Guidance For Pursuing M

Guidance For Pursuing M.S. in U.S.A.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Work experience helps a lot , especially when your GRE / TOEFL scores are low. If the work experience is in the related area in which you are going for MS / PhD then it not only helps to get admission but also the AID/Schol. So Having the work experience is always a plus point. It helps to get through when the competition is very tough.

VISA APPLICATION PROCEDURE

After Admission Procedure

You have to apply for the VISA when you get the I-20 from the university. You have to book a date / appointment on www.ttsvisas.com The website addresses for other consulates are mentioned on this website On this website all the information needed is given. So you must visit this site. Also please visit the official site of United State Education Foundation in India ( USEFI). Generally people prefer to get a consultant for VISA which is needless. Still to mention here are some important steps to be followed.

The following must be presented to the Consulate at the time you apply for a student visa:

1. Form I-20 or IAP - 66 (obtained directly from the university you intend to attend)

2. Visa application form and USEFI survey form (available at the Mount Road gate of the American Consulate General, Chennai: Monday through Friday, between 3.00 p.m. and 4.00 p.m.) You can download the forms and can fill up them.

3. One passport size photograph and a valid passport

4. Visa fee, demand drafts , (the amount is specified on the consulate’s website- so check with your consulate’s website) drawn in favor of American Consulate General , ( for your region)

5. Test score reports (original) – TOEFL / GRE / GMAT / whichever is applicable

6. Latest degree /mark sheets

7. Evidence of financial support as described below:

A) If the university has awarded financial assistance, please enclose the relevant letter.

B) If your sponsor is in India, you will need the following documents:

(a) Affidavit of support on stamped paper (Rs. 10, 15 or 25) from your sponsor promising to bear the cost of your program for the entire duration of your stay in the United States. This document has to be notarized as well.

(b) Verification of your sponsor's financial resources by a certified Chartered Accountant. This statement should indicate that your sponsor has the means to support you during the entire duration of your study and stay in the United States. All original documents for the sources mentioned in the Chartered statement, including bank passbooks should be brought along, to be produced before the Consular Officer, if necessary.

C) If your sponsor is in the United States, the following documents must be provided:

(a) I-134 (available at Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) offices in the United States) promising to bear the cost of your program for the entire duration of your study and stay in the United States.

(b) Bank account statement of your sponsor

D) If your sponsor is from a country other than India or the United States, the documents to be provided are:

(a) A notarized letter or statement from your sponsor promising to bear the costs of your program for the entire duration of your study and stay in the United States. The affidavit of support from your sponsor can also be submitted by form I-134 available at the American Consulate or Embassy in the country where your sponsor is a resident.

(b) Bank account statement of your sponsor

You may apply for a student visa no earlier than 90 days prior to the reporting date mentioned on the I-20. For example, if the reporting date shown on the I-20 is September 05, you may apply for a student visa between June 5 and September 5.

You can listen to audio recordings of discussions by consular officers on student visas, at the USEFI reference library. You may visit their office between 1.00 p.m. and 4.30 p.m., Monday through Friday, (except holidays) and schedule an appointment to listen to a tape on student visas.

The best thing you can do is...

The best thing to know about VISA procedure is to visit the website www.msdreamz.com There is a separate VISA section on this website where all the information regarding VISA application is given. The rules for different consulates are different…like for Bombay consulate and for Chennai consulate the rules are different. All documents and procedures are mentioned in VISA BIBLE on this website. Also the standard samples of all documents are given here with the help of which you can make documents yourself. In case of Bombay Consulate there is no need of CA to certify the financial statement. You can make it yourself and can take it to consulate. I did the same. For other consulates you can get it certified from CA if needed. Take all the documents mentioned with you to the consulate.

I suggest you all to join the group visa_interview@yahoogroups.com This group is really the best. On this group students have posted their visa experiences. Please go through all the visa experiences posted here and get the keys to get your VISA. You don’t need a consultant to get your visa if you join this group and also if you do the things properly which I have mentioned here.

The information above is likely to change with time. So please refer the official websites of GRE , TOEFL and the United State Education Foundation in India( USEFI).

IMPORTANT IMPORTANT IMPORTANT

This is me, Vikram. I have posted the above because I found it comprehensive and correct to my extent of knowledge and understanding. And please recall I have posted it from the OFFICIAL YAHOO GROUP of the i20fever.com team. I have made no modifications.

MISTAKE ARE BUT NORMAL IN THIS WORLD. So Chill Out if you manage to unearth any.

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