Q: I was recently accepted to a US academic institution for a programme that will start in January 2018. What do I need for my visa application and how soon can I travel to the US?

A: Congratulations on your acceptance! Once the school has processed your admission, they will send you the I-20 form, which will indicate the type of visa you will require. Generally, if you are attending a university or college, high school, private elementary school, seminary, conservatory, or other academic institution such as a language training programme, you will need an F visa. If you are attending a vocational or other recognised non-academic institution, you will need an M visa.

When you receive the form, make sure the entry date specified on the I-20 is a date that has not yet passed. If the entry date listed on the I-20 has already passed, or will pass before the visa issuance process is complete, you should obtain a new I-20 from your school, or request a letter from the school indicating that you have permission to arrive at school after the date indicated on the I-20.

When you have received the I-20 and know your visa category, you may complete the online application. All applicants must fill out the DS-160 visa application, pay the application fee, schedule an appointment to interview for the visa, and bring the standard visa application documentation to the embassy (a passport valid for at least the next six months, any previous passports/visas, DS-160 confirmation sheet, appointment confirmation page, a passport photo and proof of visa application fee). Applicants for student visas have several other items, along with the I-20, that they must bring to the interview. These include:

1. Payment confirmation of the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee. Your school will enrol you in SEVIS and the fee (US$200 for F and M visas) can be paid through Western Union or online at www.fmjfee.com. You can find your SEVIS number on the I-20 form. The embassy is not authorised to collect this fee.

2. Proof of sufficient funds for at least the first year of your studies in the US and your plan to cover the remainder of your studies. Applicants should be prepared to present documentation relating to scholarships, grants and loans, if applicable, as well as affidavits of support and bank statements from sponsors.

3. Recent transcripts, standardised test scores, and other evidence to prove that you are a bona fide student whose main purpose of travel is to complete a course of study in the United States. Applicants must also demonstrate that they possess sufficient knowledge of English to pursue their intended course of study.

Once you have compiled the necessary documentation you may schedule the interview appointment. Even if you do not intend to begin your programme for several months, it is best to apply well in advance of your expected departure date. Keep in mind that although the visa can be issued up to 120 days before your arrival, you will not be allowed to enter the US more than 30 days before the start of your programme.

Your spouse and unmarried minor children may also reside with you in the US while you study. If they choose to do this, they must obtain their own individual I-20 forms, but don’t need to pay the SEVIS fee. Feel free to schedule their interviews at the same time as your own and bring proof of relationship (for example, birth certificates or marriage certificates).

If for some reason your departure for the US is delayed, be sure to alert the registrar or admissions office of your academic institution. Students who are not present on the start date indicated on their I-20 risk being marked as “no-shows”, which could complicate future travel to the United States. Congratulations again and enjoy your studies and time in the United States.

For more information about visas, please visit our website jm.usembassy.gov/ and the website of our authorised service provider at www.usvisa-info.com. Keep on top of embassy news on our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/pages/US-Embassy-Jamaica and by following @USEmbassyJA on Twitter. We also answer general visa questions on our Facebook and Twitter pages.