TSRI International Office

Applying for a U.S. Visa at
a Consulate Abroad
Step Two

It is strongly recommended that you allow ample time to obtain the appropriate visa stamp from a U.S. consulate abroad. Per the U.S. Department of State: Embassies strongly encourage intending travelers to apply for visas well in advance of their proposed journey, and to always refrain from making irrevocable travel plans until the visa has been issued and they are in receipt of their passport and visa. Visa issuance to certain individuals may be very slow due to security clearances. Plan your travel carefully and consult the visa wait time website.

In general, a visa application requires:

• A valid passport;
• An eligibility document, i.e. I-20 for F-1, DS-2019 for J-1, I-797 for H-1B, etc;
• Proof of funding;
• Photographs;
• Payment of fees;
• Visa application forms, (DS-156, DS-157 and DS-158 as required)
• Receipt showing payment of SEVIS fee.

As noted above, as part of the visa application process you will be required to pay the visa application fee and the new SEVIS fee. Please note that if you are applying for visas for your F-2 or J-2 dependent, they are required to pay the visa application fee but NOT the SEVIS fee. Information on paying the visa application fee will be included with your application information. Additional information on how to pay the SEVIS fee may be found here. You may choose to pay using the internet or by mailing in your application. This fee must be paid prior to your visa appointment. If you have any questions in regards to this fee payment, please contact us.

Prior to applying for a U.S. visa abroad, thoroughly read the consulate's website to know that consulate's specific visa application requirements. You can find all U.S. consulate websites here.

Be prepared for a brief interview with the consular officer. Also read Tips for applying for a Visa for more information about successful visa applications.

The visa, once issued, is a stamp on the passport page. It has an expiration date that determines only the amount of time during which one can enter the U.S. and does not affect how long one can stay in the U.S.

The length of stay is determined by date on the I-94 card, the little white card that will be stapled to your passport during inspection. The I-94 card of most F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors are marked "D/S," meaning, duration of status. Duration of status means that the person will be able to remain in the U.S. until the end date shown in #5 on the I-20 or #3 on the DS-2019.