Documents Needed for USA F-1 Visa Application
The documents have been categorized into three groups for your convenience. Don't worry if you don't have all of them. Simply carry the ones that are applicable to you to ensure a smooth Visa Interview process without any unnecessary hassle.
1. Essential Documents
Current and old passports: Your passport is a crucial document as it verifies your identity and citizenship. Keep your current passport ready, and also your old passports if applicable. They show your travel history.
I20 document: This is a certificate of eligibility for nonimmigrant student status. It is issued by your US school and is essential for your F1 visa application. It contains information about your program of study and the financials related to your studies.
SEVIS fee receipt: SEVIS stands for Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. You have to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee before your visa interview, and the receipt is proof of this payment.
DS-160 confirmation page: The DS-160 is your online nonimmigrant visa application. Once you’ve completed the form, you will receive a confirmation page that includes a barcode, your application ID, and some information about your visa appointment. This must be printed and brought to the interview.
Visa Confirmation Page from CGI portal: After successfully booking your visa slot, you will have access to a confirmation page containing important information such as your OFC details and Visa Interview schedule. It is important that you print out this page and bring it with you to your OFC and Visa interview.
Visa Payment Receipt: Kindly ensure that you have the payment success receipt if you made an online payment. For those who made payment through Axis Bank, it’s important to have the confirmation page with you.
2. Financial Documents
Bank sanction letter: If you’re taking an education loan to fund your studies, you should have a bank sanction letter that states the loan amount, terms, conditions, and any collateral information.
Affidavit of support from the sponsor: If someone else (like your parents) is sponsoring your education, you need an affidavit from them. It should confirm that they will support you financially during your studies in the US.
Bank statement of sponsor: This statement shows the financial status of your sponsor (or yourself if self-funded) over the last six months.
Income Tax Return (ITR) of sponsor: The ITR for the last three years provides information about the income of your sponsor, showing they have a steady income to support your education.
Pay slips of sponsor: Recent payslips (for the last three months) from your sponsor further confirm their financial ability to support your studies.
Proof of funds: This could include proof of Fixed Deposits, cash in bank balance, mutual funds, etc., which collectively demonstrate that you have enough funds to cover your education and living expenses.
Proof of other investments: If you have other investments such as bonds, property, or long-term assets, these can serve as additional evidence of your financial status. Remember, while they provide evidence of financial backup, they can’t be directly used to fund your education.
3. Academic and Work-Related Documents
Transcripts: These are your academic records that show the courses you’ve taken and the grades you’ve earned during your previous study.
Degree certificate: This shows that you’ve completed a degree program. If you haven’t received your final degree certificate, a provisional one or an official letter from your college may suffice.
Test scores: If required by your university, you need to provide scores from tests such as the GRE or TOEFL or IELTS from the last year.
Proof of additional courses: If you’ve taken any extra courses outside of your main degree program, especially those related to your proposed field of study in the US, bring documents proving your completion of these courses.
Updated resume: This document should summarize your academic qualifications, work experience, skills, and accomplishments.
Admits from other universities: If you have admission offers from other US universities, bring proof of those as well.
Scholarship letter: If you’ve been awarded a scholarship from your US university, bring the official letter confirming the scholarship.
Work experience letter: If you have work experience, bring a letter from your employer that outlines your job role, responsibilities, and duration of employment. This is particularly important if you are applying for an F1 visa for a graduate program and your work experience relates to your field of study.
When attending the OFC (Finger Prints) appointment, it's important to only bring the essential documents that were listed under the Essential documents heading. Having all the necessary information in the form of documents can serve as proof of your legitimacy, so be sure to gather everything you need beforehand.
We appreciate you taking the time to read our article. If you are seeking assistance with obtaining U.S. visa, we kindly invite you to visit our website www.anydoubts.co.in for further guidance.
