Study Guide
Who Can Sponsor For Student Visa In USA
Many of us have aspirations of studying abroad, but when the issue of funding arises, some students are forced to back down. The majority of the time, this occurs because of inadequate financial awareness.
Many pupils have also heard spooky tales of people boasting bank accounts with more than INR 50 lakhs. Some people are unaware that money can be displayed by two or three sponsors simultaneously. There is a lot of uncertainty in this area, and many people fall victim to it, giving up their dream of attending college in the US.
You may learn about US visa sponsorships on this blog and other pertinent details about F-1 visa sponsor documentation, regulations, etc.
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What Is a Student Visa Sponsorship in 2024?
A non-immigrant visa enables foreign students to visit the US and enroll in educational institutions recognized by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).
The SEVP is a Department of Homeland Security program that keeps track of crucial data on foreign students. Additionally, the program offers recognized institutions permission, oversight, and guidance to both institutions and students on maintaining eligibility and visa status as international students.
You must demonstrate your financial ability to pay for your tuition and living expenses in the US when applying for a student visa. Financial support for students might come from grants, relatives, public agencies, and private businesses.
You must first be approved by a US institution recognized by the SEVP to apply for a student visa. After being accepted, you must decide which type of student visa best suits your needs because each has its unique restrictions and demands.
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Fees for Student Visa Sponsorship
You or your sponsor must spend a set amount of money when applying for a student visa. Check with your DSO about the best time to submit payments, as certain sponsors might pay fees in advance.
You will first need to pay the $350 I-901 SEVIS cost (USD). You can pay this fee online. It is assessed for entering your information into SEVIS.
You will receive an electronic receipt after paying the I-901 SEVIS fee; keep it secure because you will need it for your visa interview.
After submitting your DS-160 form, you must also pay your visa costs. After paying this charge of $160 (USD), you will get a printed confirmation with a barcode. This form should also be saved because it is necessary for the visa interview. Check out our F-1 student visa guide to learn more about the visa interview.
Remember that paying for school in the US might be expensive when weighing your possibilities for a student visa sponsor, so choose someone who can cover your tuition.
Your living expenses and costs associated with your studies, such as additional books and instruments like calculators or software, should also be considered by your sponsor.
Sponsorship for a student visa is a fantastic choice to help you begin your trip to the US, but before you apply, it’s crucial to understand precisely what that entails.
You can pursue the degree of your dreams with the help of a Shorelight advisor, who will be there to help you understand the costs, university requirements, visa needs, and much more.
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Who can I Sponsor My Education Abroad?
Numerous organizations can sponsor your student visa in the USA. Let’s examine every viable avenue for American visa sponsorship:
Parents: Your mother or father should always be your first option.
Relatives:
Your sponsor may also be one of your blood relatives. Therefore, the form must explain how they are connected to you. Therefore, besides cousins, your grandparents, immediate uncles, and aunts from both your maternal and paternal sides can help you.
Both: You might have parents and/or relatives, which would make 2-3 sponsors necessary to cover the full cost of the year.
Banks: Banks can sponsor F-1 visas and give you a student loan to begin your international travel.
Let us now move forward to learn about the F-1 visa sponsor requirements. Given below are some of the most essential F-1 visa sponsor requirements that you must possess while applying for an F-1 student visa in the US:
Sponsor letter for F-1 visa affidavit of sponsorship for F-1 visa official bank statements document stating relationship status between the applicant and the sponsor other financial documents (loan letter, property papers, etc.)
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How to Find a Sponsor for Yourself?
Sponsors can be parents and family members of students who want to study in the US. Applicants may also consider using student loans to pay for their studies in the US. Occasionally, employers will sponsor F-1 visas if they are willing to recruit candidates when their international schooling is finished.
For those looking for work visas and green cards, several databases are accessible.
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Financial Documents are Required as Proof of Funds
US colleges and embassies only accept cash in liquid form. Documents from the F-1 visa sponsor are required twice to demonstrate these funds. You can present the consulate with various financial F-1 visa sponsor documents as an applicant. The following is a list of the most significant ones:
- receipt
- fixed deposits
- solvency letter
- loan letter
Affidavits of sponsorship and other financial records are needed as proof of money for an F-1 visa. Below, we’ll go over each of these documents separately.:
- Fixed Deposits Receipt
These must be attested by your bank and can take the form of an attested PF/PPF passbook statement, a balance certificate from your bank, or a savings account statement.
2.) Solvency Letter
a letter from the bank confirms your sponsor’s ability to raise finances for your higher study in the range of INR 25–30 lakhs. This is not a real amount in your account but rather a capacity certificate that a bank issues based on your credit history and assets that you would pledge as collateral for a loan.
3) Loan Letter
All national and public banks normally obtain a sanction or loan letter after receiving an I-20. Based on students’ admission letters, only private banks can issue education loan letters before the I-20. Therefore, if you received a loan letter before receiving your I-20, you can utilize that to demonstrate your financial support to the university.
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Attending the Visa interview
It’s crucial to arrive on time for your visa interview because those who arrive late can be requested to reschedule for a later date. Most of the time, only applicants with appointments will be allowed entry into a US embassy or consulate.
A parent for children under 18, a translator, and an assistant for the disabled are the only exceptions; you must inform your preferred embassy or consulate of the name of the parent, translator, or assistant who will be traveling with you.
To assess whether you are eligible for a US student visa and, if so, which visa category is best for you, the consular officer will ask you questions about your background and goals during the visa interview.
Be ready to discuss your ties to your native country, your proficiency in English, your academic background, the US program you have been accepted to, and documentation of your financial means. Additionally, you can be questioned about what you want to do after your education.
Read More – How to Apply for a Student Visa in the Czech Republic: Requirements, Cost, Eligibility, & Process.
Can Students Work in the US With Student Visa?
Yes, you can work in the US on an F-1 student visa. However, you will have to follow specific F-1 visa rules and restrictions:
- You can only work part-time on campus while your academic term is in session.
- You can only work a maximum of 20 hours per week
- You may be able to work off-campus with the approval of your university.
If your university permits it, you can work full-time during breaks from classes. Visit USCIS.gov for more information about working as an F-1 international student.
Ensure your DSO’s permission before looking for work during your studies.
Remember that you will have a grace period of 60 days to depart the US when your program is finished. If you want to prolong your stay, you can talk to a Shorelight advisor to learn more about your options, such as changing schools or going back to school. You can also consult Shorelight’s F-1 extension guide to look at your alternatives.
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Visa Fees and Payment Method
Before applying for a nonimmigrant visa, all applicants—including minors—must pay a non-refundable, non-transferable visa application fee, often known as the MRV charge. Whether a visa is granted or not, the application fee for a visa must be paid.
The price depends on the kind of visa you’re applying for. Each nonimmigrant visa type’s application fees are listed on this website. Most visa applicants in Nigeria will pay between $160, $190, or $265 at GT Bank, depending on their visa class.
Please take note that only the nonimmigrant visa application fees are included below. You can find information here about other visa fees that must be paid directly to the Department of Homeland Security, the National Visa Center, the U.S. Embassy, or the U.S. Consulate General.
You are not eligible for a refund of your visa application money, and you cannot transfer it to another individual. Following payment of the application cost, you will be given a receipt.
This document, valid for a year after the payment was made, enables you to set up an appointment for your interview at the American Embassy or Consulate General.
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FAQs
Unlike a work visa, an F-1 visa does not necessarily require a sponsorship.
It costs around 4,000 USD to sponsor a visa.
For students willing to study in the US, parents and relatives can very well be accommodated as sponsors
Conclusion
You and your sponsor must pay specific expenses during the application procedure for your USA student visa. Some sponsors may pay fees in advance, so check with your DSO to see when the best time is to send contributions.
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