Detailed list of documents required for Visa

Hello friends,

This is a detailed list of documents required for Visa and details
about those documents.



Courtesy: http://www.state.gov







Required Documents for F1 Visa:

They can be classified as follows.

A. Consulate Documents.

B. US University Documents.

C. Qualifying Test Documents.

C. Educational Documents.

D. Proof of Funds Documents.

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Consulate Documents:


1. Copy of Web appointment (TTS).

2. Form DS-156. (Can be downloaded and printed back-to-back (Both
sides on a single paper or sheet)

Download it from:

http://travel.state.gov/DS-0156.pdf

3. Form DS-157 (Only for all male applicants in the age group of 16
to 45 years)(Not required for Female applicants)

Download it from:

http://travel.state.gov/DS-0157.pdf

4. Form DS-158 (for applicants seeking visas in F category)

Download it from:

http://travel.state.gov/DS-0158.pdf

Note: You can fill the above forms in your own handwriting or if you
are using Adobe Acrobat reader 5.0, you can directly type in the
form (except a few columns) and take printouts directly.

5. One Demand Draft from the for Rs.4,600/- as mentioned below.

6. One Photo 50mm X 50mm (or 2inches x 2 inches Square) on form DS-
156. (Photo guidelines are given below within this section. Kindly
follow them as described.)

7. Passport - Each applicant must possess an individual passport
valid for travel to the U.S. with a validity date at least six
months beyond the intended period of stay;

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Banks to take DD's (For Chennai consulate Applicants Only):

The following is a list of nationalized or foreign banks with a
branch in Chennai from which the U.S. Consulate General in Chennai
will accept Demand Drafts (current as of October 2003):



ABN AMRO Bank

American Express Bank

Andhra Bank

Allahabad Bank

Bank of America

Bank of Bikaner & Jaipur

Bank of India

Bank of Maharashtra

Bank of Muscat

Bharat Overseas Bank

Bank of Tokyo & Mitsubishi

BNP Paribas

Central Bank

Canara Bank

Citibank

Duetsche Bank

Global Trust Bank

HDFC Bank

Honkong Bank

ICICI Bank

IDBI Bank

Indian Bank

Indian Overseas Bank

Karnataka Bank

Lakshmivilas Bank

Oriental Bank of Commerce

Punjab National Bank

Reserve Bank Of India

Standard Chartered Bank

State Bank of Hyderabad

State Bank of India

State Bank of Indore

State Bank of Mysore

State Bank of Travancore

Syndicate Bank

Tamilnad Mercantile Bank

Tamilnadu state apex co-op Bank

The Jammu & Kashmir Bank

The Federal Bank

UCO Bank

UTI Bank

Vijaya Bank



Demand Draft Details:

Visa fees are as follows:



1) Non-immigrant visa application fee (non-refundable) Rs. 4600/-

2) Courier fee: Rs. 400 (Courier fees may be paid in cash or via a
demand draft favoring "T.T. Services" to be paid on the day of
appointment at the TT Services counter located at the Embassy.)

One Demand Draft/Bank Draft/Pay Order/Bank Managers

Check taken for the following amount from any Nationalized Banks and
Local Branches of Foreign Banks. DD's drawn on Co-operative Banks
are not accepted.

DD specifications for different centers are as follows:



1. New Delhi:

One Demand Draft for Rs.4600/-, drawn in favor of the "American
Embassy, New

Delhi." Drafts should be drawn on a bank with a branch in New Delhi.



2. Calcutta:

One separate DD on "American Consulate General, Calcutta," Payable
at Calcutta for the amounts of Rs.4600/

Write your full name and date of birth on the back of each and every
bank draft, using only a pencil to do so.



3. Mumbai:

In Mumbai a single DD includes both Visa application fee and Courier
fee.

Demand Draft for Visa Application Fee: Rs.5000/- Favoring "VFS a/c -
US Visa", payable in Mumbai.

Note: Drop Box applicants from Western Region opting the courier
service (Blue Dart) for home/office pick-up of application - please
add Rs. 120/- per passport. Total fee payable with pick-up service:
Each application must contain the Demand Draft for Visa

Application Fee: Rs 5120/- Favoring " VFS a/c - US Visa" payable in
Mumbai



4. Chennai:

One DD on "American Consulate General, Chennai." Payable in Chennai
for the

amounts of Rs.4, 600/- Important: Please write your complete name
and passport number on the back of each draft.



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B. US University Documents:

1. Offer letter from university or Acceptance letter from university.

2. SEVIS generated i-20 form from US University.

3. Any special letter of Aid or Funding.

4. Any useful correspondence with university officials or department
officials or

professors, in the form of mails or snail mails. If emails take
printouts of the same. When VO asks for them, present them.

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Regarding i-20's read the following:



(As of January 30, 2003 all new forms I-20 issued on or after that
date must be SEVIS compatible documents. First time students will be
able to enter the U.S. with non-SEVIS documents issued prior to
January 30, 2003. All continuing students must present a SEVIS-
generated form I-20, if they are applying for a visa after January
30, 2003. These new forms are printed on a single sheet of paper and
will have a large black bar code down the top right hand side of the
form.)

Note: If a student receives More than one i-20, he/she should take
all the received i-20's to visa interview. If the visa officer asks
for the proof of more i-20's then you can show them to VO. But
unless the VO asks for them don't show. Just

keep them with you. And also remember that VO will be knowing about
all your

admissions (If I-20 was ever issued)

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C. Qualifying Test Documents:

Original Score Reports of

1. TOEFL

2. GRE/GMAT



D. Educational Documents:

1. Original Degree of Graduation or any other available highest
degree as per the

specifications applicable to individual cases.

(What if Degree certificate is not available? kindly follow the
following FAQ available with Chennai consulate web-site.

Q. What if I have not yet received my degree certificate?

A. Yes - you may still apply, but please be sure to include your
Individual and

consolidated mark Sheets and provisional certificate along with
Course Completion Certificate duly signed and stamped with college
seal by principal.)

2. Intermediate or (10+2 exam) original certificates or as
applicable to your case.

3. SSC / CBSE - (+10th standard) original certificates or as
applicable to your case.

4. Original Degree Consolidated marks list (if available and
applicable to your case.) along with all semester/year marks lists,
which is now became mandatory.

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E. Proof of Funds Documents:

1. Proof of ability to finance the education

A. Scholarship letters,

B. Bank letters,

C. Salary slips of parents and other sponsors if any,

D. IT returns for last 2-3 years etc of parents and other sponsors
if any.

E. Rental receipts of own shops or buildings if any with revenue
stamps.

F. Sponsors Business P/L Account duly certified by a CA if sponsor
is a businessman.

G. Pension Papers - if sponsor is retired.

H. 6 months of Bank records - i.e. Bank transaction statements. Or
Bank Passbooks of sponsors. (At times VO ask for more than 6 months
also.)

I. Chartered Accountant Statement of Monetary worthiness of the
sponsors.

J. Affidavit of supports by sponsors and student separately.

K. Loan approval letters (if you want to show loans.) Regarding
loans kindly look into FAQ's given below .

Note: As a matter of fact you need to show the funds available with
you through liquid cash, liquid assets and properties and other
immovable assets and annual income.

1. Liquid Cash

The Bank in which the sponsor is having an account on bank's
letterhead and duly stamped along with a seal can certify this. It
can be supported by 6 months Bank statements or Pass books whatever
available with Bank.

Your sponsors bank account should contain cash for first year funds
of university fee + Living expenses + insurance + misc expenses +
airfares to USA and + Reserve cash funds for second year. Generally
it will be between 20-25 lakhs and sometimes up to 30- 35 lakhs
depending upon the university expenses (Tuition + Living expenses as
mentioned for 9-12 months on I-20 for the length of study as
mentioned in I-20 ranging from 24 months to 39 months)

If it's for 24 months you have to show availability of liquid funds
for 24 months. If the normal length of course is for 36 months, then
you have to show availability of funds for all three years, even you
know course is for 24 months. So a lot depends upon what your I-20
is mentioning.

Liquid funds also covers any Fixed deposits + Bonds + Shares + NSC +
Mutual funds + Gold + Jewellery etc. In fact it's better to show
Fixed deposits in our opinion. They carry much weight. For
everything you intend to show get a latest valuation certificates
basing on which CA will be giving his certificate. If you are
showing Gold and Jewellery, you should produce their valuation from
a Government approved official valuer, along with a declaration of
possession of Gold and jewellery by the sponsorer. But remember in
recent times Gold and jewellery has lost its shine in visa
processing, as many a times VO's commenting that they don't think
parents or sponsorers will sell of their Gold and other

valuables for the sake of their wards education. So be careful,
while showing Gold and Jewellery. Try to show it only as an asset
but not as a means of funding for college expenses and fees.



So from bank you need to produce:

A. Bank Letter stating the funds available with sponsors account and
how much it will be equivalent in US$.

B. Fixed Deposits Original certificates.

C. 6 months or more Bank Transaction statements and Pass Books and
any other related documents.



2. Properties:

There's no uniformity in these issues. Generally it should be around
70-80 lakhs or more. These may be Buildings, plots, flats, shops,
agricultural fields, farm houses etc immovable property in any form
if you are able to justify. All these should be evaluated and
certified by a CE - Chartered Engineer or Tehsil or concerned
metro/revenue officials etc to give their certificate of opinion on
the value of these immovable assets.

3. CA statement:

A CA - Chartered Accountant will give his certificate of Monetary
worthiness of

sponsors basing on the documents he is having related to sponsor.
His certificate

mentions all the Cash, liquid assets and immovable assets available
with the sponsor, which can be available for immediate use for the
applicants study in USA.

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NOTE:

There are a couple of changes about the documents required for visa:


now as per the new rules many changes were done....
the dd is rs4400 and not 4600 and it shuld b paid in advance at hdfc
bank in our city itself...
and also the courire fees in now around rs296 i suppose....
plz check out these........