Now that you have your admission letters (i20) from the Universities in hand, its time to start your Visa process.
The first step in Visa process is preparing all the documents required. The list of documents required for attending a Visa is as follows:
01. Passport
02. HDFC Barcode
03. Visa interview Appointment Letter
04. DS-160 confirmation page
05. Admission Letter (i20)
06. Academic Documents
07. Financial Documents
08. Standardized Tests Score Cards
09. Work Experience Letters (if applicable)
10. SEVIS Fee Receipt
11. CA and CE Reports
Passport: Passport is a travel document issued by the government of a traveler's native or adopted country as proof of citizenship.
At the time of Visa interview, the passport should be valid for at least next six months.
HDFC Barcode: Visa interview appointment fee of $131 should be paid you will be give a barcode number which will be activated in 2 working days and the visa interview slot has to be booked with the same barcode.
Visa Interview Appointment Letter: Once the slot is booked, we would be getting a confirmation with the date and time of the interview. The print out of that form should be carried to the interview.
DS-160 confirmation page: Once the DS-160 form is filled and submitted online, you would be getting a confirmation letter which has to be taken for the interview.
I20: i20 is nothing but an admission letter given by the University in USA. The i20 would generally contain your name as per the passport, date of birth, University name, joining date, course name, tuition fee and funds.
Academic Documents: Should carry all your original academic documents like 10th, 12th, all the individual memos, provisional, consolidated and convocational certificates of Bachelors and Masters.
Financial Documents: the financial documents should be carried to show that you have sufficient funds for your whole education and stay in the USA. Based on your sponsor’s profile, the documents should be prepared with necessary supporting documents as proof.
Standardized Test Score Cards: if you have taken any standardized tests like GRE/GMAT, TOEFL/IELTS, then you have to carry those documents as a proof.
Work Experience Letters: If you are a working professional, then make sure you have supporting documents like Offer Letter, Appointment Letter etc to prove that you are working.
SEVIS Fee: Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. SEVIS is an Internet-based system that maintains data on foreign students and exchange visitors, as well as their dependants, before and during their stay in the U.S. It is a key part of Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) administered by the ICE within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Amount US$ 200 online payment, should be made and it will take 3 working days for the SEVIS fee to get activated. www.fmjfee.com
Once you pay the SEVIS fee, the fee receipt should be carried along.
CA and CE Report: In the CA Report they will clearly mention regarding the financial statements which you are carrying for the interview. And in the CE Report they will mention the property valuation as per the current market.
Suggestions:
- » Fill all the forms/applications neatly and completely.
- » Know what you have filled in the form. Many times it happens especially in parent’s case, where children or sponsors fill out the application and the applicant him/her self doesn't know what information is provided.
- » Provide correct and authentic information.
- » If getting copies for documents make sure the copies are of good quality and readable.
- » Verify the names; date of birth, etc. should match with the information in your passport.
- » Organize your documents in proper logical order. Well organized and orderly arranged documents can make it easy for you to find the right documents quickly during interview.
- » Image is often as important as content. What you look like and how you say something are just as important as what you say. So dress up nicely and keep smiling.
