Student Visa
Programs
The United States has the largest international student population in the world, with 1.1 million foreign students living in the USA.
Every year, approximately 400,000 international students relocate to the US with an F-1 Student Visa to attend academic programs at universities, colleges and other educational institutions, while many others move to the USA with an M-1 Student Visa to receive training in vocational programs.
Additionally, the spouse and dependent children (unmarried and under 21 years of age) of a US student visa holder are also generally allowed to live in the USA with the international student if they are approved for the relevant US visa for family members.
The US is a popular destination for students from around the globe, because of its world-class education programs and the high quality of life that is available.
Receiving an education in the United States can open the door to a lifetime of career opportunities, whether an international student returns to his or her home country after graduation or decides to live and work in the USA with a temporary work visa or US Permanent Resident Green Card.
Study Abroad in the USA
The United States is the #1 destination for international students, offering a wide variety of high-quality educational options, with thousands of top-rated universities, colleges and other schools to choose from.
In fact, the US has more universities and colleges listed each year among the world’s top 100 best institutions of higher education than any other country, as seen in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings and the US News & World Report Best Global Universities Rankings.
According to recent statistics, over 1.1 million international students are living in the United States, including approximately 805,238 from Asia; 90,600 from Europe; 85,891 from Latin America and The Caribbean; 56,780 from Sub-Saharan Africa; 52,292 from the Middle East/North Africa region; and 6,878 from Oceania.
Some of the top countries of origin for international students living in the United States are: India (331,602), China (277,398), South Korea (43,149), Canada (28,998), Taiwan (23,157), Vietnam (22,066), Nigeria (20,029), Bangladesh (17,099), Brazil (16,877), Nepal (16,742), Mexico (15,474), Saudi Arabia (14,828), Japan (13,959), Iran (12,430), Pakistan (10,988), United Kingdom (10,473), Colombia (10,120), Ghana (9,394), Germany (9,230), Turkey (9,148), Spain (8,842), France (8,543), Indonesia (8,348), Italy (6,545), Hong Kong (5,627), Peru (5,500), Thailand (5,310), Kuwait (5,102), and Russia (5,071).
The US states with the most international students include California, New York, Texas, Massachusetts, and Illinois.
Some of the universities and colleges in the US with the highest percentage of international students enrolled include:
New York University (New York); Carnegie Mellon University (Pennsylvania); University of Rochester (New York); Boston University (Massachusetts); Brandeis University (Massachusetts); Columbia University (New York); Emory University (Georgia); University of Chicago (Illinois); Johns Hopkins University (Maryland); Northeastern University (Massachusetts); Dartmouth College (New Hampshire); Georgetown University (Washington, DC); Harvard University (Massachusetts); University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (Illinois); University of Southern California (California); University of California – Davis (California); University of Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania); University of Washington (State of Washington); Brown University (Rhode Island); California Institute of Technology (California); Princeton University (New Jersey); Rice University (Texas); Stanford University (California); Syracuse University (New York); Tufts University (Massachusetts); University of California – Irvine (California); University of California – San Diego (California); Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Massachusetts); Northwestern University (Illinois); University of California – Berkeley (California); Yale University (Connecticut); Cornell University (New York); Duke University (North Carolina); Purdue University (Indiana); University of California – Santa Barbara (California); University of Colorado – Denver (Colorado); University of Wisconsin – Madison (Wisconsin); Vanderbilt University (Tennessee); and Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia) – among others.
When you are deciding on where to apply for your study abroad program in the United States, there are many factors to consider:
- Is the educational institution approved by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)?
- Does the educational institution offer the program you are interested in taking?
- How much does it cost to attend the educational institution (for example, tuition, fees, books, etc.)?
- What is the reputation of the educational institution?
- What is the reputation of your program (for example, business, engineering, nursing, etc.) at the educational institution?
- Is financial aid (for example, scholarships) available to international students who enroll at the educational institution?
- What is the acceptance rate for new students (how difficult is it to get accepted)?
- Do you have the standardized test scores (for example, SAT, GRE, GMAT, MCAT, LSAT, etc.) required for acceptance?
- Do you satisfy the English language requirement for the educational institution?
- When is the deadline to apply for admission to the educational institution?
- Where do you want to live in the US (for example, which state, big city vs. small town, nearby activities, etc.)?
- How expensive is the cost of living (for example, housing, food, transportation, etc.)?
- What is the weather like throughout the year?
It is important to do your research and think carefully about the pros and cons of each educational institution that you are thinking about applying to for your study abroad program in the United States, so you will have the best opportunities for a positive outcome.
Furthermore, it may be beneficial to apply to several educational institutions to increase your chances of being accepted.
Good places to start your research on educational institutions in the United States are on the US News & World Report “Best Colleges” webpage and the Niche.com “Top US Colleges for International Students in America” webpage.
Student Visa Overview
In order to study abroad in the United States, you will generally need to:
1. Get Accepted to Enroll in an Approved Educational Program
First, you will need to apply for and be accepted to enroll in a full-time educational program at a school in the US that is approved by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).
After you have been accepted to enroll in a US educational program that is approved by SEVP, the next step will be to get registered in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), receive the Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status (Form I-20) from the designated school official, and pay the SEVIS I-901 Fee.
Please note that a Form I-20 will be required for each accompanying family member who will relocate to the USA with you and they will also need to get registered with SEVIS (they do not have to pay the SEVIS I-901 Fee), and apply for the relevant US visa (for example, the F-2 Visa or M-2 Visa, depending on your educational program).
Be sure to keep your Form I-20 in a safe place, because you will need it when you apply for your US student visa and later (if approved) at the port of entry in the United States.
2. Get Approved for the Relevant US Student Visa
Second, you will need to apply for the relevant US student visa (for example, the F-1 Student Visa for full-time academic programs or the M-1 Student Visa for full-time vocational programs).
In general, you will file the Form DS-160 (Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application), which will also require you to upload a digital color photo, and print the Form DS-160 barcode page. Be sure to keep the Form DS-160 barcode page in a safe place, because you will need it later in the process.
Additionally, you have to schedule an appointment for the visa interview on the website of the American Embassy or Consulate in your country of residence where the interview will occur and pay the processing fee for the visa application.
Before the visa interview, it is important to review the relevant instructions that are posted on the US Embassy or Consulate website.
At the visa interview, you will meet with a US consular official who will generally review the required documents that you brought (for example, the original Form I-20, valid passport, etc.) and ask you some questions.
If you are approved for a US student visa, it is common for the consular official to keep your passport so the student visa can be placed on one of its pages, and within about two weeks, your passport will be returned to you via courier or sometimes in-person at the American Embassy or Consulate.
Please note that in some cases (depending on nationality), a visa issuance fee may have to be paid.
You will then be permitted to enter the United States up to 30 days before your educational program begins (the program start date is printed on your Form I-20) and must have your valid passport with the US student visa and signed Form I-20 with you to present to the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer at the port of entry.
Be aware that the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer makes the final decision on whether to allow a US visa holder to enter the United States.
Note: The F-1 Student Visa and the M-1 Student Visa can be issued up to 365 days prior to the start date for the education program in the United States, however, the international student will only be permitted to enter the US (upon approval of the CBP officer) up to 30 days before the program start date.
A student visa is usually valid for the duration of status, which generally means for the amount of time required to complete the particular educational program (up to five years).
International Student Benefits
The benefits of being an international student living in the United States include:
- Ability to live in the US legally (usually for the duration of the educational program)
- Receiving a quality education in the USA which can enhance future career opportunities
- Enjoying a high standard of living in the United States
- Possessing freedoms protected by federal, state and local laws
- Being allowed to apply for a driving license in the state of residence
- Permission to open a bank account in the USA
- Authorization to travel out of the US and return according to the Student Visa regulations
- Spouse and dependent children can live in the United States with the relevant US visa
- Opportunity to travel throughout the USA and visit various cities, national parks and other points of interest
- Making new friends in the US and expanding your social and professional network
- Possibility to conduct research and contribute to innovation
- Experiencing American culture
- Improving your English language skills
- Potential to apply for a temporary US work visa or Permanent Resident Green Card after graduation
In conclusion, studying abroad in the United States is an investment in your future that can provide you with many benefits and will be the experience of a lifetime!
