|
|
| General Info > Student Visas |
|
|
|
|
|
Frequently Asked Questions About Student Visas |
 |
 What does a student visa do?
| |
Anyone coming to the U.S. with the sole intention of studying must get an F1student visa. A visa allows you to travel to a Port of Entry of the United States (usually an airport); it does not grant you permission to enter the country or stay for any length of time. |
How do I get a student visa?
| |
 |
Send a completed application to BridgeEnglish, including the following: |
|
|
 |
Application form
|
|
Registration fee and tuition deposit |
|
|
|
|
|
Photocopy of your passport
|
|
Bank statement or any other document indicating that you are financially able to pay for your course. |
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
When you are accepted into an English program, BridgeEnglish will mail you a SEVIS I-20 within 24 hours. |
| |
|
 |
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security requires F1 applicants to pay a $200 fee for the SEVIS I-20. You must pay this before your . You can do so on-line at You may print out a temporary receipt online, but you will also receive an official one in the mail, which you will need to take with you to your . |
| |
|
 |
Make an appointment at the embassy or consulate in your country for a visa interview. It may take some weeks for them to schedule an interview, so apply early! For more information about this interview, please visit our page. |
| |
|
 |
If you are approved, you will receive a student visa after this interview. |
|
Can I study with a B1, B2, or F2 visa?
| |
The most important factor in determining your visa type is what your intention is in coming to the U.S. Anyone coming here with the sole intention of studying must get an F1student visa. A B1 visa is for business, a B2 visa is for tourists, and an F2 visa is for anyone accompanying a spouse or parent who is studying in the U.S. The visa issuance system is set up this way for visitors to let immigration know specifically what the purpose of their visit is, and immigration does not look favorably upon anyone who misrepresents that purpose. However, students on B1, B2 and F2 visas may study in part-time programs. |
If I enter the country with a B1, B2, or F2 visa can I change it to F1 later?
| |
While it is possible to change your status after coming to the U.S., it is complicated, time-consuming and very difficult to get approved. If you plan to study in the U.S., your best recommendation is to come with a student visa. |
What happens when I first arrive into the U.S.?
| |
The Immigration Officer at the Port of Entry (usually the airport) is the one authorized to allow you to enter the U.S. The immigration officer will look at your I-94 (the arrival/departure card that you fill out on the airplane), visa, passport and I-20. He or she will indicate on your I-94 with how long you can stay here. |
How long can I stay in the U.S.?
| |
The immigration officer at the Port of Entry will mark the I-94 with the length of time any non-immigrant can stay in the country. For students, they will usually write D/S, which means you may stay in the country for the Duration of Status. This means you are legally allowed to stay here as long as you maintain a valid I-20, and that you remain a full-time student making normal progress. |
Can I go to the U.S. before my course starts?
| |
You can enter the country up to 30 days before the date on your I-20, but not after the date stated on your I-20. |
What if my visa expires in the middle of my term?
| |
The visa is only used to get to the Port of Entry of the U.S.; it does not affect your status once you are in the country. You will be in legal status as long as you remain a full-time student making normal progress in your studies and your I-20 does not expire. However, if you plan to take a vacation from your studies and leave the country and then return, you will need to renew your visa if it has expired. |
|
| |
|
|
|
Take the IELTS!
Official IELTS Testing Center |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) 303.785.8888 
