F1 visa interview documents | Why are they important?

The F1 Visa is a non-immigrant US student visa for international students to enter the country. So, if you wish to travel to this country, you must undergo an interview process to obtain this visa at the nearest American Embassy. Furthermore, to initiate this process, you need to submit the F1 visa interview documents in proper order.

F1 visa process

It is better to know all the aspects of the visa application procedure before you initiate it. Since the F1 visa procedure isn’t a straight and simple one, here are the necessary details –

• When you receive your acceptance letter (also called admit letter in some cases) and the I-20 form from the university, make sure you apply for the F1 visa also.
• If you are a student applying for the F1 visa slot, the formalities for booking must be completed by you in 6 to 8 weeks (1.5 to 2 months) before you undertake your planned travel to the USA. You should avoid delaying the booking of the F1 visa slot. Any hindrance on your visa and travel application would delay the visa approval.
• After receiving the acceptance letter from the US University to which you have applied, you gain registration with the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).
• After that, you need to pay for the SEVIS, a one-time application fee.
• Before you pay for the SEVIS, you also need to get an I-20 form from the university; then, you need to provide the documentation regarding the funds and make payment for the deposit.

For the F1 visa application process, the I-20 form is to be treated as proof that you possess enough funds for the entire duration of your stay in the US. Since there are limited legal opportunities for employment, you need to have a surplus in reserve to support your overseas education. This form can also be a scheduling medium for an interview appointment with the local US Consulate/Embassy.

F1 visa interview documents

Before sharing the F1 visa interview documents list, it is essential to note that nothing else would be asked apart from the appointment (or application) letter. However, you need to be prepared and keep these documents handy. The reason being, that in case the interviewer asks for the document, you don’t want to be embarrassed and get your application rejected because you did not have the required documents. There is always a small probability that the visa interviewer might ask for it.

Make sure you have filed the documents neatly in a folder that is readily accessible. Moreover, carry your original passport as you need to submit it.

1. Personal information

• Passport – You need to keep the current passport handy
• DS 160 confirmation slip – The DS 160 is the online non-immigrant visa application form. It is for temporary US travel. It is also helpful for the K (fiancé(e)) visas. The submission is completed electronically through the Department of State website online, but the bar code should be visible.
• SEVIS fee receipt – The student and exchange visitor information system fee receipt should be present.
• A passport-size photograph should also be included as per the regulations mentioned by the US embassy.
• MRV fee receipt or the machine-readable visa fee receipt.
• A visa interview appointment letter should also be included in this set.

2. Educational documents

• Academic certificates such as Class 10th and 12th mark sheets and passing Certificates. This helps assess your academic records and credentials.
• Language proficiency test scorecard or your PTE/TOEFL/IELTS scorecard shows how well you can communicate.
• Admission test scorecards like your SAT/GRE/GMAT scorecard
• Provisional degree certificate/bachelor’s degree or the applicable course completion certificate. You must submit the mark sheet for every college/university year and the combined mark sheet if required.

3. Work-related documents (if applicable)

• Letter of joining, i.e., your joining letter when you joined a particular employer/job organization.
• Salary slips for the last 6 months which reveal your financial track record.
• Letter of relieving, i.e., your job conclusion letter, which is issued when you leave particular employment.

4. Financial documents

• Loan approval letter, if it is applicable. You need to get it from the lending institution in advance.
• Savings account statement from your bank. It should show your financial capability to bear all the expenses of your education and stay. You need the statement for the last 3 years’ duration.
• Fixed deposit certificates also for the last 3 years duration.
• Tax returns that you have filed. This should also be for the past 3 years’ duration.
• All your property documents. These properties could be residential or commercial or agricultural, or any ancestral property. It could be a plot of land, or it could be a house or farmland.