The US is the epitome of academic excellence as approximately half of the best global universities are located here. Its pristine academic standards, rigorous emphasis on quality education and zest of being a pioneer by simply just being the best entails the prime reasons why education in the US is world best. A Unique Higher Education System – Academic freedom is one of the distinguishing features of U.S. universities allowing the student to explore 5000+ flexible courses, a wide range of institutions/colleges to choose from and the prospect of exploring the subjects of major before committing to a full-time degree it gives the liberty to explore the subject of interests before fully committing to an academic degree program.

Additionally, US universities offer general education courses that allow students to explore a wide variety of courses and gain exposure to varied specializations. The international student can also study at a community college which is a two-year school to commence the university education and a student can later transfer the credentials to a four-year university. The prospect of unlimited & infinite edification explorative avenues makes the US education system distinct and elite.

Apart from broadening the educational outlook, the US is a homage to diversity: With a Diversity of People, Cultures, Ethnicities and Geographical Regions to enrich the cultural experiences. The USA is a multiracial society, a welcoming place to immigrants of varied ethnicities, which makes it a very dynamic and exciting place to experience. The vibrancy of culture is contagious to campus life as well, students will have many opportunities through internship programmes to leading firms, Intra-Universities club program, art & music fest and local tourist attractions, the activities are humongous. So, the US is a lot more fun as well in a literal sense.

With its wide variety of cultures, university choices, degree options, lifestyles, and cities the US offers unparalleled benefits for all immigrant students. Studying in the US doesn’t just give tangible degrees and certificates. Living and studying in a diverse country like the US can be overwhelming and requires courage and a positive attitude. Studying in the US especially, would not only open the world of opportunities but also expand your horizon towards the world.

Visa Rules And Obligations

Every year thousands of applicants from all across the globe migrate to the US for a “Big American Dream”, Being a hotspot of the world’s best education facilities makes the entry systematically intricate which infiltrates the best minds from the world. The student visa process can be overwhelming yet, rewarding. Hence, it is absolutely pivotal for an immigrant student to understand the visa process distinctively. With a worldwide application acceptance rate for US Visa is over 86%, allows international students to explore the best.

There are two non-immigrant visa categories for students wishing to study in the United States. These visas are commonly known as the F and M visas. The F-1 Visa is the most popular type of student visa for students seeking at a US university or college which we will explain mainly in detail:

F-1 Student Visa – The F-1 student visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows international students to enter the US and study at institutions certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). The student can ONLY apply for an F-1 visa after an accredited US institution accepts the application. The duration of the stay for an F-1 visa will vary based on the type of programme the student is enrolled in. The I-20 form will be given by the intended university you wish to attend mentioning the expiration date of the programme.

The F-1 visa offers employment prospects to work in the US and gain experience in the domain of your study through Optional Practical Training (OPT). The student can apply for OPT before and after graduation however, the extension is valid for only 12 months and 24 months of extended extensions for STEM-graduated individuals. The student can start applying for OPT as early as nine months after being enrolled. The I-765 mandate form for employment authorization also needs to be submitted along with the OPt application. The employment will only commence when a student receives the Employment Authorization Document (EAD) that requires maintaining F-1 obligations which are as the employment should be in the domain of study chosen, the student must apply for OPT before completion of the degree, maintain valid F-1 status the specified outlines will be provided by your DSO to understand legibly the employment process.

Now let’s dive into the process: The F-1 student visa process starts when the student gets accepted to a SEVP-certified US university. SEVP certification is the US government’s way of proving that your university is accredited and has the proper resources to provide you with an education. After acceptance, the university will provide an I-20 form. This form documents study plans and provides supporting information about the stay.

The next step is to pay Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) Fee. The total cost for the F-1 US student visa will be approximately $510, which includes the cost of the visa itself, plus SEVIS processing and maintenance fees. The student needs to show the SEVIS fee receipt during the visa interview to ensure you keep it safe!

The next most important step is to complete the DS-160 Visa Application. All prospective international students must complete a DS-160 to receive an F-1 visa. For international students, a DS-160 application tells the United States government that you have been accepted into an accredited university program and that you have met all the eligibility requirements for study in the US universities. It also includes relevant personal, academic, and professional information, travel plans, and contact information when you are in the United States. The student is also expected to answer some security questions during the DS-160 F-1 visa process. The DS-160 fee is $160.

According to the application procedure of US universities, a student must have all the below-mentioned fundamental documents to obtain a DS-160 US student visa. An immigrant student must have a valid passport, SEVIS ID (issued in I-20 Form), Provisional certificates or original marks sheets, and Score sheets for standardised tests such as IELTS (6.5 or equivalent), TOEFL, GMAT, GRE, and so on. Evidence of adequate cash in your bank account to cover the duration of your course in the United States. Bank statements, sponsors, and a scholarship programme are examples of this, Evidence indicating the candidate intends to depart the country after the programme is completed.

Once the DS-160 process is completed, there will be only one more checkpoint before you receive your student visa — the Visa interview.

The immigrant student also needs to abide by the general laid-ground rules issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). The student is allowed to enter the United States no more than 30 days before the commencement of the program. The immigrant student is expected to inform immediately to the designated school official (DSO) soon after arriving in the US. Academically students are expected to maintain the requisite attendance criteria and academic progress.

F-1 students must complete at least one full academic year at a SEVP-certified school to be eligible for annual vacation. The students are allowed to work part-time on campus for up to 20 hours per week. An F-1 student may only work when authorized by a DSO in some cases, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in others. If a student chooses to work without authorization, the visa will be revoked and the student will be forced to leave to the home country immediately. Apart from that, maintaining a clear legal status in the US is mandatory for all non-immigrant visa holders.

US Visa enacts as a compass for those who set out bravely to explore the distant shores that only stories ever spoke of!

Usa Scholarships For International Students

Studying in a country like US is a dream come true for many Indian student, and US Scholarships can aid the aspiring students to achieve this dream. The cost of living for international students in USA has seen a significant rise from previous years making studying in US seemingly, implausible. The approximate annual cost of tuition fees, accommodation and other expenses of an international student in USA ranges around 35,000 USD (29 lakhs INR).

Fortunately, there are many scholarship programs that Indian students can benefit from which considerably reduces the financial burden by offsetting the major expenses. These US scholarships are available at every level of education, choice of courses and the institution chosen the candidate. Scholarships to study abroad in general classified into Government-funded scholarship, Program-specific scholarship, Subject-specific scholarships & Institution provided scholarships.

Scholarships provided for Indian students who are pursuing undergraduate programs are more than 1000 in number. These are fully funded undergraduate scholarships from 2023-2024 available at USA top universities for international students. These scholarships provide an average monthly stipend of $1000 and also cover tuition fees, accommodation charges, health insurance, and travel allowance. Shiv Dasani Foundation Scholarships, awards $1,00,000 and covers tuition fees, one-way travel, and living expenses. American University Emerging Global Leader Scholarship, covers all billable expenses of UG students at a US university. Berea College Scholarships awards 100% off on tuition fees. Clark Global Scholarship Program awards $15000-$25000 of scholarships per year. Postgraduate tuition fees are high always and there are scholarships for students who wish to pursue a Master’s, or PhD in the USA. Some of the scholarships are AAUW International Fellowship, which awards $18,000, Dean’s Scholarship awards 100% off on tuition fees, Global Study awards, $14,000, Generation Google Scholarships awards, $10,000 and Illinois State University Scholarship awards $10,000.

The United States runs several cultural exchange programs to foster international diplomacy and cultural relations under the Fulbright Program. The following Fulbright programs are specifically for Indian citizens looking to pursue an education in the USA. Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowships, selected scholars receive visa support, airfare, tuition fee, living costs, and accident and sickness coverage, as part of the award for the scholarship. Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowships, apart from the travel costs, the award also includes a monthly stipend. Fulbright-Nehru Post-Doctoral Research Fellowships Selected scholars receive J1 Visa support, round trip economy class airfare from India to the US, accident and sickness cover, monthly stipend, settling-in allowance and a professional allowance. Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowship is meant for PhD Scholars with relevant research in the field, especially concerning identifying resources in the US and India.

US popular universities which support scholarships are Boise State University Treasure Scholarships, Boston University Presidential Scholarship, Cornell University Financial Aid, The HAAA Scholarship, Stanford University Scholarships, University of Memphis Scholarships, University of Minnesota Fellowship, University of New Haven Scholarship, Yale University Scholarships and the list goes on.

India ranks No.2 for the number of students who apply for admission to the US and scholarships. A large number of students studying in the US are offered a variety of scholarships. With a wide range of scholarship options available for Indian applicants, the financial burden of choosing to pursue graduate, postgraduate, master and other higher qualifications in the US have been significantly reduced through the plethora of scholarships offered.