If you have been dreaming to study abroad, here is a great opportunity that you have been waiting for, which comes once a year. The good news is that The American Immigration Council for all International and African Students has made an Open Offer of “American Student Visa Sponsorship Program” for all students of other countries.
Before we proceed, I want to let you know that there are two major ways to travel to the USA, which are through Immigrant visas and non-immigrant visas. The non-immigrant visa is designed for people who will travel to the USA for a temporary stay while the Immigrant visa is for permanent residency.
If you wish to study in the USA, you will need a non-immigrant visa such as the F1, J1, or M1 visa. These three types of visas are designed for students of foreign citizenship.
The USA Student Visa Sponsorship Program
The F1 and J1 visa are for students who wish to continue their high school, university, or any professional course. However, the major difference in the F1 and J1 visa is that the j type of visa requires a sponsorship while the F visa requires the student to take the full responsibility of sponsoring the travel.
While the M1 visa is different because it is designed for students that are traveling to learn a skill or vocation in the USA.
Requirements for American Student Visa Sponsorship Program
In order to apply for a student visa in the united states, ensure to have the following documents handy.
- International passport.
- 2 recent passport photographs.
- English proficiency results such as TOEFL or the IELTS.
- The visa application fee and forms (Ds-160, I-20, and SEVIS fee receipt).
- Your academic documents such as degree certificate, scholarship certificate (if any), school transcript e.t.c
- Original Affidavit of Support from Sponsor.
- Bank statements of Sponsor(s) for the past six months.
Who is Eligible to Apply for a USA Student Visa
In order for you to qualify for this type of visa, you must be an international student from a country outside the USA
You must obtain a Form I-20 from a USA accredited school as evidence of admission.
A proof of a strong tie to your home country, showing that you will return to your country after studies.
Evidence of financial capability to take care of your studies in the USA unless on sponsorship or scholarship.
List of Eligible Countries For USA Student Visa Sponsorship Program
Students from the below-outlined countries are eligible to apply for the USA Student Visa Sponsorship Program.
Afghanistan, Gambia, Guinea, Mozambique, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Benin, Guinea-Bissau, Nepal, Burkina Faso, Haiti, Niger, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Cambodia, Korea, Dem Rep., Sierra Leone, Central African Republic, Kyrgyz Republic, Somalia, Liberia, Tajikistan, Comoros, Madagascar.
Morocco, Ukraine, Fiji, Nicaragua, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Nigeria, Vanuatu, Ghana, Pakistan, Vietnam, Guatemala, Papua New Guinea, West Bank and Gaza, Guyana, Paraguay, Yemen.
Tanzania, Malawi, Togo, Congo, Dem. Rep, Eritrea, Mali, Uganda, Ethiopia, Mauritania, Zimbabwe, Albania, Indonesia, Samoa, Armenia, India, São Tomé and Principe, Belize, Iraq, Senegal, Bhutan.
Honduras, Philippines, Zambia, Angola, Ecuador, Palau, Algeria, Gabon, Panama, American Samoa, Grenada, Peru, Antigua and Barbuda, Iran, Islamic Rep., Romania, Argentina, Jamaica, Russian Federation, Azerbaijan, Jordan, Serbia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Seychelles, Bosnia, and Herzegovina.
Latvia, South Africa, Botswana, Lebanon, St. Lucia, Brazil, Libya, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Suriname, Chile, Macedonia, FYR, Thailand, China, Malaysia, Tunisia, Colombia, Maldives, Turkey, Costa Rica, Mauritius, Turkmenistan, Cuba, Mexico, Tuvalu, Dominica, Montenegro, and Uruguay.
Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Bolivia, Kosovo, South Sudan, Cameroon, Lao PDR, Sri Lanka, Cape Verde, Lesotho, Sudan, Congo, Rep., Marshall Islands, Swaziland, Côte d’Ivoire, Micronesia, Fed. Sts., Syrian Arab Republic, Djibouti, Moldova, Timor-Leste, Egypt, Arab Rep., Mongolia, Tonga, El Salvador.
How to Apply for USA Student Visa Sponsorship Program
The whole process involved in the application for a student visa is easy and straightforward. However, different country embassies may have a variant to the way to grant the USA. So, provide any additional documentation that may be required by your country’s embassy. However, these are the general steps of getting a USA student visa.
- 1. Apply for Admission in a USA accredited School
First, a school in the USA has to offer you admission for you to start your student visa application. If you have not gotten admission, try to apply for available schools in the SEVP database or try to check for available scholarships to cut down your cost of studying in the USA.
Once any of the schools accept your admission enrollment, they will register you with the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). To be registered with the SEVIS, you will have to pay a SEVIS-I901 fee.
The school will now provide you with the form I-20 to fill and take to the USA embassy in your country on your interview date
- 2. Fill the Form DS-160 online
The next and most important step is to provide your personal details, the school inviting you over, your program of study, and other necessary information that is available in the DS-160 form.
You will also be required to scan and upload a current photograph after filling the form. The slip is printed and filed properly to be taken to the embassy during the interview.
- 3. Pay the visa application fee
The USA application fee is a non-refundable $160, the term non-refundable simply means that you cannot get your money back even if you are denied. It is also important to check in your country’s embassy to confirm the legitimate fee for visa application.
Also, you may be required to pay a visa issuance fee when the visa is approved. However, this is only applicable to some nationalities.
- 4. Go for your visa interview
When getting ready for the interview, make sure you have all the receipts of the payments you made intact. Take along with you those documents in the requirements above and be at your interview venue early.
Also, be ready to convince the consulate or embassy officer that you will be ready to go back to your country after your study. Secondly, state clearly your reasons for choosing the USA as a choice for studying.
Finally, when you want to apply for an American student visa sponsorship program, prove that you can take care of yourself when you are permitted to travel and not constitute a nuisance.
