OPEN DOORS, SECURE BORDERS: TRAVEL TO THE U.S.

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OPEN DOORS, SECURE BORDERSTRAVEL TO THE U.S.

• Consulate General
• of the United States of America

2
Student Visas at U.S. Consulate Dubai

• In FY2004, the U.S.Consulate General in Dubai
  issued 742 F1 visas to 44 different nationalities

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The Application Process

• 1. Make an interview appointment at
  00-973-90000-797
• 2. Pay a Machine Readable Visa Fee of 370 dhs
  at the National Bank of Abu Dhabi
• 3. Bring to the visa interview
• All completed forms with correct photos
• DS-156 All applicants, regardless of age
• DS-157 Supplemental Visa Form (see next slide)
• DS-158 Student Visa Application
• Your passport valid for at least six months
  beyond arrival date in the US
• Supplemental documents such as
• Employment Letter
• Period of Employment
• Basic Salary
• Benefits
• Bank documents showing last six months activity
• Current trade license and auditor financial
  statements for personal business
• 4. Before interview begins, consular officer
  will scan your two index fingers
• 5. Application will be either granted or refused

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Who Needs to Complete a DS-157Supplemental Visa
Form?

• All Male Applicants Aged 16-45, inclusive
• All Male and Female Applicants Aged 16 and Over
  Born in or Nationals of
• Cuba
• Iran
• Libya
• North Korea
• Sudan
• Syria

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Special Student Guidelines

•  
• Complete a DS-158, Application for Student Visas
• Obtain a I-20 or DS-2019 from the college or
  university
• Proof that the SEVIS fee of US100 has been paid
• Provide evidence of financial resources to meet
  the cost of schooling, such as
• Ø    Family bank statements
• Ø    Scholarship awards
• Ø    Affidavits of support
• Provide high school or university transcripts
• Be prepared to provide TOEFL scores or other
  standardized exam results, if asked
• Be prepared to explain how you chose the
  university, what your course of study will be,
  and what your plans are after graduation
• Be prepared to conduct your visa interview in
  English

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Visa Decisions Section 214(b) of the US.
Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)

• U.S. Immigration Law requires that the Consular
  Officer be convinced that
• The applicant is not an intending immigrant
• Has a residence abroad
• Has strong financial, economic, social and family
  ties to the residence abroad
• Has a credible reason to be traveling
• Does not pose a risk to U.S. national security.

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When Will the Visa Be Issued?

• Some visa applications can be processed the same
  day and the visa is ready the following business
  day.
• Other categories of visa applicants, prescribed
  by classified U.S. regulations, are subject to
  administrative processing.
• Administrative processing is an U.S. interagency
  review process that is done in the United States.
  It can take from one week to six months,
  depending on the applicants background and
  reason for traveling. The average waiting time
  is approximately 30 days.
• When the Consulate receives authorization to
  issue, the visa case is listed on our website as
  having cleared administrative processing and the
  visa can be issued on the next business day.

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When to Apply for a Student Visa?

• Apply as early as possible and as soon as the
  I-20 or DS-2019 is available, but be aware of
  these two restrictions
•  
• 1.    Student cannot obtain the student visa more
  than 90 days prior to the start up date of
  schooling as indicated on the I-20 and
•  
• 2.    Student cannot enter the United States more
  than 30 days prior to the start up date of
  schooling.
•  
•  
• NOTE Adjustment of status in the United States
  from a tourist/business visa (B1/B2) is no longer
  permitted by the Department of Homeland Security
  unless that intention has been made known to the
  DHS immigration officer at the time of arrival
  in addition, studies cannot commence until DHS
  has approved the change of status which routinely
  take several months.

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SEVIS What is It?

• Student and Exchange Visitor Information System
  is an information system that tracks an
  international student from the school application
  process to completion of studies.
• Intent is to ensure that students remain in
  status while in the United States
• Universities and colleges maintain the system,
  and enter a student into the system when an I-20
  or DS-2019 is issued
• At the time of visa application, consular officer
  must verify that a student has been entered into
  the system by the academic institution
• Early problems with the system have largely been
  resolved and it is working smoothly

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SEVIS Fee Payment

• Primary applicants with I-20 or DS-2019 forms
  with an issuance date of September 1, 2004, or
  later
• Derivative applicants do not have to pay a SEVIS
  fee
• Students must present an I-901 form at the time
  of their interview
• Applicants can pay the fee
• Online using a credit card at http//www.fmjfee.co
  m/
• By Western Union QuickPay (instructions available
  at http//www.ice.gov/graphics/sevis/i901/wu_instr
  .htm)
• By check or money order (via a U.S. bank or a
  foreign subsidiary of a U.S. bank)

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NSEERS (National Security Entry/Exit Registration
System)

• NSEERS program was instituted in June 2002 to
  track entry and exit movements of certain aliens
• Most visitors subject to NSEERS are students,
  those on extended business travel, and those
  visiting family for extended periods
• Visitors were required to register with the
  Department of Homeland Security after 30 days in
  the United States and again after one year of
  continuous presence in the U.S.
• As of December 1, 2003, visitors subject to
  NSEERS no longer need to re-register after 30
  days on after one year unless DHS notifies than
  to appear for additional processing
• NSEERS will be folded into US-VISIT in the future

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If you are subject to NSEERS processing

• Upon Arrival, DHS Will
• Take your finger scans
• Take a digital photo
• Send you to a special NSEERS line to complete a
  registration form
• Interview you briefly about the purpose of your
  visit
• Provide you a packet on NSEERS
• Upon Departure, you must
• Report to a DHS office located at the airport of
  your departure
• Ask if you do not see the DHS office
• DO NOT leave without checking out

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Additional Information Resources

• Additional information and forms for Nonimmigrant
  Visa Processing, US-VISIT and NSEERS can be found
  on the US Consulate Dubais website
• http//dubai.usconsulate.gov