The Simple 7-Step Formula to Get Your F-1 Student Visa Approved to Study English in Los Angeles! Part 1! (Post Covid – 2022 Edition)
The Simple 7-Step Formula to Get Your F-1 Student Visa Approved to Study English in Los Angeles! Part 1! (Post Covid – 2022 Edition)
Congratulations, you’ve discovered the ultimate resource for getting your F-1 student visa approved and studying English in LA! While most people dream of doing this, you can make your dreams come true by following this proven, step-by-step formula.
Thousands of students just like you have successfully followed this simple blueprint to demystify the F-1 student visa application process. This means getting their F-1 student visas approved, and finally pursuing their goal of studying English in Los Angeles. And all without having to pay an educational agent!
That’s right, you can do this all by yourself. Because it’s simpler than you think, even with the new F-1 visa rules due to Covid-19.
In fact, this is one of the most common things I hear from our students who’ve used educational agents. That they would have taken care of the F-1 visa application process themselves had they known how simple it was.
Fortunately, you won’t make this mistake because everything you need to know is right here in this article. That said, here’s how we suggest you use this information.
How to Get the Most Out of This 7-Step F-1 Student Visa Approval Guide!
1. Skim Through the Entire Process Once –
It’s important to get an idea of how the entire process works first.
For example, what’s the difference between a Form I-20 and a Form DS-160?
What are the new F-1 visa rules I need to know about?
And what are the F-1 student visa fees
The process isn’t complicated by any means, but it’s good to have a general idea of the steps involved.
2. Apply the Steps to Your Situation –
Next, it’s time to apply the steps directly to your situation.
Every student’s situation is different, so it’s important that you make the F-1 student visa application process your own.
Also, please be aware of the timelines for each step so you have a clear idea of how long everything will take.
(Timelines are conveniently located at the top of each step)
And please be aware of Columbia West College’s academic start dates (or whichever school you choose). That way you’ll know exactly when you’ll be starting school so you can make the appropriate travel arrangements.
3. Get Help If You Need It (Especially After Covid-19) –
If any of this information seems confusing, don’t worry, we’re here to help.
Take advantage of the FREE 20-minute consultation we have available with one of our knowledgeable student advisors.
It’ll be well worth your time, I promise.
But the point is, don’t be afraid to ask questions, especially after Covid-19… because things have changed!
New F-1 student visa rules and travel guidelines have become stricter.
The good news is, F-1 student visa fees haven’t changed, and neither has the F-1 student visa application process overall.
However, now there are vaccination, testing, and quarantine rules to follow, both for your home country and for the US.
Since these policies are constantly changing, a good place to stay updated is the Center for Disease Control:
However, even if travel conditions aren’t 100% back to where they were before Covid-19, they are getting better every day!
The bottom line is, you can feel safe about getting your F-1 student visa and studying abroad in 2022.
Finally, please understand that we’re using Columbia West College as an example because… well, it’s our school!
But also because we needed an example for this article.
However, you can apply this 7-step formula to any English school in the US.
That said, let’s get started!
Step #1 – Apply and Get Accepted to An SEVP Approved School (Like Columbia West College!)
How Long This Could Take: This part is different for each person. Why? Because it depends on how long it takes for you to find a school you like, get your documents together, and get your Form I-20 and Acceptance Letter back from the school. All of this will be covered in detail in this section!
So you want to study English in the United States, huh?
Well, you’ve made a very wise choice.
When the world thinks “English” they usually think of the US. This is due to the influence of Hollywood and the popularity of American culture all over the world.
But right now, you may be feeling lost.
The F-1 student visa application process can feel overwhelming!
But as long as you follow the steps in this guide, you’ll be fine! Even with the new F-1 student visa rules due to Covid-19.
“Find an SEVP (Student and Exchange Visitor Program) approved school that you want to attend and apply there”
Not only must you apply to an SEVP approved school, but you must also get accepted. Only then can you get the paperwork you need for your F-1 student visa interview.
You can find a list of SEVP approved schools here:
But let’s use Columbia West College as an example. =)
You will need to submit certain documents, which we’ll cover in a moment. You’ll also need to pay certain F-1 student visa fees to receive your Form I-20 and Acceptance Letter from CWC. Please note that different SEVP approved schools may have slightly different requirements.
What’s a Form I-20? – A Form I-20 is the “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status – For Academic and Language Students.” But here’s the easy way to think about it. It’s the document you need to apply for your F-1 student visa and enter the US. It’s a very important document. So, once you get it, don’t lose it!
Getting your Form I-20 is the lead domino in the F-1 student visa application process.
It’s the key that unlocks the rest of the steps.
So here’s what you need to get your Form I-20 and Acceptance Letter from Columbia West College.
List of Items Needed to Get a Form I-20 and Acceptance Letter from CWC:
Despite some new F-1 student visa rules because of Covid-19, the following steps remain the same.
1. Application Form
You can complete the application form either:
2. Copy of University or High School Diploma or Transcript
Any of these documents will do. An English version is preferable but not necessary.
3. Copy of Your Financial Statement(s)
Acceptable financial statements include tax returns and bank statements. But here are some important details for you to know.
- Your financial statement(s) must be dated within the last 3 months and show a balance of at least $4,500 for a 3-month Form I-20. It must show $9,000 for a 6-month Form I-20. And it must show $18,000 for a 1-year Form I-20.
- If you have a dependent (spouse or children), please show an additional $3,000 per dependent on your financial statement. For example, if you have 3 dependents (a spouse and 2 children), your financial statement must show an extra $9,000.
Here’s another important point for you.
The reality is you may not personally have this much money in your bank account.
But don’t worry, this won’t derail your ability to get your F-1 student visa! Meaning, it shouldn’t mess up the F-1 student visa application process for you.
You see, you can use a parent, guardian, family member, or friend’s financial statements! The only requirement is, they must fill out and sign an “Affidavit of Support” letter (which we provide).
4. Copy of Passport
Remember, your current passport should be valid for at least 6-months past the end of your intended period of study.
Please just make sure the copy is clear and all the words are legible.
5. Payment of your Application and Mailing Fee
Of course you’ve got to pay your application and mailing fees. That way we can send you your Form I-20 and official CWC Acceptance Letter and Welcome Package.
You can pay via PayPal, money order, cashier’s check, or wire transfer by going here:
Or you can pay via credit card online by going here:
Obviously, other schools may have slightly different payment options and document requirements, but the overall process is the same. Just know that there are additional F-1 student visa fees to follow.
Once you are accepted, Columbia West College will FedEx you your Form I-20 and Acceptance Letter in a Welcome Package. You should receive it within 1-2 weeks, depending on where you live in the world.
Great job, we just finished Step #1 of the F-1 student visa application process!
But don’t wait for the documents to arrive before you move onto Step #2. By the way, this is where some of the new F-1 student visa rules may start to affect you.
So let’s cover Step #2 right now…
Step #2 – Apply for an F-1 Student Visa!
How Long This Should Take: 1-day maximum
The rest of the steps in the F-1 student visa application process will move much faster, so let’s stay focused!
Actually, Step #2, “Apply for an F-1 Student Visa,” is made up of 3 mini-steps.
Pay Your SEVIS I-901 Fee –
This is one of the most important F-1 student visa fees.
After you make your payment at https://fmjfee.com, you will be entered into the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).
Want a quick and easy video tutorial on how to make this payment?
What Is SEVIS? – SEVIS stands for Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. It is a nationwide, Internet-based system used by the U.S. government. Its purpose is to maintain accurate and current information on non-immigrant (international) students (F and M visa). It’s also used to track exchange visitors (J visa), and dependents of the previously mentioned visa types (F-2, M-2, and J-2). You can look up any new F-1 student visa rules here.
Or, if you like, CWC can pay this fee for you as long as you send us the $350.
Complete Your Visa Application Form (Form DS-160) –
By the way, now you know the difference between the Form I-20 and the Form DS-160.
Anyhow, the application should take anywhere between 15-40 minutes, depending on how quickly you answer the questions.
While this isn’t a difficult application, there are some things you should know and have ready beforehand.
Below is a handy checklist for you.
Checklist For the Visa Application Form
- Digital picture in a specific format outlined in the link below. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/photos.html
- Location of the consulate you will go to for your interview.
- Since the application must be completed online, you must have a reliable Internet connection.
- Passport details (name on passport, date of birth, passport issue date, passport expiration date, passport number, etc.…) for each applicant.
- Family information of applicant (Name of parents of each applicant, occupation, mailing address, work address, income, etc…).
- Address where you will stay in the USA.
- Name and address of your relatives in the USA, if any.
- Date of your most recent travel to the US, if any.
Remember, this is a very important step in the F-1 student visa application process!
Pay The Non-Refundable F-1 Student Visa Application Fee –
Here is another important F-1 student visa fee to pay.
Go to https://www.usembassy.gov/ to select your country and find country-specific instructions for paying the fee.
And that’s it, congratulations! You’ve just completed Step #2 of this 7-Step process!
Let’s move quickly to Step #3, shall we?
Step #3 – Schedule Your F-1 Student Visa Interview!
How Long This Should Take: This depends on the country, but on average, the wait time is usually around 2-3 weeks. We’ve seen interviews being scheduled within days, and we’ve seen interviews being scheduled a month or two in the future.
Since wait times for interview appointments can vary, it’s a good idea to apply for your visa early. Unfortunately, you don’t have much control over this part of the process, especially after Covid-19. In fact, the new F-1 student visa ruleshave delayed some of these timelines considerably. Regardless, here’s what to do.
Wait times for interviews and visa processing for each U.S. embassy or consulate are available at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/wait-times.html. Fortunately, booking your appointment should only take a few minutes. =)
Are you getting excited yet? You should be, we’re getting closer to reaching your goal of coming to the US!
So let’s move onto Step #3, “Schedule Your F-1 Student Visa Interview.”
The good news is this may be the simplest step in the entire F-1 student visa application process. Here’s what to do.
Go to https://www.usembassy.gov/ to select your country and find country-specific instructions for scheduling your interview.
Just choose the time that fits your timeline best and book the appointment.
And that’s it! During the real interview, you’ll need certain items (like your Form I-20), but we’ll cover that in the next step.
For now, please note that you can apply for your F-1 student visa well before your academic start date. Specifically, you can apply up to 120 days in advance of the Program Start Date shown on your Form I-20.
And now that you’ve taken care of booking your appointment, in Part 2 of this article, we’ll move onto Step #4
But if you’ve read to this point, you’re probably interested in studying English in the United States. If so, then you may have some questions about your unique situation. Like we mentioned, the F-1 student visa application process is simple, but it’s different for everyone. Plus, there are new F-1 student visa rules to consider now, as well as several F-1 student visa fees to pay.
Well, we’re here to help! Email us at [email protected] to set up your free 20-minute consultation with one of our expert education advisors. Not only will they answer all your questions, if you qualify, but they’ll also give you our current special offer! So set up your free appointment now, while it’s on your mind!
Columbia West College (CWC) is committed to providing quality English as a Second language and test preparation instruction that equips students with the English language and test-taking skills necessary to achieve their academic, professional/vocational or personal goals.