US STUDENT VISA
The US student visa fee has changed for all international students. Also the US Department of State has announced a $25 hike in student visa fees starting on May 30, 2023. The US government released this information on state.gov, their official website.
The official announcement states that the US student visa fee will rise from US $160 to $185. The date on which this takes effect is May 30, 2023.
According to the notice, “The Department of State published a Final Regulation governing increases to some non-immigrant visa application fees (NIV) and the Border Crossing Card (BCC) for Mexico residents 15 and older.” Visitor visas (B1/B2 and BCC) and other non-petition-based NIVs, including student visas, will be raised from $160 to $185.
Based on the current exchange rate, Indian students must pay more than Rs 14,000 in student visa fees if accepted into any US-based university.
Over the past decade, Indian students have more than doubled over the past decade, with their share of international students increasing from 11.8% to 21.8%, according to the Open Doors Report 2022. Between 2018-19 and 2019-20 and 2019-20 and 2020-21, Indian students enrolled in US universities fell by 4.4% and 13.2%, respectively.
Requirements for US student visas-
US colleges require the following essential documents as part of the application process for students seeking student visas.
- A passport that is up to date and has at least six months left on it after your visit
- Form DS-160 (Non-immigrant visa application confirmation page) applies for payment of application fees.
- Suppose you are applying for a work visa. In that case, you must provide the receipt number on the petition submitted by the US employer. Suppose you are asking for a student visa. It would be best to have Form I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for Non-immigrant Student Status) (I-129 form).
- Original mark sheets or provisional certificates
- Score reports for standardised tests, including the GMAT, GRE, TOEFL, and IELTS (6.5 or equivalent).
- Your bank account must have enough funds to cover the entire cost of your course in the United States. Examples of this include sponsor agreements, sponsors, and a scholarship programme.
- Proof that the applicant plans to leave the country once the programme ends.
- The application process includes a personal interview at a US embassy or consulate.
Eligibility Conditions for US student visa –
The type of visa you fall under determines your eligibility for a US student visa. You must receive approval from USCIS, SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System), or the Department of Labor for non-immigrant categories (Department of Labor). Whether you are a performer or an athlete, a traveller or a businessperson, you must carefully review the prerequisites and eligibility requirements of the specific visa category before applying.