The US student visa requirements
This article examines US student visas at different levels, the admission conditions, and entry into the United States for international students. The United States is known as the land of opportunity, and every year several students dream to reach it. The applicants can obtain a student visa to immigrate to this country. To obtain this visa, you must first get admission to the university of your choice then apply for a visa from a reputable immigration attorney. Now, the chances of receiving a US student visa for international students are high if they meet the necessary conditions. If you are applying for an American Student Admission and Visa, you might have some questions to which you can find the answers in this article. Questions like how to get a US student visa? What changes have been made to the requirements for obtaining a 2021 US student visa?
In the Comments section, you can also ask your questions and answer them in a short time.
Topics reviewed in this article:
US student visa for undergraduate level
Undergraduate students need a 12-year diploma to study in US universities. Students with low GPAs can re-study their final high school year in the United States to receive both an American diploma and a higher grade point average and a chance to get admission to top universities.
Undergraduate study in the United States takes four years, and students must have a language degree to study at major universities. Having a language degree not only raises your university level but also increases your chances of getting a US student visa. You can also enter the United States to take a language course. Then, you can study in your main course in the United States.
The applicants may need a GRE, GMAT, or SAT besides a language degree according to the requirements set by the university in some American universities. The language qualification you need for most undergraduate American universities is IELTS 6, or the equivalent of a TOEFL score.
US student visa for postgraduate level
Postgraduate students can study in the United States for two years and receive their degrees. Students who have an IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL equivalent have a higher chance of being accepted to top-ranked universities in the United States.
The applicants must have a bachelor’s degree program related to the master’s degree and relevant work experience to enter a master’s degree. If students have a bachelor’s degree in engineering, they can apply for the fields such as management, MBA, business with relevant work experience.
- GRE test
It assesses the skills such as language, reasoning, and student analysis for engineering.
- GMAT test
It is for students applying to study management and disciplines such as MBA.
- LSAT test
It is for law students, which is held several times a year to equalize their degree.
US student visa for Ph.D. studies
Ph.D. students in the United States must have good study and work resumes to be accepted and then apply for a US student visa. Because Ph.D. admissions are so competitive, students who can demonstrate greater excellence and competence have a higher chance. The Ph.D. students in the United States must find a supervisor. First, receive admission and then apply for a US student visa. The Ph.D. applicants in the United States must have a very high English language level to use the job opportunities in the United States. Therefore, students with at least an IELTS 7, academic and international papers, a high GPA, and research in their study field have a higher chance of finding a supervisor and receiving admission.
The study and living expenses in the United States for students
Tuition fees at different US universities vary according to the study field, the degree, the university science, and the facilities rankings. The students in high-ranking universities should consider at least 60,000 US dollars per year with no scholarship. However, you must have at least 20,000 to 30,000dollars to study for a bachelor’s or master’s degree in the United States. If you have a specific field and your university level is high, you will have to pay more.
The living expense in the United States varies from state to state and city to city, depending on the individual. You can see the students’ average living expenses in the table below:
| Living expenses in the US | |||
| Description | Costs (dollars) | Description | Cost (dollars) |
| Meals in a typical restaurant | 15 | One-way ticket (public transport) | 2.25 |
| A bottle of water (0.33 liters) | 1.47 | Taxi (one Km) | 1.71 |
| Milk (one liter) | 0.82 | Diesel (one liter) | 0.73 |
| Rice (one Kg) | 3.87 | Club (monthly) | 36 |
| White bread (500 g) | 2.61 | Utility (water, electricity, etc.) | 152 |
| Eggs (12) | 2.27 | Rent a one-bedroom apartment in the city center | 1290 |
| Apples (one Kg) | 4.48 | Rent a one-bedroom apartment outside the city | 1020 |
| Banana (one Kg) | 1.51 | Buy an apartment in the city center (m) | 2100 |
Student work for US student visa holders
The US students can work part-time while studying. They do not need to go to the employment office to obtain a work permit once they have arrived in the United States and received a US student visa. Instead, they can work part-time from the beginning with this visa. Undergraduate students can work up to ten hours per week, postgraduate students up to 20 hours per week, and Ph.D. students up to 30 hours. Because the United States is an English-speaking country, students fluent in English are more likely to find work. Student work in the United States covers part of the students’ living expenses and increases their language ability in society with a better accent and work experience.
The top US universities
The United States has universities with a high scientific level and has specialized facilities in each study field. Many international students in the United States want to study in an English-speaking country and obtain a degree from a reputable American university.
The top US universities, due to their high academic level and facilities, have difficult admission conditions. Elite people with good resumes can get US admission and student visas.
| American university ranking | |||
| University | State | Global ranking | Country ranking |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Cambridge | 1 | 1 |
| Harvard University | Cambridge | 2 | 2 |
| Stanford University | Stanford | 3 | 3 |
| Berkeley University | Berkeley | 4 | 4 |
| University of Washington | Washington Seattle | 6 | 5 |
| Cornell University | Ithaca | 7 | 6 |
| University of Michigan | Michigan | 9 | 7 |
| Columbia University | New York | 10 | 8 |
| University of California | Los Angles | 11 | 9 |
| University of Texas | Sleeve | 16 | 13 |
Required documents to obtain a US student visa
The more scientifically rich your resume is, the better your chances of getting a US student visa. By a resume, we mean a language degree. Master’s degree US student visa applicants are better to accept a field that is related to their bachelor’s degrees.
Some of the US student visas are F-1, M-1, and J-1 visas:
- F-1 visa
It is for students who want to study academically in American universities and schools. Students often apply for this type of visa.
- M-1 visa
It is for students who have been admitted through special technical and vocational centers for specific courses.
- J-1 visa
It is known as the EVP (Exchange Visitor Program) except for the J-1. It is for international students who have a work permit besides studying in this country. For example, students who receive a scholarship or are selected for a study and research assistant.
We suggest contacting the MIE Austria experts since it has been applying for admission and student visas to the United States and other countries for many years and has received numerous student visas from different countries. You can get appropriate information through free telephone consultations. Depending on your admission type, our international and legal attorneys will apply for the same type of visa and provide evidence to have a better chance of obtaining a US student visa.
The required documents for a US student visa:
- Valid passport (for at least six months)
- Picture
- Complete the DS-160 form
- Complete Form I-20
- Translation of the degree along with transcripts
- Acceptance letter from school or university
- Financial viability letter to cover expenses
- Specify your purpose
- A two-way ticket
- Motivation and recommendation letter
- TOEFL or IELTS language certificate
- Visa fees are 160 dollars
- Submit a work experience letter (if any)
- Identity document translation such as identity cards
- Recommendation letters from professors
The US student visa applicants must be interviewed at the embassy. Below 13 applicants will usually not be interviewed at the embassy. However, if you are 14 to 79 years old, you will have an interview. The 80-year-old or older applicants are not eligible for the interview.
The financial viability for a US student visa
US student visa applicants ask, what is the financial viability for a US student visa? Can we offer a property document as financial viability? How long should the money be in our account?
We suggest getting US student visa documents through a reputable law firm and lawyer to increase your chances. Apart from the opportunity to get a visa, as the embassy rules are constantly changing, be sure to ask our experts for the most up-to-date information.
The financial assets for a US student visa for each student in different levels of undergraduate, postgraduate, and Ph.D. studies is about 20,000 US dollars. The students must keep this amount in their account for at least three months. This amount indicates that you can afford living expenses during your studies. Besides this amount, you must also pay for university tuition. The embassy officer will ask you for a bank printout, and it is not enough to provide a property document. However, your chances of getting a US student visa will increase if you have a property document besides the financial viability letter.
Job position after studying in the United States
Most students who come to the United States on a US student visa intend to obtain permanent residency and eventually a US passport. A student visa is one of the best ways to enter the country. When you enter through a student admission and visa, you increase your chances of finding a job. If you have a good education and have received your degree from a reputable university, have a language degree, and specialize in your work and study field, your chances of finding a job will increase.
Graduates can stay in the United States for up to a year to look for an employer and change their visa to a work visa. Then, if your study field is on the list of the following disciplines (STEM) and your company accepts your visa, you can apply for residency for more than one year.
- STEM
- Science
- Technology
- Engineering
- Mathematics
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