No, we are not talking about the credit card that drives Sachin Tendulkar. We are talking about this four-letter word that everybody likes to hear- VISA.
Now, don’t confuse this with a passport. A visa is like a travel permit-saying that you are welcome to visit a nation. Various countries have their own requirements and procedures. But by far the most popular destination for education abroad is the United States with over 1,06,553 non- immigrant visas issued in India. So you have cracked the GMAT/GRE/TOEFL and a Harvard or a Princeton has admitted you too.

Can you now pack your bag and take off right? Not so soon. Before helping yourself on that American Pie, you have to first convince Uncle Sam of your good intentions. So let’s check it!
As a student, there are three types of entry into the United Sates (the fourth being as a stowaway in a containership to Canada!)

F-1 Students Visa (I-20 form)
This is for full-time students enrolled in an academic programme in a college or a university. The student is entitled to complete his course by the expiration date listed on the I–20 form.

J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa (IAP-66 form)
This Visa is issued to students who require practical training that is not available in their home country in order to complete their academic programme.

M- 1 Vocational Student Visa (I-20 M)
This Visa is issued to students attending non-academic or vocational college and is valid for a maximum period of one year. This Visa cannot be converted to F–1 Visa.
If your head is beginning to spin then relax. The letter from the school to which you have enrolled will clearly explain which visa you would need to apply for.
You will need to contact the US Embassy or the Consulate nearest to you to apply for the student visa. Non-immigrant Visa Applications are taken Monday through Friday between 08:00 A.M - 10:30 A.M So you better wake up early to stand in the queue
You will require the following documents for the visa:
(1) A valid passport with a validity date at least six months beyond your intended period of stay in the United States.
(2) Two recent passport size photographs (you should specifically ask for a "US Visa type" photo -37x37 mm against a light background)
(3) A US visa application form (OF-156)
(4) Form I–20 in case of F-1students or Form IAP–66 in case of J-1 issued by the selected college and is a Certificate of eligibility for non-immigrant student status.
(5) Visa application fee is Rs 2,115 and Visa Issuance Fee Rs 3,525
(All visa payments should be in the form of demand draft, payable to the American Consulate General, Mumbai)
(6) Originals of certificates, recommendation letters, etc to prove your academic credentials.
(7) Scores from standardised tests such as TOEFL, SAT, GRE, GMAT, etc required by the educational institution.
(8) Financial evidence that shows you or your parents who are sponsoring you have sufficient funds to cover your tuition and living expenses during the period of your intended study. Things like income tax returns or Bank statements will do.

Keep in mind that June, July and August are the busiest months in most consular sections, and interview appointments are the most difficult to get during that period. You therefore need to plan ahead to avoid having to make repeat visits to the Embassy.

However, do not apply more than 90 days before the registration date noted on the I-20.

The final hurdle you will face will be the interview with the firangi Visa Officer. Let’s walk you through it
Americans tend to be a bit security conscious. We might call them paranoid but you can’t carry things like cellular phones, walkmans, etc on your visit to the visa officer. Even cigarettes, lighters and matches are a strict no- no. If possible avoid carrying briefcases and large bags.
Make sure you take all the documents with you to the visa interview. The Main funda of the interview is this: You have to convince the counsellor that you are going abroad only for the sake of studying and would be returning to serve mother India and work towards her progress. In short you have to be a la Manoj Kumar. Seriously speaking, you have to demonstrate your binding ties to your family and thereby India.
You should be able to demonstrate that you have financially and socially well settled in India and therefore have no reason or desire to stay permanently in India. A letter from one's prospective employer in India or a family list of relatives who went to the US and returned might strengthen your case.

You must also prove that sufficient funds are or will be available from an identified and reliable financial source to take care of all your expenses during your period of stay in the United States. Specifically, applicants must prove they have enough readily available funds to meet all expenses for the first year of study, and that adequate funds will be available for each subsequent year of study.

The best way to do this is to draw a neat table explaining how you plan to pay for the subsequent years of the course mentioning the exact amount and the source.

If you have taken a bank loan then bring the relevant papers to prove that you have indeed got the loan. You should also demonstrate how you intend to pay back this loan.

Corporate sponsorship
If you are lucky enough to find a corporate sponsorship you need to take with you to the visa office a copy of the minutes of meeting when the directors voted to sponsor you. The amount of sponsorship should preferably be transferred to a separate bank account. A letter from the bank stating that the amount has been transferred will settle all doubts about the source of fund.
The counsellors are pretty experienced. So don’t try to pull a fast one on them.
A visa may be refused if the visa officer has the slightest doubt for any count. You can then apply a second time by post. The US Consulate might call for a repeat interview. But this time the first question is likely to be, “What have you got now that you didn't have last time. To avoid denial, you have to be ready with answers to all the questions. Secondly, you have to carry as many original documents as possible.

When the visa officer finishes issuing your visa, he/she will hand over a sealed envelope. You should not tamper with or open that envelope. You will need to present that along with your other travel documents and offer letter to the immigration officer at the first point of entry in the United States. Make sure you keep them with you, and do not pack them with the checked in luggage.

So now you are set but don’t know where top go? Here are the contact details:
New Delhi
Shanti Path, Chanakyapuri,
New Delhi - 110021
Tel [91] (11) 419-8000, 611-3033
Fax 419-0017

Mumbai
Lincoln House,
78, Bhulabhai Desai Road
Mumbai 400026
Tel [91] (22) 363-3611
Fax 363-0350

Calcutta
5/1 Ho Chi Minh Sarani,
Calcutta - 700071
Tel [91] (33) 282-3611/12/13/14/15
Fax 282-2335.
Email: consulat@cal.vsnl.net.in; usis@usiscal.ernet.in

Chennai
220 Anna Salai,
Chennai - 600006.
Tel [91] (44) 827-3040/827, 7542/827-7835
Fax 825-02440

Bangalore
W-202, II floor, West Wing,
Sunrise Chambers,
22 Ulsoor Road,
Bangalore - 560042
Tel [91] (80) 558-1452
Fax 558-3630