Extra 30% off on our On-Site Job-Focused US Pathway Program
.avif)
For an Indian student aspiring to study in the US, the biggest challenge is not securing admission to their dream college or university but obtaining an F1 visa!
Many documents are required for an F1 visa interview, and many students often fail to produce the right kind. That results in their visa getting denied or delayed. So, if you are a student planning to study in the US, this article is for you.
Here, we have created a complete F1 visa document checklist that you need to apply for as well as pass your interview. Just follow the checklist and you will be one step closer to your dream college/university.
There are many types of documents you will need for your F1 visa interview. They can be divided into 5 sets, which are:
Now, let’s look at each of these sets and why they are needed.
1. Valid Passport: A valid passport is a must for your F1 visa interview. In fact, as per new rules, you need to apply for the visa interview slot with your original passport. Two things you need to be sure of about your passport when applying for your student visa. They are:
2. Form DS-160 confirmation slip: Before going for your visa interview, you need to submit your DS-160 form which is the Non-Immigrant Visa Application Form. After successful completion, you will be given a confirmation page with a barcode. This is your second mandatory document for an F1 visa interview. Take a printout of it.
3. SEVIS Fee Payment Receipt (Form I-901): The next item in your F1 visa documents checklist is your SEVIS fee receipt. This is the fee you pay at SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information) when applying for a Visa slot.
4. Form I-20: When you successfully get admission to an accredited institute in the US, they will send you the I-20 form. This is also referred to as the Certificate of Eligibility for Non-Immigrant Student Status and includes your program details, financial requirements, and SEVIS number. You will need the original copy of it signed by both you and your issuing institute authority.
5. Visa Interview Appointment Confirmation: Before going for your visa interview, you need to first book your visa interview slot. When you do so, you will be getting your visa interview appointment confirmation. You need to bring a copy of it as part of your F1 visa documents.
6. Visa application fee receipt: The receipt of the fee you paid when booking your visa interview slot.
7. Passport-Sized Photographs: When uploading the DS-160 form, you need to upload a current passport-size photo taken as per requirements. You should make sure you have more than two physical copies when you go for the interview. The photograph requirements are:
Under this group of F1 visa document checklist, you will have to include all original documents from your academic studies done so far. These documents are needed to prove that you are eligible for the course you are going to study in the US. These include:
These sets of documents for F1 visa interviews are often where students make mistakes. These documents are very important as they show that you have the financial capacity to stay, study, and support yourself during your course duration in the US. Some of the information will already be in your I-20 form, you need to present corresponding documents that support it. These documents are proof that your aim for going to the US is to study and not work there illegally! Hence, they are scrutinized very minutely during the F1 visa interview process.
1. Affidavit of Support: Original affidavit from sponsor(s). It should not be more than 4-5 days before the visa interview.
2. CA Statement: Original Chartered Accountant statement summarizing fixed and liquid assets, dated 4-5 days before the interview. This document also shows your ties to India, showing that you have incentives to come back after your studies and not stay in the US illegally. 4
3. Valuation Proof: Original valuation documents for all assets mentioned in the CA statement as proof.
4. Financial Resources Proof: Original documentation showing you have sufficient financial capability to cover the first year’s education and living expenses, as well as funds for the remaining years. Dated 3-4 days before the visa interview. Make sure it is the same as what you filled in your I-20 form.
5. Bank Statements/Passbook: Original bank statements or passbooks of sponsor(s) (savings account) for the last six months, dated 4-5 days before the interview.
6. Income Tax Papers: Original income tax documents of sponsor(s) for the past three years.
7. Income Proof: Original income proof of sponsor(s) such as appointment letters and pay slips for the past six months.
8. Business Balance Sheet: Original balance sheet of sponsor(s)’ business (if applicable) for the past three years.
9. Liquid Assets Proof: Original evidence of all liquid assets, including fixed deposits, shares, PPF, etc.
10. Authority Letters: Original letters from authorities confirming the liquidity of mutual funds, shares, and other assets, dated 4-5 days before the interview.
11. Ownership Documents: Original proof of ownership for fixed assets listed in the CA statement.
12. Valuation Certificates: Original valuation certificates for all properties from a Chartered Engineer.
13. Health Insurance: Though it is not mandatory, if your F1 visa interview documents include a copy of your health insurance plan, it can work in your favor. It can be through the University’s health plan or an external provider.
This set of F1 visa interview documents is related to your application to the universities in the USA. So, the set should contain:
If you have prior work experience, especially in a related field, it’s helpful to bring along your work experience letters or certificates. These documents can demonstrate your professional background and enhance your visa application, particularly for postgraduate students.
If you are a professional going for further study in the US, then your documents for the F1 visa interview should include your work experience documents. These are:
An F1 visa interview can indeed be tough and oftentimes nerve-wracking, but with a little planning, you can pass it without a problem. All you need to do is make sure you are following this F1 visa document checklist and taking all the necessary papers for the interview.
Be sure to know what papers you are taking, especially those under financial documents as the interviewer will ask you questions regarding the documents you submit. Just stay calm, answer clearly and you will be one step closer to your dream of studying in the US.
.avif)
.avif)
.png)
Copyright © 2024 All Rights Reserved
“Stepping beyond the traditional way of hiring resources, training them, and then deploying them to me is one of the best processes that Futurense has.”
“Honestly, I was sceptical at first. But the Tech Talk series changed my mind.. And I couldn’t have done any better than with Futurense!”
“Worked at a very low-paying job but couldn’t complain as my skills were not up to the mark. Futurense saved me with their “get paid to learn” model.”
“Talking about building teams, I feel Futurense is playing a crucial role in it by providing tech talent that fits like the perfect piece in the jigsaw puzzle.”
Employees
Delhi | Bengaluru
Employees
Delhi | Bengaluru
“Talking about building teams, I feel Futurense is playing a crucial role in it by providing tech talent that fits like the perfect piece in the jigsaw puzzle.”
“Stepping beyond the traditional way of hiring resources, training them, and then deploying them to me is one of the best processes that Futurense has.”
“Worked at a very low-paying job but couldn’t complain as my skills were not up to the mark. Futurense saved me with their “get paid to learn” model.”
“Honestly, I was sceptical at first. But the Tech Talk series changed my mind.. And I couldn’t have done any better than with Futurense!”
