Overview

• Visa process 1

• List of documents 2

• SEVIS fee payment procedure

3

• Sample Visa Interview Questions

4

• Set of documents 5

• Ds-160 FAQ’s 6

Important: Students appearing for interview in

MUMBAI only – must submit their documents 5 days
before the visa interview at the nearest VFS center
(find location on www.vfs-usa.co.in)

Documents to be submitted at the VFS Office

• Copy of the first and last page of your current valid passport. If you have any observations
on your passport please submit a copy of the observation page also. You are recommended to
have passport valid for travel for at least six months beyond your date of entry into the U.S.

• One photograph as per specification

• DS-160 Confirmation Barcode printout.

• Original, valid HDFC Bank visa fee receipt. (Embassy copy)

• Original interview appointment letter

• Copy of I-20

• Copy of SEVIS fee receipt.

 Visa Process

Step-1
Once it is confirmed that your I-20 is on its way – you need to pay the visa application fee at
the authorized HDFC bank (www.vfs-usa.co.in to check the nearest HDFC branch)

Documents required for paying the visa application fee.

• Copy of your passport (first and the last page)
• You can pay the visa application fee in cash
o Rs: 6580 (visa application fee)
o Rs: 380 (courier charges)
• You will be required to fill a form at the HFDC bank with your name, date of
birth, passport number and contact details.
• You will be given a bar code.

Get a photograph – with a white background size 50 mm X 50 mm – get your photo on a pen
drive or on a CD. Upload it on your system.

Step-2
To fill your DS-160, on-line:.
• Log on to www.vfs-usa.co.in
• Click on visa application form
• On the right side you will see “Application Form”
• Scroll down and click on “Start Application”
• It will take you to a screen “getting started” select your location, upload your photo
and start your application.
• After completing your application you will get a conformation page – you could either
email it to yourself or print it.

IMPORTANT: Keep saving your application – and also save it on file for further reference.
You can retrieve your DS 160 and make changes or continue filling it – however, once you
submit it then you cannot retrieve it.

Step-3
For scheduling your visa appointment you would require:
• Passport
• CEAC Bar code (DS-160 conformation page)
• HDFC bar code
• Log on to www.vfs-usa.co.in
• Click on visa appointment
• Click on VFS online visa appointment
• Click on schedule an appointment.
• Once the appointment is scheduled – print the visa interview letter.
 Financial, Educational & Work related Documents

Document required
• Savings Account – complete passbook or a computer generated printout (last
6 months)
• Fixed deposits
• LIC Policies
• Mutual Funds
• Shares and/or Bonds
• PF
• GPF
• Tax returns – for the past 3 years

Property Documents
• Residential Documents
• Commercial
• Ancestral
• Farm Land

All business documents

• Registration of the company
• Memorandum of Article
• Business Card
• Current Account Statement
• Proof of any investments
• Chartered Accountant’s Report

All educational documents

• Degree
• School certificate
• GRE/GMAT/SAT
• TOEFL/IELTS

Work Experience
• Joining letter
• Relieving letter
• Salary slips
 How to pay SEVIS Fee

SEVIS FEE $200

To pay your SEVIS fee you be ready with

• Passport
• I-20
• Credit Card (debit cards are sometimes not accepted)
Its an online process – to pay the SEVIS fee log on to

www.fmjfee.com
• click on I-901 form
• scroll down and click on I-20
• fill and complete the required information
• on the next page it will ask you “credit card” details
• After accepting your details and credit card details it give you an online
receipt
• Print this receipt.
It will give you an option to get an expedited delivery by paying $35 extra – or get a
receipt by ordinary mail. Opt for regular mail as the on line receipt is good enough.
 Sample visa interview questions

Study and career questions

The consular official might ask you questions about your study and career plans. Be prepared to
explain your education and career goals clearly in order to convince the officer that you plan to study,
rather than immigrate to the US.

1. Why do you want to study in the US?

2. What do you do here in your home country?
3. If you are not currently employed, explain what reasonable job prospects you believe you will
have upon your return from the US.
4. Why this particular college? (make sure you know the program details such as rankings,
program duration, location and program tuition fees, please give thought to why you have
chosen this program over the all the other MBA programs in the world)
5. I have never heard about this particular college. Why do you want to go for such a schools is
this a university or is it affiliated to some other university?
6. Which universities did you apply to? Why did you choose those schools? (Make sure you know
about the schools you apply to and their requirements for admission)
7. What will you do after you complete your program of study in the US?
8. Why don’t you want to study in your own country?
9. Why do you want to do Masters at this point of time?
10. Describe your educational background. Describe why you think you will be successful in the
future with your educational and career goals.
11. Back Logs – why do you have so many back logs - ? (be prepared to get an aggressive
question which might make you feel uncomfortable. Remain calm and answer all questions
confidently. Do not remain silent. Make sure you can give at least 2-3 clear concise reasons)

Funding and personal questions

1. Who is sponsoring you?

2. What does your sponsor do?
3. What is his annual income?
4. How many siblings do you have?
5. Who will take care of their educational expenses?
6. Has your employer given you a leave of absence so you may study and return to your position
when you return to your country?
7. Who will look after your responsibilities (e.g.: your business) in your absence?
8. Will your spouse and/or dependents accompany you? If so, what will they do while you study?
If not, how can you support them while you are away without working illegally?
Questions about your intention to return to your home country (your ties to your
country)

1. What are your future goals?

2. What are your carrier goals?
3. What kind of position are you expecting after Graduating from the US?
4. Would like to work in the US or in your home country?
5. Why your home country?
6. Do you have any family members living in the US?
7. Have you ever been to the US before?
8. What do your family members do and where do they live?
9. Where will you live when you are in the US?

At the time of the visa interview carry your documents in set’s

SET-1

• Passport

• HDFC receipts

• Visa Interview Letter

• DS-160 Conformation

• I-20

• SEVIS Fee receipt

SET-2

Educational documents

• GRE/GMAT/SAT Scores

• IELTS/TOEFL Scores

• Bachelors degree or Provisional Degree Certificate Or Course Completion Certificate

o Mark Sheets for all the years (individual) and consolidated mark sheet as well

• Senior Secondary School Certificate (Class 12th )

o Mark Sheets

• High School Certificate (Class 10th )

o Mark Sheet
SET-3

Work related documents

• Joining Letter

• Salary Slips

• Reliving letter (only if you have resigned or if have work at more than one place)

SET-4

Financial Documents (all financial documents including but not limited to)

1. Saving bank account statements –

2. Fixed deposits

3. LIC Policies

4. Shares and Bonds

5. Mutual Funds

6. PF /GPF

7. Tax returns

8. Property documents (residential, commercial, ancestral and farm land)

Above is a general list – feel free to add any financial document.

Frequently Asked Questions for the Online DS-160

Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application

Completing the DS-160

Important Notice: Take care to answer all questions on the DS-160 accurately and
completely; otherwise, your application may be denied, and you may have to
reschedule your visa interview appointment.

Can my answers be in my native language?

No. All answers must be in English, using English characters only, You can check
mark “does not apply”
Are all questions on the DS-160 mandatory?

• Most questions are mandatory and must be answered in the spaces provided.
• You may leave spaces blank when the questions are marked “optional.”
• You may answer a question with “Does Not Apply,” when that question does not
apply to you;
• However, all other questions must be answered.

The system will not allow you to submit an application with any mandatory questions left
unanswered. When a mandatory question has not been completed, an error message will
be displayed and you will be required to answer the question before continuing with the
application.

If you do not answer questions that apply to your circumstances and/or purpose of travel,
your form may be rejected.

When I apply for a nonimmigrant visa using the online DS-160, are additional
forms required?

No. The online DS-160 application replaced the DS-156, DS-157 and DS-158, which are
no longer necessary.

Completing Specific DS-160 Questions

I do not have a National Identification Number. How should I answer this

question?

If you are a citizen of a country that does not issue national identification numbers, select
“Does not apply.” For India – there is no identification number.

What do I enter for U.S. Social Security Number and/or U.S. Taxpayer ID Number?

Applicants, who have worked in the United States, as well as others, will have Social
Security numbers or taxpayer identification numbers.

If you do not have a Social Security number or a taxpayer identification number, select
“Does not apply”.
The form asks for my home phone number, but I do not have one.

You should provide at least one contact phone number, so that the U.S. Embassy or
Consulate can contact you by phone, if necessary. If you have provided a mobile or cell
phone number, you may enter “Does not apply” for home phone number.

The form asks for my Passport Book Number, but I am not sure if I have one.

While all passports contain passport numbers, not all passports contain book numbers, so
this question will only apply to citizens from some countries. If your country of citizenship
or nationality does not issue passports with book numbers, you should select “Does not
apply.”

Indian passport’s do not have a book number – hence the answer is “Does not
apply”

Travel Section

Intended date of arrival in the U.S.?

You can mention any date which is with the 30 days of your college start date.

Intended length of stay?

Check your I-20 and mention the length of stay.

Address where you will stay?

If you have a place to stay in the U.S. then mention it – else you can mention college
address.

The form asks that I provide the name of a contact or organization and a phone
number, but I am not visiting anyone in the United States.

If you do not know anyone personally in the United States, but you are traveling here to
visit a particular store, company, organization or college, you may provide the name of
the store, company, organization or college you intend to visit.

Otherwise, you may select “Does not apply.”

Person paying for your trip - Parents

U.S. Contact details –

Contact person – You can mention the name of the person who signed your I-20

Organization name in the U.S. – mention the name of the college/university

Relationship to you – school official

U.S. Contact address – college address

Phone number – college contact number

Email address – college email address

Work/education/Training

Primary Occupation – If you are working mention your designation – if

studying mention student. If you are currently unemployed mention it and explain
your situation in the given box on your DS-160.

Present Employer or School – Mention the name of your employer (if working)

Mention the name of your school (if studying)

Address – Complete address

Mention name, address and contact number of 2 people who can vouch for you – mention
name and contact details of any friend, neighbor, school/college mate or your
supervisor. DO NOT MENTIONTION ANY RELATIVE’S NAME.

How do I sign the DS-160 form?

You electronically sign your DS-160 by clicking the “Sign Application” button at the end of
the form. Failure to sign may result in termination of the application. Your electronic
signature certifies that you have read and understood the questions in the application and
that your answers are true and correct to the best of your knowledge and belief.