Lakeland College

Visa Application

When you receive notice of admission to Lakeland College, you will also be sent various forms, which are required to obtain housing on campus and to meet our student health requirements. If you decide to attend Lakeland College, these forms must be returned to the Office of International Admissions along with a non-refundable deposit, which will be credited to our first semester’s billing statement.

Upon receipt of those forms and the deposit, you will be sent the Certificate of Eligibility (SEVIS I-20 Form) required to obtain an F-1 student visa from the U.S. Embassy or consulate in your own country.

SEVIS fee of US $100

http://www.ice.gov/graphics/sevis/i901/index.htm

The SEVIS fee must be paid and fully processed at least three days prior to arrival at the U.S. Embassy or consulate for your F1 visa interview. We highly recommend bringing your SEVIS I-901 fee receipt. While the embassy or consulate should be able to electronically verify your payment, having the receipt in hand proves that the payment was processed correctly and speeds the verification process. Failure to precisely and thoroughly comply with each requirement applicable to you will result in a denial of the visa interview.

Please visit the following web sites and read the information carefully!

• Option 1: If you would like to make this payment online using an approved credit card, please go to https://www.fmjfee.com/index.jhtml. We strongly suggest, if possible, that you use this payment option. Please make sure that you print the receipt.
• Option 2: If you would like to make this payment by mail, please use the enclosed form or download the Form I-901 at http://www.ice.gov/graphics/sevis/pdf/I-901.pdf. Recognize that payment by mail will necessitate additional processing time!
• Option 3: Western Union Quick Pay. Please visit http://www.ice.gov/graphics/sevis/i901/index.htm

If you have any questions, please go to http://www.ice.gov/graphics/sevis/i901/index.htm for further information.

Notes:

• A. The School Code of Lakeland College is CHI 214F 20137000.
• B. SEVIS Identification Number is the one listed on the top right of your Form I-20 (above the bar code) beginning with the number after the letter "N".

Documents you need for your visa interview include, but are not limited to the following:

1. Original SEVIS I-20 signed by a Designated School Official at Lakeland College and you
2. Original acceptance letter
3. Original financial documents, such as a bank letter/statement, deposit certificate and/or a letter of sponsorship
4. Payment Receipt of US$100 SEVIS fee. Please visit http://www.ice.gov/graphics/sevis/i901/faq.htm for detailed instructions
5. Non-immigrant visa application Form (contact U.S. Embassy/consulate in your country for more information)
6. Payment of visa application fee (contact U.S. Embassy/consulate in your country for more information)
7. Admission test score if any, such as TOEFL, IELTS, and SAT
8. Official transcript, graduation certificate, and/or diploma

Good luck with your visa application! We look forward to seeing you soon at Lakeland College.

Note: Please contact the U.S. Embassy or consulate in your country for the specific application procedures.

For your reference only:

1. What to do When You Encounter a Visa Problem
2. 10 Points to Remember When Applying for a Nonimmigrant Visa

10 Points to Remember When Applying for a Non-Immigrant Visa

1. Ties to Home Country. Under U.S. law, all applicants for non-immigrant visas are viewed as intending immigrants until they can convince the consular officer that they are not. You must therefore be able to show that you have reasons for returning to your country that are stronger than those for remaining in the United States. "Ties" to your home country includes the following: family, job, financial assets that you own or will inherit, investments, etc. If you are a prospective undergraduate, the interviewing officer may ask about your plans for future employment, family or other relationships, educational objectives, long-term plans in general, and career prospects in your home country. Each person's situation is different, of course, and there is no magic explanation or single document, certificate, or letter, which can guarantee visa issuance.
2. English. Anticipate that the interview will be conducted in English and not in your native language. One suggestion is to practice English conversation with a native speaker before the interview. If you are coming to the United States solely to study intensive English be prepared to explain how English will be useful for you in your home country.
3. Speak For Yourself. Do not bring parents or family members with you to the interview. The consular officer wants to interview you, not your family. A negative impression is created if you are not prepared to speak on your own behalf. If you are a minor applying for a high school program and need your parents there in case there are questions, for example, about funding, they should wait in the other room.
4. Know the Program and how it fits Your Career Plans. If you are not able to articulate the reasons you will study in a particular program in the United States, you may not succeed in convincing the consular officer that you are indeed planning to study, rather than to immigrate. You should also be able to explain how studying in the United States relates to you future professional career when you return home.
5. Be Concise. Because of the volume of applications received, all consular officers are under considerable time pressure to conduct a quick and efficient interview. They must make a decision, for the most part, on the impressions they form during the first minute or two of the interview. Consequently, what you say first and the initial impression you create are critical to your success. Keep your answers to the officer's questions short and to the point.
6. Supplemental Documentation. It should be clear at a glance to the consular officer what written documents you are presenting and what they signify. Lengthy written explanations cannot be quickly read or evaluated. Remember that you will have 2-3 minutes of interview time, if you're lucky.
7. Not All Countries Are Equal. Applicants from countries suffering economic problems or from countries where many people have stayed in the United States as immigrants will have more difficulty getting visas. Statistically, applicants from those countries are more likely to be asked about job opportunities at home after their study in the United States.
8. Employment. Your main purpose of coming to the United States should be to study, not for the chance to work before or after graduation. While many students do work off-campus during their studies, such employment is incidental to their main purpose of completing their U.S. education. You must be able to clearly articulate your plan to return home at the end of your program. If your spouse is also applying for an accompanying F-2 visa, be aware, that F-2 dependents cannot, under any circumstances, be employed in the United States. If asked, be prepared to address what your spouse intends to do with his or her time while in the United States. Volunteer work and attending school part-time are permitted activities.
9. Dependents Remaining At Home. If your spouse and children are remaining behind in your country, be prepared to address how they will support themselves in your absence. This can be an especially tricky area if you are the primary source of income for your family. If the consular general officer gains the impression that your family members will need you to remit money from the United States in order to support themselves, your student visa application will almost certainly be denied. If your family does decide to join you at a late time, it is helpful to have them apply at the same post where you applied for you visa.
10. Maintain A Positive Attitude. Do not engage the consular officer in an argument. If you are denied a student visa, ask the officer for a list of documents he or she would suggest you bring in order to overcome the refusal, and try to get the reason you were denied in writing.

The above is taken from NAFSA's web site. NAFSA would like to credit Gerald A. Wunsch, Esq., 1997, then a member of the Consular Issues Working Group, and a former U.S. Consular Officer in Mexico, Suriname, and the Netherlands, and Martha Wailes of Indiana University for their contributions to this document. NAFSA also appreciates the input of the U.S. Department of State.