Steps for Applying a US Student Visa in the Philippines

Are you ready to study in the United States of America? Have you got all the requirements needed? Well, if you are still confused on what to do once you apply for a US student visa, then you have come to the right place.

For an individual to be awarded an F-1 Visa (Academic Student), he or she must first be accepted in a degree program, diploma or certificate in an academic institute. These academic institutes should be granted authorization by the US government to accept foreign students. Once an individual is given an F-1 visa, he or she is now allowed to enter the US as a full time student.

The first thing that these candidates should acquire is an I-20. This I-20 is a receipt which indicates that a student has been accepted and already enrolled in an academic institution.

There are certain documents one should prepare for the application. Candidates must make sure that all of these are original. Here are some requirements students have to take note of:

a. DS-160 Online Non-immigrant Visa Electronic Application

Log on to ceac.state.gov/genniv/ and complete an online application through the Consular Electronic Application Center. Once done, be sure to print a hard copy of the confirmation page.

b. Passport

Passports must be in good condition and should be valid for at least six months from the scheduled departure from the US.

c. Photographs

A US visa application photograph is needed. Photo centers already know the required background for this.

d. Proof of Relationship

This is applicable to those people applying with or for dependents. They need an original marriage certificate from NSO (National Statistics Office) if applying for spouse or a child and an original birth certificate if applying for dependents.

Next, you have to schedule your appointment. Book it via the Embassy Call Center or VisaPoint System. Make sure all requirements are ready and provide an email address for the embassy to send the Appointment Confirmation Receipt.

Remember that you have to pay the MRV or the Machine Readable Visa fee at any branches of BDO and Citibank branches in Makati, Libis, Binondo, Alabang and Cebu. A fee of USD140 should be made in Philippine peso. Do not forget to bring your DS-160 confirmation page and Application Confirmation receipt sent thru email at the bank teller when paying. The MRV receipt will be attached with these documents that you need to bring on the day of the interview. Furthermore, applicants should pat the SEVIS fee of USD200 the can be paid through www.fmjfee.com.

On the day of the interview, go straight ahead to the appropriate gate at least a couple of hours before your scheduled interview time. Bring all the documents you have. After the interview is done, you will know whether you are granted a visa or not.

Moreover, applicants should check the IELTS or the International English Language Testing System exam score these academic institutions require upon lodging their applications.

Source: http://www.philippines.idp.com/usa/student_services/visa_applications.aspx