(Image source from: Hindustan Times)

As the United States Consulate General Chennai begins its student visa season officially, Kent May, U.S. Consul for Consular Affairs and his colleagues at the Consulate and the Education USA programme held an interactive session on Thursday with a few aspirants explaining to them the nuances of getting a visa.

Nearly a sixth of the international students in the USA are Indians, making them the second largest foreign nationality studying in the United States.

"Our educational institutions need the very best international students because we need talented global citizens who can help solve the challenges we face in a complex world," said May.

In case you are planning to apply for a student Visa in the U.S., which can be done 120 days before the start of your time period in an educational institution, here are some of the guidelines:

Step 1: Start the application by filling it out at ceac.state.gov/genniv/

Step 2: Pay the SEVIS fee at fmjfee.com

Step 3: Create a user account at www.ustraveldocs.com/in

Step 4: Pay the visa application fee

Step 5: Schedule appointments for your visa interview and for biometrics collection prior to the interview, respectively

Step 6: Carry your passport, previous passport (s), DS-160 confirmation sheet and appointment letter for your OFC appointment

Step 7: On the day of the visa interview, carry the above documents, along with your I-20 form, SEVIS payment receipt, degree certificate, and mark sheets and other supporting documents

Moreover, at the interview, the student must be able to explain credibly their financial background and their study plan.

By Sowmya Sangam