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Student VISA to USA

How to Apply for a Student Visa to USA
Visa Inquires to Stanley

Stanley now handles all telephone and email queries through their new multi-language call center and takes calls from 8:00 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday (excluding holidays), and 9:00 a.m. to 6:00p.m. on Sunday. Please direct all your email queries now to support-india@ustraveldocs.com or telephone +91-120-6602222 or +91-22-67209400, and 1-310-616-5424 (for calls from the U.S.).

Visitors to the United States require nonimmigrant visas. Before applying, know which type of visa suits your purpose of travel. If you plan to permanently relocate to the United States, please visit Immigrant Visas.

NOTE: Under a new initiative, in select circumstances, qualified foreign visitors who were interviewed and thoroughly screened in conjunction with a prior visa application may be eligible to renew their visas without undergoing another interview.

How to Apply

Make your appointment through www.ustraveldocs.com/in website or by telephoning the call center. Create a user account and make TWO appointments; one for finger-printing and photo at an Offsite Facilitation Center (OFC) and another for visa interview at the Embassy or Consulate.

 Carry with You to the Interview:

Your valid passport and previously issued passports
The DS-160 confirmation page with barcode
Appointment Confirmation Letter
H, L, and other petition-based visa applicants may bring copies of the I-797, I-129 and other petition-related documents
F, M students must bring the SEVIS receipt and I-20.
J exchange visitors must bring the SEVIS receipt and DS-2019.
Science and technology applicants may require additional processing. Bring supporting documents to minimize the processing time.
6. Due to security concerns and space limitations, U.S. consular sections do not permit interested parties such as friends, relatives, attorneys or business contacts to attend the visa interview with the applicant.

If an interested party wishes to provide information to a specific consular section concerning a particular visa applicant, they are encouraged to supply this information directly to the applicant. The applicant can then bring this information to the visa interview.

Delivery or Pick Up
Issued visas can be picked up at no extra charge at one of 33 document pick-up locations across India. Delivery can take up to seven business days but is normally much faster.

Questions?
Email: support-india@ustraveldocs.com
See our YouTube video on the visa process here.

Scheduling Appointments
Make your appointment through www.ustraveldocs.com/in. Please do not arrive more than 15 minutes before the time on your appointment letter.

To reschedule or cancel an appointment, follow the instructions on www.ustraveldocs.com/in.

Find wait times for visa processing and appointments at the Department of State Travel site.

Apply Early! Although the vast majority of visas are delivered in a week or less, some applications require administrative processing. Please do not make travel arrangements until you have received your visa.
Emergency Appointment
Emergency appointments are granted on a very limited basis for medical and humanitarian emergencies.

If it appears during the visa interview that you misrepresented the reasons for travel such facts will be noted on your case file and may adversely influence the outcome of your visa application. Emergency appointments must still complete form DS-160 on the Department of State website and purchase a valid fee receipt prior to appearing for the interview.

If you have an emergency, please please vist www.ustraveldocs.com to schedule or send an appointment request.

FAQAppointments and Interviews
How soon should I apply for my appointment?
Apply early! The wait times for appointments by post are available here.

Although the majority of applications are processed and ready to pick up within 2 business days, some applications will require administrative processing. We cannot predict in advance which applications will require administrative processing, not do we know how long it will take. Please apply at least 6-8 weeks before you plan to travel, and do not book tickets or hotels until you have a visa.
When will new appointment slots open?
Reducing wait times is one of our top priorities. We release appoints several weeks in advance. If those appointments are immediately filled, we assess our capacity for opening new appointments, and release those dates incrementally.

I need to travel a few days after my interview. Can I take my passport with me at the end of the interview?
Yes. After you return from your travels, send your passport back to the Consulate General. We will then continue to process and print your visa and will return you passport by courier. Please email support-india@ustraveldocs.com for more information about resubmitting your passport.
My wife and I just had a baby. Do babies need appointments?
The application process is the same for babies as it is for adults, except they do not need a separate appointment. In other words, you must pay all applicable fees, and follow the application process for each applicant. Note: this exception to standard procedures is only for new children.

My child needs a visa. Do my wife and I have to attend the visa interview with our child?
Yes. Both parents should attend the visa interview with their child if possible. Where one parent is unable to attend the visa interview with the child, the absent parent should provide a letter to their wife or husband that states they have no objection to the child’s application for a visa.
Can I accompany an applicant into the waiting room?
No, only applicants with appointment letters are allowed inside. Exceptions are allowed for those requiring a translator (if none is available); for the hearing impaired; for wheelchair attendants; in some cases for new mothers with babies. The decision to admit non-applicants is at the discretion of the security personnel.

How long before my planned travel date should I apply for a visa?
Some visas may not be issued immediately after the interview due to required additional administrative processing. We cannot predict how long that process will take, so please do not make travel plans until your visa has been issued.

What if I receive an I-20 Form from a better school?
If you receive an SEVIS I-20 Form from a better school and wish to attend that school you will need to change the name of the school printed on your visa. To do this you will have to apply for another visa and pay the Application Fee and Service Charge again.

How soon can I apply for my student visa?
You cannot apply earlier than 120 days from the start date on your I-20 or DS-2019. If you receive your visa, you are not allowed to enter the U.S. more than 30 days before the start date on your I-20 or DS-2019. You should apply as you soon as possible in case of delays issuing your visa.

Am I required to pay the first year's tuition expenses in advance and show a receipt from the school?
No. Payment of tuition expenses in advance is good evidence that you can finance your studies in the U.S., but it is not a requirement to pay in advance and show a receipt.

How do I prove I can pay for the program? What financial documents will you review?
Financial documents are not required for visa interviews. Typically, officers will not review these documents and will ask you questions about how you plan to pay. Documents are not forbidden, and may on occasion be reviewed, but we discourage applicants from going through trouble and expense of gathering accountant's statements and property appraisals.

My academic program is starting soon but there are no more appointments available this month. What should I do?
Email support-india@ustraveldocs.com with your passport number, SEVIS number, I20 start dates, and an explanation of your circumstances.

It is three days before the start date on my I-20 and my visa is still being processed. What should I do?
Please contact your school and request an extension letter or a new I-20. Inform them that your visa is still being processed. When you receive an extension letter or new I-20, please send a copy to the Consulate General immediately. Please remember that visa processing cannot be expedited.

I am an unmarried female student going to study in the U.S. Can my father (or my brother) receive a student visa to accompany me to the United States?
Only children under 21 and spouses qualify to accompany students. Other family members must apply for a Business and Tourism (B1/B2) visa. This means that the family member will not be able to live in the United States for the full term of the F1 student visa, and must exit the country within the time given by the Customs and Border Protection officer. Most visitors on a B1/B2 visa are admitted for six months, after which they must depart or seek an extension.



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