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Student Visas

Like applicants for any other type of visitor visa, applicants for a student (“F” or “M”) visa or an exchange visitor (“J”) visa must show they qualify under the provisions of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act. They should be able to establish to the satisfaction of the consular officer that they have binding ties to a residence outside of the United States which they have no intention of abandoning and to which they will return when they have completed their studies.

If you are applying for a student visa and are unable to book an appointment through the online appointment calendar, you may be eligible for an expedited appointment.  Please send an email to dubaivisastudent@state.gov and include the following information:

  • Full name as it appears on passport;
  • Passport number;
  • Nationality;
  • Preferred interview date;
  • Scanned I-20 or DS-2019.

Once we have received the above information, we will reply with an appointment time.

In addition to the basic documentation required of all visa applicants listed in our General Instructions, all F, M, and J visa applicants should submit the following documents at the time of the visa interview:

  1. All student applicants are required to pay a $200 SEVIS surcharge fee before applying for their visa. Applicants must present their I-901 receipt as proof of payment. For more information, please visit our SEVIS fee website
  2. Both the primary applicant and each of his/her dependents must complete FORM DS-158: Contact Information and Work History for Nonimmigrant Visa Applicant.
  3. All student applicants must provide proof of financial resources to meet the cost of schooling, such as parents’ bank statements or scholarship awards.
  4. All student applicants, including continuing and transferring students, should be prepared to provide recent transcripts, TOEFL results, and/or standardized test scores, if requested.
  5. An applicant for a student visa should be prepared to explain his/her reasons for studying in the United States, including post graduation plans. A student visa is not permission to work or remain in the United States following completion of your studies.
  6. Spouses and minor children accompanying the student to the United States should bring marriage certificates and birth certificates with them to the interview, to prove the relationship between themselves and the principal applicant.

 

In addition to the above required documents, the following documents are required for specific types of visas:

F Visa Applicants: a completed Form I-20A-B Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status for Academic and Language Students, issued by the U.S. academic institution. Please bring your original I-20 form with you, and attach a photocopy to your visa application.

M Visa Applicants: a completed Form I-20M-N Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status for Vocational Students, issued by the U.S. academic institution. Please bring your original I-20 form with you, and attach a photocopy to your visa application.

J Visa Applicants: a completed Form DS-2019 Certification of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor, issued by the U.S. academic institution. Please bring your original DS-2019 form with you, and attach a photocopy to your visa application.