Non-Immigrant Visas
Student and Exchange Visitor Visas
The U. S. welcomes foreign students and exchange visitors, who make great contributions to American educational and cultural life.
If you are not an American citizens or Legal Permanent Resident in the U.S. and you would like to study in the U.S., you must obtain a U.S. visa.
If you want to study in the U.S. you should contact educational institutions directly. After you are first accepted for study, the institution will issue form I-20 or form DS-2019 and send it to you. One of those forms is required for each student or exchange visitor visa applicant, and you must bring it to the visa interview. Please do not send it to the consular section by post, fax or e-mail. Any documents sent directly to the embassy will be destroyed.
Required documents :
- Completed form I-20 issued by the school (F/M visa applicants) or form DS-2019 (J-e visa applicants).
- A completed form DS-156 or EVAF DS-156.
- A completed form DS-157 (only for male applicants aged 16 to 45 years).
- A completed form DS-158.
- A current passport with at least six months of remaining validity.
- One 5cm x 5cm photograph with a white background.
- Receipt for payment of the $131 processing fee at ECOBANK.
- Receipt showing payment of the $100 SEVIS fee.
- Transcripts and diplomas from previous institutions attended in Senegal or the U.S., including evidence that you successfully passed the Baccalaureate. An “attestation provisoire de Baccalauréat” may be used as a substitute for the Baccalaureate diploma if the Office du Baccalauréat has not yet issued the original diploma.
- Scores from standardized tests required by the educational institution such as the TOEFL, SAT, GRE, GMAT, etc.
- Financial evidence reflecting your ability to pay for your studies in the U.S. This should include enough readily available funds to meet all expenses for the first academic year.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the SEVIS fee? Most student and exchange visitor visa applicants must pay a one-time SEVIS fee to the Department of Homeland Security, which keeps track of students and exchange visitors and ensures that they maintain their status while in the U.S. The processing fee, this fee is nonrefundable. You may pay this fee online at http://www.fmjfee.com.
How long does it take to get an appointment? While there is no wait time for student visa, we encourage you to apply as soon as you have all the required documents.
Will I be issued a visa? According to U.S. immigration law, applicants for student and exchange visitor visas must prove that they are eligible for a visa. That is, at the time of the interview, you must demonstrate your ability to pay for your studies and your intent to return home rather than stay permanently in the U.S. You must also show you will not engage in prohibited activities during your studies. You should be prepared to discuss your educational plans social, economic, professional and financial ties to Senegal. Submitting all required documents does not automatically make you eligible for a student visa.
When can I enter the United States? You may enter the U.S. 30 days before you start classes.
What activities are permitted on a student or exchange visitor visa? Every visa is issued for a particular purpose and for a specific type of student. You are permitted to study at the institution specified on your visa. For more information about what you are permitted to do while in the U.S., consult your foreign student advisor once you arrive at your school.
What activities are not allowed on a student or exchange visitor visa? According to American law, students and exchange visitors may not engage in unauthorized employment. If you fail to enroll at your institution by the required date, fail to depart the U.S. after completion of the program, and for F-1 students, fail to maintain a full course load without authorization, You may be ineligibile for future visas.
What happens after the interview? Qualified applicants will be issued visas. In most cases, visas will be ready the next day at 3 p.m. In some cases, administrative processing may be required. This processing may take several weeks; so we encourage you to apply for your student visa well in advance. If you are not eligible, you will be given a letter explaining the reasons for the refusal.
How long will my visa be valid? F visas for Senegalese are valid for three years. The validation of F visas for other nationalities vary. The validity of J visas will depend on the length of the exchange program as indicated on the form DS-2019.
May I wear a scarf in my visa photograph? If you normally wear a head covering for religious or cultural reasons, you do not need to remove it for a visa photograph, provided the photograph meets all other photo requirements and clearly identifies you.
I have a valid student or exchange visa in my expired passport. Do I need a new visa? Unless previously canceled, a visa is valid until its expiration date. Therefore, if you have valid student visa in an expired passport, do not remove the visa page from the expired passport. You may use it along with a new valid passport for travel and admission to the U.S.
My spouse and/or children want to go with me to the United States. Do they need visas? Yes. Your spouse and children should each submit the required visa applications and bring proof their relationship to you, such as marriage and birth certificates. We recommend that families apply for visas at the same time, but if your spouse and children must apply separately at a later time, they should bring a copy of your passport and visa, along with all other required documents.
Do you have any advice for student visa applicants? You may not be eligible for a visa now, but you can become eligible if your situation changes. However, if you present false information during a visa interview, you can be found permanently ineligible. Therefore, you should always be honest and provide accurate information during the interview. If you violate your student status, you may jeopardize your ability to remain in the U.S. and may be found ineligible for future visas.
