In most U.S. Embassies, if the person making the application for a student visa is between the ages of 14 and 79, he must make it in person. The amount of time necessary for the Embassy to process a student application depends on the specifics of each case, and many applications are denied. The questions the Embassy asks can be different for each case.
A person applying for a student visa should present diplomas from the previous schools he attended as well as the transcripts. In addition, he should provide the Embassy with results of the standardized tests that the prospective institution required him to take for admission. Finally, an applicant must prove that all of his academic costs will be paid, as well as his living expenses, by either his parents or his employer. If the student has dependents who are also making an application, the student must provide proof of the relationships with a birth or marriage certificate. Because there's no guarantee that a visa will be issued to a student, he must wait to receive it before buying such things as non-refundable airline tickets.
A visa allows a citizen of a foreign country to go to her point of entry, but it doesn't guarantee entry into the U.S. before she's authorized to do so by the Department of Homeland Security. A visa-holder can be sent back to her country of origin if she has violated any laws involving food, agricultural products or goods that have either been prohibited or restricted by the U.S. government. If the visa is approved, the student will automatically be enrolled in the so-called US-VISIT program. In this program, her photograph and fingerprints will be verified as well as checked against a list of suspected terrorists and known criminals.
A student who wants to return to the U.S. for further study must show his country's passport that won't expire for at least 6 months. Also, he must provide the receipt for the fee charged at the time the original visa was issued, as well as a Form I-20 that has been signed by an official of the school he attended. Finally, he should provide a certified transcript of the grades he received from the U.S. school, as well as financial information from either his parents or sponsoring company that certifies the costs will be paid.
A student visa will have an expiration date. If you remain in the U.S. after it has expired, you will be out of status and in violation of U.S. immigration laws. In many cases, you will be prohibited to return to the U.S. again. In addition, if you violate your intention to study in the U.S. school that appears in your application, your visa could be revoked and you could be sent home.
