Embassy of the United States

NON-IMMIGRANT VISAS

Student And Exchange Visas

Applicants applying for the F, M, J or Q type Student/Exchange visas are encouraged to apply early for their visas, preferably as soon as you receive your I-20 or DS-2019. Please, note that you cannot obtain a student or exchange visa if you have not received the I-20/DS-2019 form from the institution/program you have applied to. However, please note that getting form I-20/DS-2019 is not a guarantee that you will receive a visa.

NOTE: Persons applying for student or exchange visas must pay the SEVIS fee (also known as the “SEVIS I-901 fee”) BEFORE their interview date. Consular officers will accept the receipt for SEVIS fee payment, either generated on-line or sent to the applicant by mail on a FORM I-797, as proof of payment. For more information, go to http://www.ice.gov/sevis/i901/index.htm

Please be advised that beginning September 4, 2009 all non-immigrant visa applicants are required to pay the non-refundable application fee $131 at any branch of TBC Bank. 

Please bring the following to any branch of TBC-Bank in Georgia during regular business hours:
• passport (must be valid at least another 6 months)
• non-refundable application fee $131 (equivalent to be paid in Georgian Lari (GeL))

All visa applicants are required to complete the application forms DS-156, DS-157 and DS-158 online, then print them and bring to the interview. All three forms can be found at: 
http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/forms/forms_1342.html

All non-immigrant visa applicants are required to schedule appointments for a visa interview online.  Applicants may do so by visiting the following link: (Schedule Visa Interview).
Please bring the following to your interview:

• Your passport (valid at least another 6 months)
• Application fee receipt paid in Georgian Lari at TBC-Bank
• The completed visa applications: DS-156, DS-157 and DS-158
• 5 x 5cm, full face photograph stapled or glued to the application form
• For the “F” applicant, form I-20A-B; for the “M” applicant form I-20M-N; For the "J" applicant, a completed Form DS-2019.
• Proof of SEVIS payment
• All financial documents showing that you or your sponsor is capable of supporting all of your academic needs, for example:
  1. A bank testimonial of financial support;
  2. A bank account statement for the last six months;
  3. Salary Sheets.
• Any other supporting documents:
  1. Original copies of diplomas, transcripts, and other testimonials and certificates from the last institution where you studied;
  2. Any legal document that proves your personal commitment to return home at the end of your studies.

Note: If you need a copy of your MRV receipt, please make a photocopy of it prior to coming to the Consular Section. We are not able to make copies of the receipts for visa applicants.

ADEQUATE FINANCIAL SUPPORT:

The student must prove that his/her sponsor is capable of paying for the first year of his/her academic program, and should be able to show that there will be adequate funds to finance the subsequent years. He/she must show solid evidence of the existence of:

1. The money necessary to pay for the first academic year; AND
2. A plan for financing the subsequent years.

The proof of financial support should be a statement of a personal bank account. The statement of a company account is not appropriate because this type of money cannot normally be spent for personal use.

PLEASE NOTE:

To all recipients of an F, M, or J student or exchange visitor visa:
Please be aware that United States Department of Homeland Security regulations state that holders of F, M, or J nonimmigrant visas will not be admitted to the United States until a date thirty days or less prior to the beginning of your program date, or start date, as given on your Form I-20 (for F or M visas) or DS-2019 (for J visas). An immigration inspector may deny you entry into the United States if you use this visa earlier than this thirty day period. Please consider that date carefully when making your travel plans to the United States.