Embassy of the United States

non-immigrant visas

Student Visas

The process of applying for an F-1 or M-1 student visa begins with acceptance to an American educational institution.  Following admission, the educational institution in the United States will issue a Certificate of Eligibility for Non-Immigrant Student Status (I-20 form). 

Sponsoring academic institutions are required to enter accepted foreign students’ names into SEVIS, the Student and Exchange Visitors Information System.  Students should verify with their sponsoring academic institutions that they are entered into SEVIS before they apply for a visa.  Upon receiving the I-20 form, students are required to pay a SEVIS fee online at http://www.fmjfee.com and bring a printed copy of this receipt to the visa interview.

Dependants of students studying in the United States may qualify for F2 or M2 visas.  These include the principal applicant’s spouse and all children under the age of 21.  Siblings and parents are not considered dependants, even if they plan to accompany an unmarried female student.  They would need to apply for a B1/B2 visa unless they plan to apply for their own student visa.

Each applicant between the ages of 14 and 79 years of age must schedule an appointment for an interview.  At the time of the interview, applicants must bring all of the following to the Embassy:

• A passport that is valid for at least six months and has at least one blank visa page.
• Photocopy of the bio-data page of their valid passport.
• All previous passports.
• Receipt from any SAMBA bank for each applicant.
  (Please note that this fee is non-refundable.)
• Fully completed and signed application forms.
• Original I-20 Form from the school.
• Photocopy of I-20.
• Proof of payment of SEVIS fee.
• Two photographs.
• Proof of financial ability. (Either bank statements or proof of a scholarship)
• Transcripts for all educational institutions attended since beginning high school.

**PLEASE NOTE**
After the student's first entry into the United States with a student visa it is not necessary for all of the information on a student visa to match the information on a student’s I-20.  A student must have a valid visa, as well as a valid I-20 which corresponds to a valid registration with the SEVIS program. 

For additional information and frequently asked questions please download the Student Information Guide (عربي)