Visa Application and Renewal

Most non-U.S. citizens who wish to study in the United States will seek an F-1 non-immigrant student visa. J-1 visas are only issued to students and scholars when their financial sponsor or exchange program requires that they study on a J-1 visa.

Generally, obtaining an F-1 or J-1 visa requires the following items:Ìý

  1. Payment (for first time F-1 and J-1 applicants and some renewing applicants) Ìý
  2. Completion of DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application formÌý
  3. Payment of the visa fee
  4. Scheduling a visa application interviewÌý
  5. Attending the interview (please see helpful videos below)Ìý*You may be eligible for a Visa Interview Waiver Program if you previously received a U.S. visa, which is either still valid or expired within the last 48 months, and now you are applying for the same purpose of travel.ÌýÌý

Additional and specific items may also be required at the Embassy or Consulate you are applying to.  where you plan to apply for your visa for additional information or to set up an appointment. Plan ahead and  for appointments and visa processing. Ìý

A new F-1 or J-1 visa can only be acquired at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate outside the United States. It is not possible to renew a visa by mail or in person within the U.S. Every U.S. Embassy has different visa application procedures and most require appointments for visa processing. For specific application requirements, please see the  Ìý

DS-160 (visa application)

ÌýFrequently Asked Questions regarding DS-160:Ìý

F-1/J-1 Students should use the name of a person they are familiar with in the United States. If you do not know anyone in the U.S., the advisor that issued your I-20/DS-2019 and the following address is acceptabe:ÌýèßäÉçÇøapp University International Students & Scholar ServicesÌýButler Pavilion 410Ìý

4400 Massachusetts Ave NWÌýWashington, DC 20016Ìý

isss@american.eduÌý

+1-202-885-3350Ìý

J-1 Scholars should use the name and contact information of their faculty host or the J-1 coordinator from their host department.Ìý

Ìý

If you don't yet have an address you will stay permanently in the U.S., use the address you will use when you first arrive in the U.S., which might be a temporary address such as a hotel or friend.Ìý

For F-1 students, the field of study code is located in the "Program of Study" section of the I-20, under "Major 1".Ìý

For J-1 students, the subject/field code is located in Section 4 of the DS-2019 under the exchange visitor category.Ìý

For F-1 Students, the school code is located in the "School Information" section of the I-20, under "School Code and Approval Date." It begins with letters WAS.Ìý

ÌýFor J-1 Students and Scholars, the program code is located in section 2 of the DS-2019, on the right-hand side. It begins with the letter P.Ìý

Yes, a new DS-160 is needed for each new visa application, including renewals.Ìý

For additional FAQs, see Ìý

Visa Interview

Consular officers have a very short time for each applicant. Come to the interview well prepared. ÌýÌý

  • Prove youÌýdeveloped social, economic, educational or business ties to your home country.Ìý
  • Tell the truth.Ìý
  • Be confident.Ìý
  • Relax and be calm.Ìý
  • Be open and honest

See 10 Tips for a Successful Visa Interview for additional tips.Ìý

Non-Immigrant IntentÌý

When applying for a student visa, be ready to prove these three things:Ìý
Ìý

  1. You intend to go to the U.S. to study and complete the program of study.Ìý
  2. You have a credible plan to financeÌýyour program of study.Ìý
  3. You intend to return to your home country after you finish your studies.Ìý

Ìý
For more information on visa denials based on inability to prove appropriate intent, please see  FAQs compiled by the U.S. Department of States.Ìý

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Making a misrepresentation of any type or providing fake documents to a consular officer is against the law. Not being truthful may result in a lifetime ban on getting a U.S. visa of any type.Ìý

Visa Documents

The required documentation depends on your situation, as each case is unique. Check the website of the  you plan to visit for their list of required and/or recommended documentation.ÌýÌý• Bring the documents that you think support the purpose of your visa application.Ìý• If someone else is paying for your study, bring those documents to show how they satisfy the visa requirements.ÌýÌýThe consular officer may not ask for any documents at all. They may try to get the relevant information from you during the very short interview. However, it is always a good idea to have all the relevant documents with you, in case they are requested. Show your efforts and that you came well prepared!Ìý

Social Media

You are currently required to report all social media accounts used within the last five years on the visa application form. Please be mindful of your social media content. For more information, please see 

Administrative Processing

At the end of the visa appointment, only two outcomes are possible: the consular officer will either issue or refuse the visa. Sometimes the consular officer may determine that additional information is required before the visa can be issued and the application must go through further administrative processing. If administrative processing is required, the consular officer will inform you about it at the end of the interview. Although your visa application will be refused at that time, you may be determined to qualify for the visa once the case-specific administrative processing is completed. Therefore, in the case of administrative processing, a visa refusal may not be the final answer. The duration of the administrative processing will vary based on the individual circumstances of each case. For more information, please see the U.S. Department of State's webpage on administrative processing.

Video Guide to Consular Processing --Nonimmigrant Visas

U.S. Embassies and Consulates around the globe have produced short informational videos to help prepare people for the nonimmigrant visa application process. To find out what the process can be like, check out these links below!

Location Specific Videos

These videos talk specifically about temporary intent:

10 Tips for a Successful Visa Interview F-1 and J-1 Visas

The tips below are intended to help you prepare for your visa interview at the U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate in your home country.Ìý

Under United States law, all applicants for non-immigrant visas are viewed as intending immigrants until they can convince the consular officer that they are not. You must therefore be able to show that you have reasons for returning to your home country that are stronger than those for remaining in the United States.Ìý

"Ties" to your home country are the things that bind you to your hometown, homeland, or current place of residence (i.e., job, family, financial prospects that you own or will inherit, investments, etc).Ìý

If you are a prospective student, the interviewing officer may ask about your specific intentions or promise of future employment, family or other relationships, educational objectives, grades, long-long range plans, and career prospects in your home country. Each person's situation is different, of course, and there is no magic explanation or single document, certificate, or letter, which can guarantee visa issuance.

Anticipate that the interview will be conducted in English and not in your native language. One suggestion is to practice English conversation with a native speaker before the interview. If you are coming to the United States solely to study intensive English, be prepared to explain how English will be useful for you in your home country.

Do not bring parents or family members with you to your interview. The consular officer wants to interview you, not your family. A negative impression is created if you are not prepared to speak on your own behalf. If you are a minor applying for a high school program and need your parents there in case there are questions, for example, about funding, they should wait in the waiting room.

If you are not able to articulate the reasons you will study in a particular program in the United States, you may not succeed in convincing the consular officer that you are indeed planning to study, rather than to immigrate. You should also be able to explain how studying in the United States relates to your future professional career in your home country.

Because of the volume of applications that are received, all consular officers are under considerable time pressure to conduct a quick and efficient interview. They must make a decision, for the most part, on the impressions they form during the first minute or two of the interview. Consequently, what you say first and the initial impression you create are critical to your success. Keep your answers to the officer's questions short and to the point.

It should be clear at a glance to the consular officer what written documents you are presenting and what they signify. Lengthy written explanations cannot be quickly read or evaluated. Remember that you will have 2-3 minutes of interview time, if you're lucky.

Applicants from countries suffering economic problems or from countries where many students have remained in the United States as immigrants will have more difficulty getting visas. Statistically, applicants from those countries are more likely to be asked about job opportunities at home after their study in the United States.

Your main purpose of coming to the United States should be to study, not for the chance to work before or after graduation. While many students do work off-campus during their studies, such employment is incidental to their main purpose of completing their èßäÉçÇøapp education.Ìý

You must be able to clearly articulate your plan to return home at the end of your program. If your spouse is also applying for an accompanying F-2 visa, be aware that F-2 dependents cannot, under any circumstances, be employed in the United States. If asked, be prepared to address what your spouse intends to do with his or her time while in the United States. Volunteer work and attending school part-time are permitted activities.

If your spouse and children are remaining behind in your country, be prepared to address how they will support themselves in your absence. This can be an especially tricky area if you are the primary source of income for your family. If the consular officer gains the impression that your family members will need you to remit money from the United States in order to support themselves, your student visa application will almost certainly be denied. If your family does decide to join you at a later time, it is helpful to have them apply at the same post where you applied for your visa.

Do not engage the consular officer in an argument. If you are denied a student visa, ask the officer for a list of documents he or she would suggest you bring in order to overcome the refusal, and try to get the reason you were denied in writing.

This list was compiled byÌýNAFSA: Association of International Educators. NAFSA would like to credit Gerald A. Wunsch, Esq., 1997, then a member of the Consular Issues Working Group, and a former U.S. Consular Officer in Mexico, Suriname, and the Netherlands, and Martha Wailes of Indiana University for their contributions to this document. NAFSA also appreciates the input of the U.S. Department of State.