F1 & I-20 Visas
Do you want to study English in the United States?
If so, you will probably need to get an F1 student visa.
The process of getting an F1 visa is not complicated, but completing each step in the process is very important.
(1) Establishing proof of sponsorship
The United States government needs to know that you have the financial resources to stay and study in the United States. You can usually establish your proof of self-sponsorship through a bank statement.
If you are planning to stay and study in the U.S. for:
3 months or less, your financial support papers should show at least $7,000.
3 to 6 months, you need to show at least $12,000.
6 months to 1 year, you need to show at least $23,000.
Some students may have a sponsor in the United States who will provide them with accommodations and other living expenses. In this case, a notarized Affidavit of Support form must be included with the application. Affidavit of Support forms (only for a U.S. sponsor) and important information about them can be found at the following address:
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis
(2) Completing and sending the application package
You can easily download an application from our website. Click on the following link:
www.cambridgeschools.com/application.pdf
If you would like to receive a copy of our application translated into one of the following languages (Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, or Turkish), please write us an e-mail at cambridgNY@aol.com and include your regular mailing address.
(3) Paying the SEVIS fee
The United States government has decided that as of September 1st, 2004, all USA F1 visa applicants must pay a $200 fee to the US government before they interview at the American embassy or consulate in their country. As an US F1 visa applicant, you can easily pay the SEVIS fee.
After you receive your i20 form, you can pay directly in US dollars by credit card (Visa, MasterCard, or American Express) on the internet at the following address:
You can then print out a receipt immediately. After three days, an electronic record of your payment will be available at the American embassy or consulate.
(4) Receiving the i20 student visa form: Before and After
Cambridge Schools requires at least two days to process your i20 form. If we send your i20 by regular international mail, it will probably take two weeks to arrive at your mailing address. However, for a $55 fee, we can also send the i20 to your mailing address by Express Mail. Any i20 sent by Express Mail usually requires just seven days to arrive at its international destination.
After you receive your i20, you should contact the American embassy or consulate in your country and set up an interview. The interview is an essential F1 visa requirement: If your interview is successful, your i20 will be approved and you will receive your F1 student visa.
(5) The F1 visa interview
To successfully complete your F1 process, you will need to have a successful interview at your country?s American embassy or consulate. To succeed in your interview, you should present yourself as a serious student and show that you intend to return to your home country when your studies are over.