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Student and Exchange Visas
 

Students and exchange visitors (F, J-1, and M visa categories) have priority for scheduling appointments.  In the event an online appointment is not available, students and exchange visitors may request an expedited appointment by sending an email to tbilisivisa@state.gov

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

Application Process

The Online Visa Application Form (DS-160)

The on-line nonimmigrant visa application (Link to DS-160) is obligatory for all visa applicants, regardless of nationality.

This new form simplifies the visa application process by reducing the number of forms required for most applications from three to one. Once complete, the form is then submitted on-line directly to the U.S. Embassy's Consular Section in Tbilisi. Once the application is complete and submitted on-line, a single confirmation page is printed, and applicants may schedule their personal interview for the next available date. Applicants must bring the printed confirmation page and other required documents with them to their interview.

All non-immigrant visa applicants are required to pay the non-refundable application fee $140 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 $140 (equivalent to be paid in Georgian Lari (GeL))

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.

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
  • DS-160 Confirmation Page
  • 5 x 5cm (if you were not able to upload a photo online)
  • 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.
  • If you are married you must present a translated and notarized copy of your marriage certificate
  • All minor applicants must present a notarized and translated copy of the birth certificate

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.