Non-Immigrant Visas
Student Visas
Applying to a School Student Visa FAQs
In order to study in the United States, you first must apply to study at a college or University approved by the USCIS to accept foreign students. The U.S. Education Foundation (USEF)in Gyaneshwor has a library of resources about Universities and colleges in the United States, and can help you determine which schools offer the subjects you are interested in studying and which may be able to provide financial aid. Though they cannot recommend individual schools, the counselors at USEF can advise you about opportunities for study in the United States, application requirements and university life, and can help you to choose the type of program best suited to your plans. Preparatory exams such as the TOEFL, GMAT and SAT are also offered at USEF.
If you are accepted to a school in the U.S., the school should send you Form I-20 or Form DS-2019, depending on the type of program that has accepted you. Once you have your I-20 or DS-2019 you can apply for a visa to study in the U.S. You should follow the General Instructions for Application in order to be scheduled for an appointment with a consular officer. You should take a copy of your I-20 with you to Nabil Bank Maharajgunj branch, Kathmandu (Behind Namaste Supermarket) when you pay the application fee.
Preparing For Your Interview
On the day of your interview, you will have to prove to the interviewing consular officer's satisfaction that you are planning to be a full-time student in the United States, and that you will otherwise abide by the terms of your visa. Typically, consular officers will want to see evidence that you have been a serious student in the past and that you or your family can afford to pay the tuition and living expenses for the school you have chosen. You must bring your original I-20 or DS-2019 with you to your interview.
Other than Form I-20 or DS-2019, there are no specific documents required for a student visa application. However, the following documents are typically quite important in establishing your eligibility for a student visa and should be brought with you to your interview, even if you have already submitted the information to the school or University you are hoping to attend:
- academic transcripts from all of your prior schools (SLC and Intermediate (10+2) level exams are the minimum requirements for most colleges or Universities in the United States),
- exam results from any preparatory tests you may have taken, such as the TOEFL, SAT or GRE,
- financial documents demonstrating your ability to afford the tuition and living expenses for the school you have chosen. (A simple balance statement from a bank account is usually not sufficient. Consular officers will usually ask to see a six-month history of transactions from any bank account you will be using to fund your education.)
Though they are not necessary, many students also choose to bring letters of recommendation, certificates showing oustanding achievements in sports or academics, property statements, evidence of family relationships or other documents they think will help to explain their intentions in the United States, their ability to afford the school they have chosen or their reasons for returning to Nepal.
If a visa is issued to a Nepali national he/she will have to pay the student visa fee of $200 or the equivalent in Nepali rupees. For other nationals the consular section will tell if they have to pay or not at the time of interview.
Please be aware that if you submit false documents of any kind during the course of your interview, your application will be refused and you may become permanently ineligible for any type of U.S. visa. False documents may also be turned over to the police for investigation and prosecution. The Embassy does NOT require bank statements from any particular bank, or transcripts from any particular University in order to issue a student visa. Rumors to that effect are FALSE.
Special Interview Dates for Student
Any student seeking an earlier interview date to ensure timely reporting to their college or university should contact the Embassy to get an expedited appointment. Due to the high volume of visa applications, this provision is put in place for only those students who might otherwise fail to report to the college or university in a timely manner if they were to come on a regularly scheduled appointment date.
Maintaining Your Student Status in the U.S.
Most student visas issued by the consular section are valid till the validity of the I-20 or DS-2019 meaning that you will be able to enter and leave the United States on multiple occasions for up to five years, provided that you maintain your student status. This means that you will be able to come home to Nepal for your summer vacation and return to your full-time studies in the fall without coming to the Embassy to renew your visa.
For information about maintaining your legal status as a foreign student in the United States, please review the USCIS links. Your International Student Advisor will also be able to help you understand what you can and cannot do while you are in the United States on a student visa.
Renewing Your Student Visa
If you are a current student at a University or college in the U.S. and need to renew your prior student visa, you must apply for a new appointment through Nabil Bank. You should bring to your interview your I-20 or DS-2019 from your current school, endorsed by your International Student Advisor, and transcripts demonstrating your full-time status.
Public High School and Primary School
There are restrictions on attendence of foreign students at public high schools and primary schools in the United States. Persons who violate the restrictions may not receive another visa for a period of five years. The restrictions apply to students even if they will be living with an American citizen or Legal Permanent Resident relative, and even if that relative is the student's legal guardian.
The restrictions are as follows:
- Foreign students cannot attend public high schools in the U.S. for more than twelve months.
- F-1 visas can no longer be issued to attend public elementary or middle schools (Kindergarten - 8th grade) or publicly-funded adult education programs.
- Before an F-1 visa for a public school can be issued, the student must show that the public school in the U.S. has been reimbursed for the full, unsubsidized per capita cost of the education as calculated by the school. Reimbursement may be indicated on the I-20, or consular officers may request copies of canceled checks and/or receipts confirming the payment as needed.
These restrictions do not apply to students attending private schools, or students who are in the U.S. on derivative visas such as F-2 or J-2.