The United States boasts a wide range of educational institutes, some of which are considered to be highly elite. In order to allow non-citizens the opportunity to learn at these prestigious institutions, the U.S. has created the student visa program.
A student visa allows a foreign alien to stay in the United States for the purpose of attending an educational institution. Any degree or certificate-seeking academic institution will require a student visa in order to attend. A student visa allows the individual to live in the U.S. for the duration of their educational program.
The student visa has a non-refundable application fee of $160 USD. This does not include any other associated costs that coming to the U.S. may incur. Some students may also have to pay visa issuance fees or other miscellaneous costs.
The processing time to issue a student visa varies by country but can range from 3 to 12 weeks. Other factors, such as whether the interview is required or waived, and the exact type of student visa can also impact the time it takes to receive a student visa.
A student visa is required for any individual who is coming to the United states to attend a course that will lead to a U.S. conferred degree or certification. This includes colleges, universities, high schools, private elementary schools, seminaries, conservatories, and vocational schools. A student visa is not requires if a class is being taken for strictly recreational purposes such as a cooking class as part of a vacation.
