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Applying for a U.S. Student Visa

Pacific College (San Diego, New York) is authorized under Federal law to enroll nonimmigrant alien students (I-20). Chicago is pending.

Once you have been admitted to Pacific College and receive an I-20 or DS 2019 (IAP-66), you should sign it and apply to the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for an F-1 or J-1 student visa. Depending on the country, obtaining a visa can range from being quite easy to very difficult.

The first step is to obtain a student visa application form. This form is available at the information counter of the Embassy/Consulate or on-line at http://usembassy.state.gov. Please note any fees you need to pay and have these fees with you when you go to the Embassy/Consulate.

You then go to the Embassy/Consulate or follow the mailing instructions given by the Embassy or Consulate to apply for a student visa. Along with the completed visa application, you must also bring or mail the following items:

1. The original I-20 or DS 2019 (IAP-66) form and the admission letter sent by Pacific College.
2. A nonrefundable visa application fee. See payment instructions on the application form.
3. A passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended stay in the U.S.
4. Original school transcripts and public examination certificates, including student copy of your TOEFL, GMAT or GRE score report if applicable.
5. Originals of your sponsor's most recent salaries or tax forms; if you are producing fixed deposit certificates, you must provide evidence that your sponsor has had this money in deposits for a reasonable amount of time.
6. One set of all financial documents (Bank Verification).
7. Any evidence which will demonstrate strong ties to your country or any other residence outside of the United States.
8. All other documents listed on the visa application.

Because the requirements to apply for a U.S. visa differ from country to country, you should contact the U.S. Embassy/Consulate in your country to obtain specific visa application information. Please note: Many U.S. Embassies/Consulates now take approximately 4 to 6 weeks to process student visas. You can obtain detailed U.S. visa information for your country by accessing the following website: http://usembassy.state.gov.

Obtaining a U.S. visa can be worrisome for many students. You may find the following tips to be useful when applying for a student visa:

• You must be honest when completing your visa application.

• You must prove that you have sufficient money to cover the entire cost of your education during your first year of study (and adequate funds for each subsequent year of study). You should provide as much financial documentation as possible to the Embassy/Consulate (such as detailed bank statements, property records, letters from you or your parent's employers, etc.).

• You must have a clear educational goal in mind when you apply for a visa. It is important for you to know about Pacific College. Read the information we have sent you. If you have any questions, contact us. The consular official will be specifically looking for information about how you decided to attend Pacific College. What process did you follow? Why did you choose Pacific College over other institutions? The choice may be simple: The choice of degree program available; financial assistance, low cost of living expenses and tuition; location (being metropolitan city but not a big city like Los Angeles, New York, etc.); you may have a friend who is currently enrolled; you might have met a faculty or staff member from Pacific College. Think about all of this and anything else and be prepared to respond to the questions. In addition, you must have a clear employment objective when you return to your home country.

• You must establish a "strong tie" to your home country. These ties should provide you with a strong incentive to return home after your studies in the U.S. Some examples of strong ties include a job that will be waiting for you when you return home; ownership of a business, house or property; a family to return to; or a bank account. Students who cannot establish a strong tie to their home country will automatically be denied a visa.
This is one of the main reasons for visa denial.

• You should not be discouraged if you are denied a visa. If you are denied a visa, the consular officer will notify you in writing of the specific reason. You then should reapply for a student visa when you can submit the needed items or documentation. YOU MUST ESTABLISH THAT YOU HAVE STRONG TIES TO YOUR HOME COUNTRY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE VISA APPLICATION PROCESS. If you cannot establish strong ties to your country, you will not be granted a student visa.