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In order to obtain a non-immigrant, student visa, you must be able to prove the following:
- That you have strong ties to your home country which demonstrate your intention to return home after your studies (in other words, that you do not plan to immigrate permanently to the U.S.)
- That you have sufficient funds to pay for your financial needs while you are studying in the U.S., including tuition, health insurance, housing, travel expenses, etc.
- That you have legitimate intentions to study full time and gain education and training which will be useful in your home country
Canadian citizens do not need a visa to enter the U.S. You must show your Form I-20, supporting financial documentation, I-94 card, and SEVIS receipt to the immigration officer when you enter the U.S.
1. Find your local U.S. Consulate or Embassy and schedule an appointment
http://trave.state.gov/visa/questions/_embassy.html
See here for approximate wait time for your visa:
http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/wait/tempvisitors_wait.php
2. Complete the visa application forms
DS-156 Nonimmigrant Visa Application Form
DS-157 Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application
DS-158 Contact Information and Work History for Nonimmigrant Visa Applicant
3. Pay the visa application fee
Ask your local U.S. Consulate or Embassy for information regarding where and how to pay the visa application fee. The current rate is $131USD
4. Pay the $200 SEVIS fee (you must bring the SEVIS fee receipt to the visa interview)
https://www.fmjfee.com/i901fee/
Payment options
a) Online with credit or debit card (recommended)
b) Mail - check or money order drawn from a U.S. bank
c) Western Union
5. List of Documents to prepare for the interview
- Your passport valid for at least six months
- I-20 from NSCC
- NSCC admission letter
- SEVIS receipt
- Visa application fee receipt
- Completed applications (DS-156, DS-157, DS-158)
- Two 2"x2" (50mmx50mm) photographs
- Official financial/bank statement showing sufficient funds for one year of study at NSCC
- Any supporting information that proves your ties to your home country, such as family members, a job, property, etc.
6. The Visa Interview
Dress appropriately, answer all of the questions clearly and in English. Do not be late!
If you visa application is denied, please contact us.
This document allows you to apply for a visa, and to enter or to re-enter the U.S. NSCC will issue your I-20 after you have been admitted.
A visa is the stamp in your passport issued by a U.S. Consulate. It shows that the Consulate has reviewed your documents in your country and recommends your admission into the U.S.
REMEMBER: The visa stamp does NOT tell you how long you can stay in the U.S., and the expiration date of the visa does not affect your length of stay in the U.S. (See "Period of Authorized Stay").
Upon entry into the U.S., every non-immigrant is given an I-94, a small card usually stapled to the passport page opposite the visa stamp. The I-94 shows how long you are allowed to stay in the U.S. A student in F-1 status has D/S instead of a date (See "F-1 Regulations and Procedures").
TIP: You will give the I-94 card away to an immigration official when you leave the U.S. (except for a brief visit to Canada or Mexico-see "Leaving and Returning to the U.S.")
Your passport must be valid at all times. Report a lost or stolen passport to the police, as your government may require a police report before issuing a new passport. Talk to the consulate or embassy for your country (here in Seattle) to renew or replace your passport.
TIP: Keep your passport and other important documents in a safe place, such as a bank safety-deposit box. It is also a good idea to keep a copy of your passport in a separate safe place. You can obtain a Washington State ID card to use for identification purposes
If you are following the rules of your visa, then you are in status. If you come into the U. S. on an F-1 student visa, you are allowed to stay in the U.S. for the Duration of your Status-as long as you stay "in status" If you have violated the rules of the F-1 visa, you are "out of status" and you are staying in the U.S. illegally.
TIP: If you stay in status, you may remain in the U.S. a very long time! Read the information below about staying in status, and you will be OK-even if your visa stamp has expired.
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