US student visa for Indian students: All you need to know

The United States of America has been a top destination for Indian students for decades. Learn what it takes to complete a US student visa application and what to expect from the process.

The opportunity to study overseas is exciting, but getting there is more complicated. Each student’s immigration situation is different, and while this article can act as guideposts for your journey, it is not to be taken as advice or recommendations. It is suggested to consult an immigration specialist or the US embassy directly for support for your student visa application.

US student visa application

A US student visa allows foreign students to study in the country. A US student visa can only be applied for and completed once you have been accepted to a SEVP-approved school or educational institution in the US.

To accept any international students, the US school must be in the Student Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and have a Student Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). If you aren’t sure if your institution is SEVP approved, you can check the list on the DHS Study in the Stateswebsite.

Indian students can apply for a US student visa application and complete the process online. But note, you are likely to be required to give an in-person interview.

The application process is mostly determined by the US embassy or consulate that has jurisdiction over your permanent residence. And the consular officers can often be the deciding factor of your visa approval.

The US Embassy and consulates in India

• US Embassy in New Delhi
• US Consulate General in Chennai
• US Consulate General in Hyderabad
• US Consulate General in Kolkata
• US Consulate General in Mumbai

There is also a virtual consulate for Bengaluru, Karnataka.

There are the two main options for student visas for the US depending on the type of education you are looking to get :

Whether it is a F or M visa, you are expected to partake in at least 18 hours per week of study for the program to qualify.

If you want to learn more about opportunities to study in the US, EducationUSA is a helpful resource to understand graduate and postgraduate options.

Spouses or children that will be traveling and residing with you during your program will require a F-2 or M-2 visa and need to go through a similar application process.

Not adhering to your US student visa rules can result in your student visa being cancelled or revoked. And could possibly make you ineligible for future travel to the US. Here are the major do’s and don'ts of a US student visa¹:

There are also 2 main fees to be paid when you apply for a US student visa.

• US student visa application fee
• I-901 SEVIS fee

Both fees will have to be paid before your interview at the US embassy or consulate. More on this later.

✔ US student visa process

The US student visa process for Indian students is mostly online but does require important offline and in-person components to be completed. Let’s walk through the steps needed to complete the US student visa application²:

1. Apply & be accepted to a US educational institution
2. Gather the necessary documents required for the US student visa, especially the Form I-20 where you received the acceptance from
3. Identify whether you need a F or M visa
4. Complete the online applicationForm DS-160 and ensure all answers are correct per the guidelines
5. Print out the DS-160 barcode confirmation page
6. Pay for the Visa application fee
7. Pay the I-901 SEVIS fee
8. Schedule your interview appointment through the online dashboard
9. Attend your visa interview and complete the biometric registration at the designated US embassy or consulate
10. Await your decision and stay updated by tracking your visa application

US student visa requirements for Indian students

The US has specific requirements for the documents you need to provide alongside your application. They have also outlined the evidence required to meet the financial ability, and fees. Let’s break down each.

🏦 US student visa financial requirements

Before getting accepted to your US school of choice, you would have needed to show ability to pay for tuition, books, living expenses and travel. The evidence to show financial ability to the school may also need to be provided in two more instances. Once at the time of your student visa application, and the second at entry into the US.

You will need to show evidence of your financial ability to cover your costs, and costs of any family members that are staying with you during the length of your program. The evidence can be⁴:

• Family bank statements.
• Documentation from a sponsor.
• Financial aid letters.
• Scholarship letters.
• Letter from an employer showing annual salary.

How much you need to show for meeting the financial requirement is going to be dependent on the school or university you choose. Each institution has their own metrics to qualify, and you will need to show proof of the ability to pay yourself or through scholarships or loans to the school.

📋 Documents required for US student visa

To ensure that your visa application gets processed smoothly, you will need to provide all the documents asked of you in the application. The documents can differ based on your embassy or consulate and your own specific submission. Here is a list of documents that are required:

• A valid passport with at least 6 months validity beyond your US stay
• Confirmation page showing completion of your DS-160 Application
• Application fee receipt
• Photo to be uploaded to your DS-160
• Your Form I-20 signed by you and the US institution

Additionally, you may also need to provide the following⁵:

• Your standardized test scores to qualify for US institutions
• Any academic certifications, transcripts, diplomas and degrees obtained In India
• Evidence to strong ties in India such as family, friends or employment
• Evidence of meeting the relevant financial requirements

You may need to show additional documentation or answer questions by consular officers at the US embassy or consulate to prove you are qualified for a student visa.

⌛ US student visa processing time

The US embassy or consulate you went to will be able to tell you how long the processing time will be for your specific application. This is depending on if the embassies are accepting and processing new applications.

Overall, you can expect it can take 5-6 weeks for your F visa application to be processed. But depending on the American institution you applied to, it can take more or less time.⁶

💰 US student visa fees

There are 2 fees to be paid for your US student visa application. The I-901 SEVIS fee is $350 and the application fee for a US student visa is $160⁷. The application fee and the I-901 SEVIS fee is non-refundable and is required to be paid to have your application processed⁸. Payment is also required before your in-person interview.

US student visa fees in Indian Rupees

Let’s take a look at what both the US student visa application and the I-901 SEVIS fee looks like in Indian Rupees:

*All INR prices shown are converted at the mid-market exchange rate of USD $1 = ₹73.38 as of May 10, 2021

The US student visa application fee can be paid by any of the following options at the embassy at the time of your interview appointment:

• Demand Draft ( In favor of “U.S. Embassy” payable at par)
• Visa Credit Card
• Mastercard
• Indian Rupees or Dollar currencies at the embassy or consulate’s prevailing rate

The Form I-901 SEVIS Fee has to be paid online. The embassy or consulate will not be able to take payments for it.

💸 Send INR to USD the fast and secure way with Wise

Over 10 million people already use Wise to send money around the world at the real exchange rate. With the Android/ iOS app and easy to use website, you can send money to a local bank account in the US right from your living room.

And if you are already studying far from home, get a free Wise account in the US. It is a single global wallet that lets you hold, send, and spend in USD, EUR, GBP, CAN and more like a local.