The F1 Visa is a temporary visa for students looking to come to the United States from an outside country who are interested in learning the English language or studying at any academic institution. The F1 Visa only applies to students who have been accepted to or are enrolled in a school in the U.S.
International Students
F1 and F2 Student Visas
Obtaining an F1 Visa
F1 Visa Student Checklist
You’ll need to complete and submit these following forms to receive your F1 Visa
- I-20 Form (This will be provided by LCA. Keep in mind that the school official must also sign this form.)
- DS-160 Online Form
- Passport (The passport must have a validity date at least six months beyond your intended period of stay in the United States.)
- A 2″ x 2″ Photograph of Yourself
- MRV Fee Receipt
- SEVIS 1-901 Fee Receipt
Some of the following documents may also be required:
- Transcripts/Diplomas from any schools previously attended
- Test Scores from Standardized Tests
- Proof that you are financially able to live within the United States
At times, the application process for obtaining a F1 student visa can seem very complicated. If you need assistance, feel free to call us with any questions that you might have about applying for a visa.
How Do I Get an F1 Visa?
First of all, you must be accepted at an accredited school. Here, we make sure that the application process is as easy as possible for our prospective students so that they can begin learning English as soon as possible. Our coursework teaches how to write, speak, read, and effectively understand the language.
After choosing an English course to study in the US you must fill out a registration request from. LCA is one of the best school in the US, having had over 20 years of experience in this field. They will help you with your student visa, along with learning the English language and integrating into the American culture, while also helping you with finding a home.
If I Live Outside of the US, How Do I Apply for an F1 Visa?
Once you are accepted at LCA Language Institute, you’ll receive your I-20 form and will need to provide proof that you are within the means to live within the US, and be able to afford the costs of your schooling and living expenses while studying here.
You will also need to apply for an F1 Visa at the US Consulate or Embassy, and have an interview with the embassy consular. You will benefit well by applying for your visa well in advance, as you will then have enough time to schedule an interview and have your visa processed. Keep in mind that you’ll also be asked to provide your fingerprints, through a digital scanner.
International Students
F1 and F2 Student Visas
The F1 Visa is a temporary visa for students looking to come to the United States from an outside country who are interested in learning the English language or studying at any academic institution. The F1 Visa only applies to students who have been accepted to or are enrolled in a school in the U.S.
Obtaining an F1 Visa
F1 Visa Student Checklist
You’ll need to complete and submit these following forms to receive your F1 Visa
- I-20 Form (This will be provided by LCA. Keep in mind that the school official must also sign this form.)
- DS-160 Online Form
- Passport (The passport must have a validity date at least six months beyond your intended period of stay in the United States.)
- A 2″ x 2″ Photograph of Yourself
- MRV Fee Receipt
- SEVIS 1-901 Fee Receipt
Some of the following documents may also be required:
- Transcripts/Diplomas from any schools previously attended
- Test Scores from Standardized Tests
- Proof that you are financially able to live within the United States
At times, the application process for obtaining a F1 student visa can seem very complicated. If you need assistance, feel free to call us with any questions that you might have about applying for a visa.
How Do I Get an F1 Visa?
First of all, you must be accepted at an accredited school. Here, we make sure that the application process is as easy as possible for our prospective students so that they can begin learning English as soon as possible. Our coursework teaches how to write, speak, read, and effectively understand the language.
After choosing an English course to study in the US you must fill out a registration request from. LCA is one of the best school in the US, having had over 20 years of experience in this field. They will help you with your student visa, along with learning the English language and integrating into the American culture, while also helping you with finding a home.
If I Live Outside of the US, How Do I Apply for an F1 Visa?
Once you are accepted at LCA Language Institute, you’ll receive your I-20 form and will need to provide proof that you are within the means to live within the US, and be able to afford the costs of your schooling and living expenses while studying here.
You will also need to apply for an F1 Visa at the US Consulate or Embassy, and have an interview with the embassy consular. You will benefit well by applying for your visa well in advance, as you will then have enough time to schedule an interview and have your visa processed. Keep in mind that you’ll also be asked to provide your fingerprints, through a digital scanner.
F1 Visa Transfer
In order to make a transfer between schools while studying on an F1 student visa, you must first make sure that you are in good academic standing with your current school and are enrolled as a full-time student in their program. The school you are transferring to must also be approved by the USCIS. Once these criteria are met, you can begin the transferring process.
The next step in the transfer is to ensure that you contain some sort of proof of acceptance from the institution you plan on transferring to. Once this is completed, you’ll need to contact a designated school official from the school you plan on attending, and also get in touch with your current school official to inform them of your transfer, who will most likely require you to fill out some sort of paperwork that will release certain information about you and transfer your SEVIS record.
You’ll also need to submit your FI student visa documents and fee history to the school you’re transferring to, along with possessing a copy of your current I-20, passport, and proof of funds. Also keep in mind your enrollment fees to the new school, along with a possible transfer fee. You must also obtain a new I-20 form from the new school, and report to the school within 15 days of their program’s start date to enroll full-time in the school’s first required session.
If you have completed a school’s curriculum or have been terminated from their program, it is still necessary that your school transfers your SEVIS record to the school you’re transferring to. If the school you’re attending (or previously attended) refuses to transfer this record, you’ll need to get in contact with you new school and work with them to resolve the issue. All schools are required to allow SEVIS record transfers, and cannot refuse transfer for any reason.
If you arrive in the US at your school and decide to transfer immediately to a different school, you still must report to the school that you’ve listed on your I-20 form. The school official will them make a transfer of your SEVIS records to the new school, and sort the rest of the transfer out.
If you make plans to leave the US during your transfer process, you’ll still need to reenter the country with your I-20 form that has the record for your enrollment at the school that you’re currently attending. Your must. Complete your travel plans before your transfer release date with an active I-20 form from the transfer-out school, or after your transfer release date with an initial I-20 form from the transfer-in school.
For more information on transferring schools on an F1 student visa please visit ICE’s information on transfers for F1 students.
F1 Visa Change of Status
If you are in the United States with a B1 or B2 Visa, or another visa, LCA Language Institute can issue and F1 Visa change of status. Our PDSOs and DSOs can inform you of the necessary steps to take in order to effectuate the change of status. Please contact us to schedule a meeting to receive and fill out the necessary paperwork to move forward in your F1 process.
Since this process may take several days and/or weeks to complete, please contact our PDSO and DSO with ample time in advance of your visa expiring.
F2 Visa
International F1 students who are approved to study in the US can apply to have their spouse or children live with them in the US while they study. The F2 Visa application can be made by visiting our PDSOs and DSOs at LCA.
F2 Visa applicants are not required to study the 18 hours or more per week to maintain their visa. Please check with your PDSO and DSO before applying for your F1 student visa because it is ideal if you apply together with the potential F2.