Visa Advice
Visas
Non-Immigrant Visas
Student and Exchange Visas
The United States is proud of its long tradition of welcoming international students and providing them an unparalleled education. The process of applying for a student visa begins with acceptance to an American college or university. Following admission, the educational institution in the United States will issue a Certificate of Eligibility for Non-Immigrant Student Status (I-20 form). Exchange visitors and many graduate students will need a DS-2019 Form instead of the I-20.
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 or DS-2019 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 interview.
Dependants of students studying in the United States may qualify for F2, J2 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.
Each applicant 14 years of age and older 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 valid for at least six months.
- Photocopy of the bio-data page of 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 DS-156 (EVAF) form for each applicant.
- Fully completed application DS-157 form for all male applicants over 16 years of age.
- A fully completed and signed DS-158 Form for primary applicant.
- Original I-20 Form for F visa applicants and DS-2019 Form for J visa applicants.
- Photocopy of I-20 or DS-2019 form.
- Proof of payment of SEVIS fee.
- One photograph.
- Proof of financial ability. (Either bank statements or proof of a scholarship)
- Transcripts for all educational institutions attended since beginning high school.
**PLEASE NOTE**
It not necessary for all of the information on a student visa to match the information on a student’s I-20 or DS-2019 for every entry to the United States. A student must have a valid visa, as well as a valid I-20 or DS-2019 which corresponds to a valid registration with the SEVIS program.
For additional information and frequently asked questions please download the Student Information Guide (عربي)