Visas and immigration

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The forms and the process

On the day the acceptance letter drops into your letterbox you might well be deceived into thinking that all the hard work, struggle and frustration is finally over. Think again. The toughest application deadline, the most difficult personal essay, the trickiest SAT paper pales into insignificance beside the hardest and most mind-numbingly boring part of admission to the American college experience more...

The visa interview

All applicants for a student (F-1) visa must be interviewed. Students are subject to the same law as other temporary visitors, and must convince a consular officer that they truly intend to pursue a course of study and will return to their home country when their studies are over. They must also show they can pay for their education, either from family funds, grants or other sources more..

When do I apply for a visa

Be sure to allow enough time! Start to fill out the visa application as soon as your university issues the Form I-20 - and then schedule the embassy interview. The average visa processing time following a successful interview is 5 days, but it could be longer, so don’t leave this as a last minute project more..

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Published 7th Jul 2016 by Harriet Plyler

Updated 2nd Aug 2016

Recommendations (references)

Most universities will ask you for at least one reference, written by a careers advisor, headteacher, housemaster, etc. This reference is similar to UCAS, although it should not focus on a particular course, but rather suitability in general for higher education. It is ‘all about’ you and should address academic performance, extra-curricular activities and personal qualities.
Deadlines & early decision

You must meet your deadlines! US universities will not accept late applications unless they have ‘rolling admissions’, meaning they accept students on a first-come, first-served basis.
Financial statement

Most universities will require you to complete a financial statement. Do this carefully as it will be used to determine your eligibility for financial assistance.
Interviews

Although interviews are rarely mandatory for admission into any American university, they are often recommended and are an excellent way of finding out about the place in which you are planning to spend the next four years. Interviews for international students can function in two ways...
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