Visas

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Overview - Types of Visas - General Steps - Dependents - Enquiries

"The visa application process was not at all as daunting as I thought it would be. You do have to jump through a number of hoops to complete your application, but it's obvious the US Embassy staff have tried their hardest to streamline the process and to make it as efficient as possible. I really found the visa process to be pretty manageable."
Marc, University of Pennsylvania

Overview

Mission Possible: Get Your US Student Visa

The first step to preparing to go to the US is to get your visa. Generally speaking, the process for UK citizens to apply for a visa to study in the US is straightforward if you complete the necessary forms and steps in a timely and accurate manner. You may be interested to know the US Department of State and US Embassy London welcome visa applications from international students. In fact, the US Department of State issued 715,093 student, exchange and vocational visas in the fiscal year 2010. This translates to a worldwide acceptance rate of over 87%.

Note: This page is meant to be a general guide to the visa application process. Local US Embassies are the official source of information on visas, and any information provided to you by the US Embassy supersedes information on this webpage.

 

Please see the US Embassy in London's webpage on applying for an F Visa or J Visa, and talk with your US university or sponsor for the most up-to-date information. (If you are not a UK citizen, we encourage you to also read the US Embassy London's webpage on visas for non-residents.)

Types of Visas

"Foreign students and exchange visitors bring invaluable contributions to our nation."      Secretary Napolitano 

The two most common visas for US study are the F-1 Student Visa and J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa. Please note you will not have to choose which visa to apply for; your university or sponsoring organisation will dictate your visa type.

F-1 Student Visa: Most students pursuing full-time study at an educational institution recognised by the US government will enter the US on an F-1 Student Visa. Spouses or children accompanying F-1 visa recipients will travel on an F-2 visa.

 

J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa: The J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa, on the other hand, is for students, visiting scholars or lecturers pursuing study under sponsorship of the US government, their home government or an international organisation. For example, Fulbright scholars and many students on short-term study abroad programmes from UK universities will travel to the US on a J-1 visa. Spouses or children accompanying J-1 visa recipients will travel on a J-2 visa.

General Steps to Apply for a F-1 or J-1 Visa

"We aim to strike a balance - providing an open and welcoming experience for international students and visitors seeking information, while maintaining the integrity and security of our visa process."    U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director, John Morton

1.   Read the information provided by the US Embassy London on F-1 Student Visas and J-1 Exchange Visitor Visas.

2.   Once you accept an offer of admission, your university or sponsor will require proof of funds (bank statements, scholarship offer letters, loan documentation, etc.) for the first year of study. This figure will be based on the cost of attendance listed on the financial aid webpage of the university. Please note you may use any combination of personal/family savings, scholarships and loans to fund your studies; however, you will not be able to include anticipated earnings during your studies (i.e. working on campus). If you will be taking dependents (i.e. children, spouse) to the US, you will be required to show funds to cover their living expenses as well.

3.   The university or sponsor will then send you the relevant certificate of eligibility form, the I-20 (F-1) or DS-2019 (J-1). If you are taking dependents, you will use the same certificate of eligibility.

4.   Upon receipt of the I-20 or DS-2019 (or even before), you may book by phone an appointment for a visa interview at the US Embassy in London or if applicable in your home country (for more information read the US Embassy London's page for non-UK citizens). You will schedule your interview for a morning or afternoon timeslot. Although the interview itself will be brief, allow 3-4 hours for the full process.

5.   Complete the SEVIS I-901 form to register with the international visitor database.  You can fill out the form online, but you will need the I-20 or DS-2019 before you can complete the form. You will also need to pay the SEVIS fee ($200 for an F visa and $180 for a J visa).  You can pay online using a debit or credit card, and spouses and dependants do not need to pay the fee if they are going to the US on F-2 or J-2 visas. For more information about the SEVIS program, please see the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

6.   All applicants for F-1 and J-1 visas are required to complete the new online DS-160 visa form and pay the visa application fee ($140) for yourself and/or your dependents travelling on F-2 or J-2 visas. You can begin the application up to 120 days prior to your entry to the US. On the DS-160, you will be asked to upload a digital, US-sized passport photo (use a proper photo following the instructions provided - i.e. not an informal Facebook photo). You should also save often, as the system times out after several minutes. Additionally, be sure to include all educational institutions you have attended since age 11 in the Education section, as well as your full criminal background if applicable. You must report all arrests even if you were not formally charged and obtain a police certificate from the Association of Chief Police Officers. See the US Embassy's video on reporting criminal offenses and their website for more information. 

7.   After completing the form, you will be asked to take a print confirmation to your interview. For more information, please note the US Embassy provides a list of FAQs on the DS-160 form, as well as a YouTube video on the form itself and FAQs.

8.   You may wish to prepare for your visa interview. Student visa applicants should be able to demonstrate three criteria to visa officers:

Although the interview is not a document review, you may wish to take documentation to support these criteria, such as a letter of acceptance for your university or study abroad programme and the funding documentation you submitted to receive your I-20 or DS-2019 (photocopies or printouts of online bank statements are OK). Be prepared to answer questions about your reasons for studying in the US, to describe your programme, to discuss why you selected the particular university/programme, what your long-term goals are, how studying in the US fits in with these goals and your plans after you leave the US.

For the final criterion, visa applicants are assumed to be intending to immigrate to the US and overstay their visas. You will therefore need to prove to the immigration officer that you do not intend to overstay your visa. You will be asked to demonstrate your significant personal, cultural or professional ties to the UK, the country to which you would presumably return after your studies. For example, you may be able to demonstrate this by having family in the UK, owning property, having a UK degree to return to (for short-term study abroad students), etc. However, please note that these do not always guarantee a visa. For this reason, some international students choose to complete their visa interview in their home country where they have more ties and where immigration officers will be trained in evaluating ties to that country. See the US Embassy's page for non-UK citizens as you decide where to apply for your visa.

9.   Before your appointment, read the US Embassy's information on security information and plan your journey to the Embassy. Gather the documents you need for your interview, such as your passport, appointment letter, I-20/DS-2019, MRV receipt, DS-160, photo, SEVIS receipt, etc. Also, be sure to bring at least £4 in coins just in case you need to retake your passport photo.

10. Watch the US Embassy's YouTube video on what to expect on arrival to the Embassy. On arrival, you will go through security procedures similar to what you would expect at an airport. Travel light, as you are not allowed to take in electronics (iPods, phones, laptops, etc).

11. You will then wait until your number is called for an initial processing procedure called intake. You will submit your visa application, passport and photo, as well as have your fingerprints taken. If your DS-160 is not completed correctly, you will be sent home and have to reschedule your appointment.

12. You will then wait again until your number is called for your actual visa interview. Although the interview itself may only take a few minutes, you may be at the Embassy for a few hours in total. You may wish to take a book or magazine to read while you wait.

13. You will leave your passport with the US Embassy after the appointment. Expect to receive your visa and passport within an average of 5 - 7 working days. Average visa waiting times are available online. If needed, expedited delivery service can be purchased, and the Embassy can schedule an emergency appointment. 

14. After you receive your visa, book your travel to the US: F-1 visa holders may enter the US 30 days prior to the start date on their I-20 and stay on 60 days following the date of completion of your programme listed on the I-20. J-1 visa holders may also enter the US 30 days prior to the start date on their DS-2019, but may stay on only 30 days beyond the date of completion listed on the DS-2019.

15. If for some reason your visa is refused, please see the information on the US Embassy's website on visa refusals.

16. Finally, don't forget to read the pre-departure section of our website.

Dependents

Spouses and dependent children under the age of 21 may accompany F-1 and J-1 visa holders if they qualify for and apply for F-2 and J-2 visas respectively. Taking spouses and children with you can be an enjoyable way to share your international experience. However, there will be some logistical and financial issues to take into careful consideration.

First you will be expected to demonstrate financial support for your dependents. Additionally, as described in the work section, F-2 visa holders may not take up any paid work in the US, unless they apply for their own work or study visa. J-2 visa holders may apply for work authorisation however. See our section on working in the US for more information.

Enquiries

Our staff are not able to handle specific enquiries related to visas beyond the information provided on this website. The US Embassy in London or your home country is the official source of information on visas.

 

Information is available on the US Embassy in London website. Alternatively you may call the US Embassy at 09042 450100 (Operator Assisted £1.23/minute) between the hours of 8 am - 8 pm Monday - Friday, and 10 am - 4 pm on Saturday. You may also visit the Department of Homeland Security's Study in the States website.

 

Please note that the US university or sponsoring agency (for J-1 visas) should also be able to provide you with assistance on the paperwork and details of the visa application process upon your admittance to the programme. Therefore, you may wish to direct your enquiries to the appropriate member of staff, such as an international students advisor or programme coordinator.