Why Apply for a USA Study Visa

• Over 1.36 million international student F1, M1 visa holders in 2022

• 1100+ scholarships for international students in the USA

• 600+ universities in USA offer scholarships to international students

• US universities charge USD 8000 to 55000 per year as tuition fee

• Over 2 million courses for international students to pursue

• Top 10 US universities are ranked in Global Top 20

USA Study Visa

• A USA study visa provides international students like you a big chance to open doors for better career opportunities and personal growth.

• International students like you can opt for an H1B Visa, Green Card, CPT, or OPT to get a chance to work during/after graduation.

• You can extend your USA student visa under certain conditions and even use it to seek Permanent Residency in the USA.

• As a UK citizen clear IELTS, TOEFL, CAE or any other English language test as all are accepted.

• Even if you have a USA student visa, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer at US port of entry has final authority to deny you entry into the USA.

• The USA as world’s largest economy with numerous global MNCs provides international students’ tremendous opportunities to grab any job as per qualification.

Reasons to Study in USA

• The USA has some of the best universities in the world rankings, so such university degrees have excellent international reputations.

• US universities and colleges offer various courses and programs, and you have freedom to select any course, method and structure.

• US universities conduct regular English language courses, workshops, orientation, and training programs to offer assistance.

• Universities in the USA are melting pot of different race, cultures, and ethnicities coming together without any discrimination.

• US Universities are known for their lively, vibrant campus life, helping you enjoy student life, explorer ideas and meet new people.

• US university degrees allow international students to expand their horizon and look for multitude of career opportunities.

• Most international students attend US universities taking student loans, so choosing the best course options helps them get faster ROI.

• Universities and colleges in the USA offer enormous opportunities for research and training thanks to their use of cutting-edge technology.

• Students attending US universities can work to earn while studying, up to 20 hr/week during the semester and 40 hr/week on holidays.

Top Universities in the USA

• There are public universities, private universities, Ivy League universities, technical schools, liberal arts colleges, and community colleges in the USA.

QS World University Rankings 2024
USA Rank	Global Rank	University
1	1	Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
2	4	Harvard University
3	5	Stanford University
4	10	University of California Berkeley (UCB)
5	11	University of Chicago
6	12	University of Pennsylvania
7	13	Cornell University
8	15	California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
9	16	Yale University
10	17	Princeton University

• The other renowned universities in the USA that an international student can opt for are:-

• Columbia University
• Johns Hopkins University
• University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
• University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
• New York University (NYU)
• Northwestern University
• Carnegie Mellon University
• Duke University
• University of Texas at Austin
• University of California, San Diego (UCSD)
• University of Washington
• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• Brown University
• Pennsylvania State University
• Boston University
• Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech)
• Purdue University
• University of Wisconsin-Madison
• University of Southern California
• University of California, Davis (UCD)
• University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

List of Affordable Universities in the USA

• For international students like you seeking higher education at low cost, there are many affordable universities in the USA.
• These universities are known for their intimate learning environment, strong student community, and good quality of life.

S. No.	University	Tuition Fee
1	California State University	Undergraduate – USD 17220+ /year Graduate - USD 8850+ /year
2	Bringham Young University	Undergraduate – USD 6490+ / semester Graduate – USD 8160+ / semester
3	Southwest Minnesota State University	Undergraduate – USD 300 / credit Graduate – USD 480 / credit
4	Dakota State University	USD 5960+ / year
5	Nicholls State University	Undergraduate – USD 4480 / semester Graduate – USD 4220 / semester
6	University of Buffalo	Undergraduate – USD 24990 / year Graduate – USD 25990 / year
7	Northern State University	Undergraduate – USD 30 / credit Graduate – USD 55 / credit
8	Oklahoma Panhandle State University	Undergraduate – USD 29440 / year Graduate – USD 25200 / year
9	Delta State University	Undergraduate – USD 500 / semester Graduate – USD 500 / semester
10	Mississippi University of Women	Undergraduate – USD 7860+ / year Graduate – USD 7860+ / year

Study Intakes of USA

Intake	Month/s
1st	January (Spring)
2nd	August (Fall/Winter)
3rd	May (Summer)

• Fall intakes are the most popular for international students with maximum course options and application deadline is around December/January of previous year.

• Spring intakes the best if fall intake is missed by international students and application deadline is around September/October of previous year.

• Summer intake is the least preferred by international students due to the limited availability of programs, mostly preferred for short-term courses outside the traditional academic year.

USA Student Visa Types

• Your course of study, the type of school you plan to attend, and your eligibility determines what kind of visa you must apply for.

• The following are the 3 most common visas that international students can opt for in the USA.

• F1 Student Visa: The F-1 student visa is a nonimmigrant visa that allows international students like you to stay in the USA, for as long as you have a student status. F1 visa is issued to students who wish to reside in the USA to attend a course in university as part of the undergraduate or graduate program. To be eligible for the F1 visa, you must be registered as a student in full-time course at a USA based educational institution.

• J1 Exchange Visitor Visa: The J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa is issued to academics, lecturers, or students who wish to pursue an exchange program in a USA-based educational institution. These exchange programs can include 10-month training, fellowships, or anything else. A J-2 dependent visa holder can enter the USA with their J-1 spouse or parent.

• M-1 Non-Academic Student Visa: The M1 visa is issued to students who wish to study in USA-based vocational or specialized schools. It means the M1 visa holder can’t enter the USA to study without a determined program. The program needs to be specific, and you need to be involved with it as a full time student. Also you can’t overstay your M-1 visa time limit as stipulated in your visa. As such your M1 visa gets time-stamped once you enter the USA.

Eligibility Criteria

• Non-immigrant Visa Application
• Acceptance Letter and Form I-20
• SEVIS Fee Payment
• Passport and Form DS-160 Confirmation
• Proof of Financial Resources
• Previous Academic Records
• English Language Proficiency Results

Steps to Apply

• Step 1: Apply for Admission to US university

• Step 2: Get I-20 form

• Step 3: Pay Your SEVIS Fee

• Step 4: Complete DS-160 Visa Application

• Step 5: Schedule a USA Visa Interview and attend it

• Step 6: Fly off to the USA if Visa Approved

USA Student Visa Dependents

• Many F-1 and M-1 visa-holder international students bring their families to the USA. The F-2/M-2 visas are meant for dependent spouse or an unmarried child under 21 years. F-2 visa enables the dependent holders to come and stay in the USA as per law until the F-1 student visa holder complete their studies.

• As a condition, under US laws US International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) requires you to submit proof of finances. Dependents as per law are required to show evidence that they will return home to native country, when the F-1 student’s education is complete.

Post Study Work Permit

• It allows international students graduating from US universities in the last 60 months with degree or certificate to remain in the US to search and apply for work opportunities.

• It allows international students like you to access social security benefits, health insurance, tax exemptions (if any), and medicare facilities.

• Post Study Work Permit (PSWP) in USA under Optional Practical Training or OPT is valid for 12 months, and under new rules international students pursuing STEM course can get another 24 month extension.

• Curricular Practical Training or CPT is an off-campus employment option undertaken during the degree programme and is available only to international students with F-1 visas.

• You can earn USD 20000 to 70000 annually under PSWP in the USA working 20 hours/week and 40 hours/week on holidays on campus.

• It allows you to move around the USA freely and also apply for permanent residency in the USA in 2 years.

• It would be best to get Form I-765 for employment authorization, which will be submitted alongside OPT application.

• International students can also get an H-1B visa for 3 years that can be extended for an additional 3 years.

• As an F-1 visa holder you can get ‘green card’ if you get employer sponsorship or seek asylum or get sponsorship from US businessman relative, or do military service.

• International students for PSWPs approval need:-

• Valid passport
• Valid EAD card
• Valid F-1 visa
• All I-20 forms
• Letter of employment

• How to Apply for PSWPs:-

• Request Designated School Official (DSO) for OPT/CPT request.
• Sign the form I-20.
• Submit form I-20 with requested fees and any supporting documents.
• Get approval post verification by USCIS.

Student Visa Costs for the USA

Student Visa Fee	Charges in USD
SEVIS fee for F/M SEVIS fee for J	350 220
DS-160 fee	160
Biometrics fee	85
Total	465 (J)/595 (F/M)

Cost of certified translation, standardized test and issuance fee vary.

Student Visa for USA Processing Time

• As an international student from UK, if your US student visa is approved during the visa interview, the average processing time is 5 to 7 working days plus 2 to 3 working days for delivery.

• If you are eligible for the ‘Interview Waiver Program,’ it takes an average of 21 working days from the date of receipt by the US Embassy. Another 2 to 3 working days needed to return the passport.

How Y-Axis Can Help You

• As an independent overseas education consultant, we help you get relevant study visa of Germany.

• We provide coaching services for you to clear IELTS, TOEFL, and Duolingo English language exams.

• Through the Y-Axis Campus Ready Program, we counsel you to navigate through your study program.

• Our personalised service like Y-Path helps to chart the best route for success in studies.

• Our Course Recommendation Service helps you search most relevant course per your qualifications.