Visa Information - The University of Iowa

What Our Students Say Conditional Undergraduate Admission TOEFL Linguistics/ TESL at Iowa Photo Gallery	QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT VISA ISSUANCE Once the IIEP receives your complete application, it will take approximately one week for you to receive your I-20. Click here for SEVIS fee information Q: What documents do I need to take with me to apply for a U.S. visa to attend the Iowa Intensive English Program (IIEP)? A: An I-20 and acceptance letter from the Iowa Intensive English Program Financial verification (bank statement or scholarship letter) A valid passport $100 visa application fee or proof that it has been paid (click here for SEVIS fee information) Form DS-156, Application for a Nonimmigrant Visa. Fill out the form neatly and completely, and use the exact same name and spelling that appears on your passport. For male students between the ages of 16 and 45, a form DS-157, Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application. Q: What is the visa interview like? A: There are many different methods of applying for a U.S. visa. In some countries, you can drop your visa application and materials in a drop-box. In others, it is possible to mail in the application. In many countries, an interview is required. The U.S. consul who interviews you is required to determine that: your documents are genuine you intend to enroll as a full-time student you have enough money to support yourself and will not need to use the U.S. social welfare system you intend to return home after you finish your studies. The consul may ask a variety of questions, such as: Where are you going to study? What are you going to study? How will you use that degree in your home country? Is this the first time you are applying for a student visa? Have you ever traveled to the U.S. before? If yes, what did you do there? Do you plan to remain in the United States after your studies? What qualifies you for the studies you are going to undertake? Does your family (or other financial sponsor) really have enough money to support you? Are any members of your family currently living in the U.S.? If yes, what are they doing there? If you are married, is your spouse going to travel with you? What about your children, if you have children? When do you plan to finish your studies? What will be your first destination in the U.S.? The consul who interviews you may be overworked and tired, and probably has many people to interview besides you, so the consul may or may not be friendly, and may or may not ask you several questions. Although the actual interview may be brief, it is important to convey a positive impression when you interview with the consul. To convey a positive impression, Be clean and neat in your appearance. Business attire is appropriate. Look at the consul when talking with him or her. Answer questions directly and honestly. Answer questions quickly and completely. Absolutely, do not make any untrue statements. Answer only the questions asked. Smile. If you are unable to answer the questions in English, and the visa officer does not speak the language of your country, you have a right to ask for an interpreter. Speaking English is not a requirement for a student visa. Thousands of students come to the U.S. each year to learn how to speak English well. Q: What else can I do to improve my chances of being approved for a visa? A: Have a specific academic or professional objective. Be prepared to explain why it is better to study a specific field in the U.S. than to study at home. Be ready to say exactly what you will study and what kind of career it will prepare you for in your home country. If you seem to be unsure about what you will be doing, the visa officer may be less likely to believe that you are really going to the U.S. to study. You should also be able to provide some information about the institution you plan to attend, where you will be housed, and the location of the institution. Q: Do my grades matter? A: Grades do make a difference. If your grades are below average, you need to be ready to explain how you are going to succeed in the U.S. A letter from a school director or teacher in your country can be helpful. If there were special circumstances (such as death or illness in your family) that contributed to bad grades, have the school explain those circumstances. Q: I'm nervous about applying for a visa. What are the reasons that visas are denied? A: The two main reasons visas are denied are 1.) inadequate financial support, and 2.) failure to prove "nonimmigrant intent." 1.) If the consul believes you do not have enough money to be a full-time student, the consul will not issue you a visa. It is important to take proof of your ability to pay for your tuition, fees, living expenses, books, and health insurance. It may also be helpful to bring a letter from your parents' employer(s) stating what your parents' jobs are, how long they have worked there, and how much they earn. Large sums of money in bank accounts may not be sufficient proof of financial support. In addition to a bank statement, you should obtain a letter from your bank that states how long the account has existed and what the average balance in the account has been. 2.) Proving "nonimmigrant intent" means that you need to be prepared to convince the consul, if he or she asks you, that you intend to return to your home country after you finish your studies in the U.S. The law requires a consul to deny a student visa to anyone the consul believes intends to remain in the U.S. permanently (that is, get a "green card"). You will be in a good position to prove nonimmigrant intent if you have a job in your country you will return to, if there is a good chance you can get a job in your country with the English language skills you will receive from the IIEP, if you have close family members at home (parents, spouse, children), or if you own property there. Here are some documents and tips that may help you prove that you plan to return: contracts that prove that you or your family own a home or a business diplomas letters of reference deeds to show land ownership photos of immediate family currently residing at home photos of property or a business you or your family own documents from a bank that prove that you or your family own a business If a brother or sister studied in the U.S. and returned home, bring a copy of their diploma. If the brother or sister is now employed in your home country, bring a statement from their employer stating that they returned and are employed. You can also bring your sibling's passport to show that they returned to your home country. If appropriate, obtain a letter from a company in your country stating that you will be hired for a specific job when you return. If you cannot get a promise of a job, try to get a letter stating that you will be considered for a job when you return and that the company needs employees with the specific education that you will receive in the U.S. If immediate family members have important positions in the government, in education, or with private corporations, mention them, and if possible, bring a document that shows what the position is. If you have traveled outside your country on an old, expired passport, bring the expired passport to prove you have traveled and returned to your country. Q: When should I apply for my visa? A: It is important to apply for your visa at least three months before you plan to travel. This gives you extra time if there are delays at the embassy, or if you want to appeal a denial. After the events of September 11, 2001, visa processing time takes much longer. All names have to be submitted for a security clearance. Citizens of some countries have to undergo additional screening that takes several additional weeks of processing. Remember that each case is different. Do not assume that the visa application experience of your friends will be the same as yours. Q: What if my visa is denied? A: Ask the consul to give you a written explanation for the denial. Contact IIEP immediately to explain what happened and, if possible, give us the name of the consular officer who issued it. Sometimes, if it is clear that there has been a simple misunderstanding, or if your documents were not acceptable to the consul, we can provide the additional information needed to help you get the visa. IIEP can also delay your admission to a later semester to give you time to try again to obtain a visa. Sometimes, IIEP can do nothing to help. The law concerning temporary visas allows consular officers to make their own decisions, and their decisions may seem unfair to you. Q: What are the different types of visas? A: F-1: student visa (must be full-time) F-2: spouse of an F-1 student (must be part-time and studying recreationally) J-1: scholar, postdoctoral researcher (can be full- or part-time) J-2: spouse of a J-1 scholar (can be full- or part-time) B-1: business-related, short-term (can study part-time, recreationally) B-2: spouse of a B-1 (can study part-time, recreationally) Tourist: Can only study part-time if person is already in the country; you cannot come to the U.S. on a tourist visa planning to study. H-4: can study full- or part-time Much of the information on this page was excerpted from "Advising Students Before They Apply for a Visa," by William M. Fish, Vice President, Advocacy, AAIEP Newsletter, Winter 2003.

An I-20 and acceptance letter from the Iowa Intensive English Program
Financial verification (bank statement or scholarship letter)
A valid passport
$100 visa application fee or proof that it has been paid (click here for SEVIS fee information)
Form DS-156, Application for a Nonimmigrant Visa. Fill out the form neatly and completely, and use the exact same name and spelling that appears on your passport.
For male students between the ages of 16 and 45, a form DS-157, Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application.

Q: What is the visa interview like?

A: There are many different methods of applying for a U.S. visa. In some countries, you can drop your visa application and materials in a drop-box. In others, it is possible to mail in the application. In many countries, an interview is required.

Where are you going to study?
What are you going to study?
How will you use that degree in your home country?
Is this the first time you are applying for a student visa?
Have you ever traveled to the U.S. before?
If yes, what did you do there?
Do you plan to remain in the United States after your studies?
What qualifies you for the studies you are going to undertake?
Does your family (or other financial sponsor) really have enough money to support you?
Are any members of your family currently living in the U.S.?
If yes, what are they doing there?
If you are married, is your spouse going to travel with you?
What about your children, if you have children?
When do you plan to finish your studies?
What will be your first destination in the U.S.?

The consul who interviews you may be overworked and tired, and probably has many people to interview besides you, so the consul may or may not be friendly, and may or may not ask you several questions. Although the actual interview may be brief, it is important to convey a positive impression when you interview with the consul.

Be clean and neat in your appearance. Business attire is appropriate.
Look at the consul when talking with him or her.
Answer questions directly and honestly.
Answer questions quickly and completely.
Absolutely, do not make any untrue statements.
Answer only the questions asked.
Smile.

If you are unable to answer the questions in English, and the visa officer does not speak the language of your country, you have a right to ask for an interpreter. Speaking English is not a requirement for a student visa. Thousands of students come to the U.S. each year to learn how to speak English well.

Q: What else can I do to improve my chances of being approved for a visa?

A: Have a specific academic or professional objective. Be prepared to explain why it is better to study a specific field in the U.S. than to study at home. Be ready to say exactly what you will study and what kind of career it will prepare you for in your home country. If you seem to be unsure about what you will be doing, the visa officer may be less likely to believe that you are really going to the U.S. to study. You should also be able to provide some information about the institution you plan to attend, where you will be housed, and the location of the institution.

Q: Do my grades matter?

A: Grades do make a difference. If your grades are below average, you need to be ready to explain how you are going to succeed in the U.S. A letter from a school director or teacher in your country can be helpful. If there were special circumstances (such as death or illness in your family) that contributed to bad grades, have the school explain those circumstances.

Q: I'm nervous about applying for a visa. What are the reasons that visas are denied?

A: The two main reasons visas are denied are 1.) inadequate financial support, and 2.) failure to prove "nonimmigrant intent."

1.) If the consul believes you do not have enough money to be a full-time student, the consul will not issue you a visa. It is important to take proof of your ability to pay for your tuition, fees, living expenses, books, and health insurance. It may also be helpful to bring a letter from your parents' employer(s) stating what your parents' jobs are, how long they have worked there, and how much they earn. Large sums of money in bank accounts may not be sufficient proof of financial support. In addition to a bank statement, you should obtain a letter from your bank that states how long the account has existed and what the average balance in the account has been.

2.) Proving "nonimmigrant intent" means that you need to be prepared to convince the consul, if he or she asks you, that you intend to return to your home country after you finish your studies in the U.S. The law requires a consul to deny a student visa to anyone the consul believes intends to remain in the U.S. permanently (that is, get a "green card"). You will be in a good position to prove nonimmigrant intent if you have a job in your country you will return to, if there is a good chance you can get a job in your country with the English language skills you will receive from the IIEP, if you have close family members at home (parents, spouse, children), or if you own property there.

Here are some documents and tips that may help you prove that you plan to return:

contracts that prove that you or your family own a home or a business
diplomas
letters of reference
deeds to show land ownership
photos of immediate family currently residing at home
photos of property or a business you or your family own
documents from a bank that prove that you or your family own a business
If a brother or sister studied in the U.S. and returned home, bring a copy of their diploma.
If the brother or sister is now employed in your home country, bring a statement from their employer stating that they returned and are employed. You can also bring your sibling's passport to show that they returned to your home country.
If appropriate, obtain a letter from a company in your country stating that you will be hired for a specific job when you return. If you cannot get a promise of a job, try to get a letter stating that you will be considered for a job when you return and that the company needs employees with the specific education that you will receive in the U.S.
If immediate family members have important positions in the government, in education, or with private corporations, mention them, and if possible, bring a document that shows what the position is.
If you have traveled outside your country on an old, expired passport, bring the expired passport to prove you have traveled and returned to your country.

Q: When should I apply for my visa?

A: It is important to apply for your visa at least three months before you plan to travel. This gives you extra time if there are delays at the embassy, or if you want to appeal a denial. After the events of September 11, 2001, visa processing time takes much longer. All names have to be submitted for a security clearance. Citizens of some countries have to undergo additional screening that takes several additional weeks of processing.

Remember that each case is different. Do not assume that the visa application experience of your friends will be the same as yours.

Q: What if my visa is denied?

A: Ask the consul to give you a written explanation for the denial. Contact IIEP immediately to explain what happened and, if possible, give us the name of the consular officer who issued it. Sometimes, if it is clear that there has been a simple misunderstanding, or if your documents were not acceptable to the consul, we can provide the additional information needed to help you get the visa. IIEP can also delay your admission to a later semester to give you time to try again to obtain a visa.

Sometimes, IIEP can do nothing to help. The law concerning temporary visas allows consular officers to make their own decisions, and their decisions may seem unfair to you.

Q: What are the different types of visas?

A: F-1: student visa (must be full-time)
F-2: spouse of an F-1 student (must be part-time and studying recreationally)
J-1: scholar, postdoctoral researcher (can be full- or part-time)
J-2: spouse of a J-1 scholar (can be full- or part-time)
B-1: business-related, short-term (can study part-time, recreationally)
B-2: spouse of a B-1 (can study part-time, recreationally)
Tourist: Can only study part-time if person is already in the country; you cannot come to the U.S. on a tourist visa planning to study.
H-4: can study full- or part-time

Once the IIEP receives your complete application, it will take approximately one week for you to receive your I-20.

Click here for SEVIS fee information