Applying for a F or M Visas

All F-1, F-2, M-1 and M-2 visa applicants, even children and babies listed in parents' passports are required to:

• Complete the visa application form DS-156.


• Complete a Contact Information and Work History Form DS-158.


• Furnish the I-20A-B, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status - For Academic or Language Students or I-20M-N, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (M-1) Student Status Form.


• Pay a visa application fee;


• Present a passport or other travel document valid for at least six months beyond the holder's period of stay in the United States with at least one blank page - the six-month requirement does not apply to United Kingdom passports. If the passport is damaged, we recommend that you obtain a new passport before applying for the visa to avoid any delay in the processing of your application;


• Provide one photograph which meets State Department regulations;

and additionally,

• furnish evidence of sufficient funds to cover all expenses including tuition while in the United States. Such evidence may include detailed bank statements of your or your parent's accounts showing that adequate funds are available for transfer, evidence of scholarships and/or combination of finances which will meet the estimated total expenses, including tuition, of your proposed stay in the United States; and


• evidence to show that the applicant has a residence abroad to which he/she intends to return at the end of the stay in the United States. This is generally established by evidence of family, professional, property, employment or other ties and commitments to some country other than the United States sufficient to cause the applicant to return there at the conclusion of his/her stay.

Note: Applicants may be required to furnish detailed information concerning their academic qualifications. Such evidence may include complete transcripts of grade (marks) and test records of the last four years of school and evidence of TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) scores.

F-1 and M-1 visa applicants with I-20 forms issued on or after September 1, 2004 will be required to furnish a receipt showing payment of the SEVIS fee.

Spouses and Children

The application procedure is the same for spouses and/or children under the age of 21; separate forms I-20A-B or M-N will be required for each applicant if the I-20A-B or M-N was issued on or after February 15, 2003. If applying separately from the principal, a copy of the marriage certificate and/or birth certificate(s) for the child(ren) will be required.

Issuance fees

Nationals of certain countries are required to pay an issuance fee in order for an approved visa to be issued. No fee is charged for the issuance of an F visa to a British citizen passport holder.

Additional processing requirements and information for the following:

What do I do next?

Applicants aged 14 to 79 are required to schedule an appointment for an interview.

Applicants under the age of 14 and those 80 and over may be eligible to apply for a visa by mail.

Important Notice: Visa applications are subject to a greater degree of scrutiny than in the past which means that in some instances visa applications are taking longer to process to conclusion than has been customary. You will be advised at the time of the interview if your application requires additional processing.

Reminder: We always recommend that individuals apply for visas well in advance of their proposed date of travel. No assurances regarding the issuance of visas can be given in advance. Therefore, final travel plans or the purchase of non refundable ticket should not be made until a visa has been issued and you are in receipt of the passport.

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