Visa and Other Information
F-1 Visa
F-1 Visa is a student visa. When you apply for admission to CSI, you
will be asked to send the following documents with your application form:
The records office will review your application to verify that you are
qualified to attend CSI. They will send you an I-20. The I-20 as well
as your letter of admission, is the evidence that you will need to demonstrate
that you have been admitted to our institution.
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What to take with you to the US Embassy or Consulate.
To obtain a student visa, you must contact the nearest US Consulate or
Embassy in your country for information on application requirements and
processing time. Some countries require you to make an appointment in
advance. When you go for your interview, most consulates will ask you
to present the following documents.
- Form I-20 (for F-1 status).
- Letter of admission from the College of Southern Idaho.
- Financial documents such as a bank statement or scholarship letters
that verify you are financially able to support yourself while attending
school in the US.
- Evidence of intent to return to your home country upon completion
of your studies.
- Valid passport (passport must be valid at least six months from the
date of application).
- Two photographs.
- An application fee (if required by the US Embassy in your country).
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What is Considered Evidence of Your Intent to Return Home?
This is not always an easy answer. Under US law, all applicants for nonimmigrant
visas are viewed as intending to immigrant until they can prove to the
official that they intend to return to their home country. You must therefore
show that you have strong reasons to return. Examples of these connections
include: a family, a job, financial prospects, property, a current place
of residence. Be prepared to answer questions about your long-term objectives
and career goals in your home country.
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Advice in Getting Your Visa
According to NAFSA (National Association of Foreign Student Advisors),
there are a few points to remember when applying for an F-1 visa:
- Be able to demonstrate ties (strong ties!) to your home country.
Ties show that you have a compelling interest that you will be returning.
Examples include: family, job or strong prospect for a job when you
complete your studies, investments, or property.
- English.
Anticipate that the interview will be conducted in English. It may be
helpful to practice with a native English speaker before you go to your
interview. If you are coming to the United States to study intensive
English, be prepared to show why learning English will benefit you in
your home country.
- Speak for yourself.
Do not bring parents or friends with you to your interview. You will
leave a negative impression if it appears that you can not speak on
your own behalf.
- Know the program and how it fits into your career plans. If
you are not able to articulate the reasons you will be studying a particular
program in the United States, you may not succeed in convincing the
consular officer that you are indeed planning to study. You should also
be able to explain how studying in the US relates to your future plans
in your home country.
- Be concise.
Most consular officials need to make a decision within the first few
minutes of the interview. Consequently what you say first may be the
most important part of the entire interview.
- Bring supplemental documentation.
It should be clear at a glance to the consular official what written
documents you are presenting and what they signify. Label the top of
the documents in English. Full written explanations will take too read.
- Know that all countries are not equal.
Applicants from countries suffering economic problems or from countries
where many students have remained in the US 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 US.
- Employment.
You must be able to fully articulate your plan to return home at the
end of your program.
- Maintain a positive, confident attitude.
If a consular official denies your application, do not argue with him
or her. Ask for a list of documents he or she would recommend you bring
in order to overcome the refusal, and try to get the reason you were
denied in writing.
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