant stay in the United States while studying at any private institution, college, university, seminary, conservatory, or any other similar education provider or training program for a temporary period of time.

Eligibility Requirements of F1 Visa

As the F-1 Visa application is a temporary visa, you must ensure that you have a permanent residency in your own hometown where you can return again as soon as your studies are over
Apply to be part of a full-time offline course or program in a SEVP-permitted institution within the US
You must be proficient in English or be enrolled in English proficiency courses
Have taken the IELTS or TOEFL examination
You can provide proof of sufficient economic resources or sustainable financial conditions required to live in the US
Confirm that you live outside of the United States while applying for the VISA

Essential Documents for F1 Visa

A legitimate passport in good condition with a validity of a minimum of six months beyond your period of stay.
A printed copy of the DS-160 application form for non-immigrant visa applications.
Two passport-size photos are required for your US student visa.
Proof or printed copies of your payment receipt of the F1 visa USA fee charges.
Proof of medical health insurance papers for global students.
Documents that show your earlier educational training and present qualifications:
- Original transcripts
- Diploma Degrees achieved in the past
- Standardized test mark sheets (TOEFL, IELTS, GMAT, GRE, etc.)
Acceptance letters from academic institutions

For form I-20: Form I-20 specifies the amount of money you need to manage your education and living expenses while studying in the US. You have to submit files that show you can bear such an amount. To do this, you can present these documents:

Bank statements of the past three years
Tax return records of the last three years
Pay records of preceding employment
Submit proof of any received scholarship
The tuition payment receipt for one semester or a year (not mandatory).
Submit form I-134, last 3 years bank statements, and Affidavit of Support in case you are sponsored or supported by means of an individual belonging to the US.
Additionally, display a loan approval letter if you intend to fund your US studies via the loan.

Application Process for F1 Visa

F1 US student visas can be issued within a maximum of 120 days from the beginning day and date of your training or course. However, you won’t be allowed to enter the US at the F1 level 30 days before your beginning date.

To get your F1 Visa, firstly, you have to get accepted to a SEVP certified US university.
Once you are accepted, obtain your I-20 application form from your college.
After getting the application form, ensure all your information on the form is correct, and then sign at the bottom of the first page of the form.
Next, pay the SEVIS fee. You can pay the SEVIS fee whenever you want for the course of the application. However, it is encouraged you pay the SEVIS I-901 fee before beginning your US visa application.
As soon as the SEVIS fee payment process is completed and you get the receipt, apply for the online DS-160 visa application form.
Bring a printout of this online form as proof of your F1 Visa USA interview.
The payment for the Visa must be made via NEFT or at legal Citibank locations or AXIS Bank.
Schedule your biometric and interview appointments.
For the biometric appointment, it is required that you appear in person in order to get your fingerprints scanned and get your photo clicked for the Visa.

Interview Questions for F1 Visa

At the private F1 Visa USA interview, the interviewer will ask you some questions related to your:

Choice of college, courses, subjects, etc. (e.g., What are you planning to study in the US?; Why did you choose this particular US university?; What do you know about the education system in the US?; What is the cost of the course you plan to do in the US?)
Income and finances (e.g., How do you intend to financially support your educational and living expenses in the US?; Have you received any scholarships?)
The reason for coming back (e.g., After you graduate, will you return back home or would you like to continue staying in the US?)
Job or employment scenario (e.g., What is your current job or occupation?; Why do you want to leave your job and study in the US?)
Family (e.g., What do your parents do for a living?; Do you have any siblings?)
Other General Questions (e.g., Have you been to the US before?; What are your 10th or 12th board scores? Where is your school located?)

These questions are crucial as they help establish your character, and it allows the US authorities to understand what your intentions are for studying in the US as well as what kind of citizen you will be.

Once the interviewer is convinced, they will take your passport to get your F1 Visa stamped.

Fees for F1 Visa

Generally, the F1 Visa fee is $350. However, occasionally it gets reduced to $200 or increased to $400 depending upon the US immigration conditions when applying for the Visa.

F1 VISA rejection reasons

Lack of monetary evidence to verify the student’s financial conditions for studying and living in the US.
Discovery of the applicant being a potential immigrant.
Lack of proof of the applicant’s connection to their hometown.
Inappropriate or fake information or documents.
Failure to present a justified or convincing intention to the interviewer or visa officer about studying in the US.

Final Words

Applicants seeking an F1 visa must know that US Visa Officers are extremely strict when it comes to approving these US student visas. So make sure that you have properly gone through all the rules and regulations before applying for the Visa.

To get more information about studying abroad please visit The WorldGrad