Grand Valley Admissions -> International Admissions -> International Student Services -> visa
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Visa Information

If you are admitted, you will receive an admission letter as well as an immigration form, “I-20”. You will take both of these documents along with your valid passport, the visa application fee and an original copy of your financial support papers to the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for your "F-1" student visa interview. Remember to check with the embassy or consulate to see what the procedure is for setting up a visa appointment, so you are prepared. 

Visa Interview Tips:

1) Prepare in advance. Make sure all of your original documentation is in order and ready to give to the immigration officer if asked for. Do not give documents that are not asked for.

Remember, the two primary reasons that students are denied a student visa are:

  a) Lack of sufficient and continuing financial support - You need to make sure you have an ORIGINAL bank statement that shows more than enough financial support.

  b) The consular officer feels you are an intending immigrant to the U.S.  - You need to have “ties” to your home country, giving you reason to return. Remember, it is the assumptionof the officer that you are an "intending immigrant" and by way of the interview and your documents, you need to prove to them that your intention is to get an education and then come home.

2) Dress well. If it looks like you don't care, the officer will notice.

3) Speak clearly to the officer, look him or her in the eye, and answer all questions precisely. Hesitating or thinking about an answer may signal that you are unprepared for the interview or possibly not a serious student. Know why you chose the university, why you chose your major area of study, and also be prepare to tell what you feel you will do when you finish.

A few answers that will more than likely result in a "denied" visa:

Q: What are you going to study?  

A:  I  told the school I wanted to study Business, but I am not sure I know what I want to study.

Q: Why did you choose this university?

A: I like where it is located. It seems nice.

Q: What are you going to do when you are done?

A:  I hope to get a job to get some experience.

Don't give them a reason to deny your application. Be very prepared and confident. Good luck!

What is the SEVIS fee?

This is a mandatory $100 fee imposed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. If you will be applying for an F, J, or M non-immigrant visa, you must pay the SEVIS fee before going for your visa interview. You will be sent instructions with your admissions letter.

I want to come to the U.S.A. as a tourist with B1/B2 visa. Can I take classes?

No, the immigration regulations do not permit you to be enrolled while in the U.S. with B1/B2 status. If you are here with B1/B2 status, the immigration service assumes that you are here as a tourist, not as a student. It is extremely difficult to get approval for a change of status from B1 status to F1 status, unless you actually have B2 "prospective student" status. The change of status process will cost you approximately $120 and it will probably be at least six months before you get a decision. There is no guarantee that your change of status will be approved. You MAY NOT attend classes until your status change to F1 is approved.  If it is approved, then you will need to be enrolled full-time in the next available semester. If it is not approved than you will have 30 days to depart the country.