To enter the United States and become a student at Lake Land College, you must make an appointment at the nearest United States embassy or consulate and apply for an F-1 visa.
Before you apply for the visa, you should understand the process and the rules governing visas. Many visa applications are approved, but in certain situations, a visa application can be denied. Often it is because the student did not know the rules or was not prepared. Please read the following information very carefully and contact the International Studies Program if you need more information on our school or your course of study.
The F-1 Visa is a “non-immigrant” visa, meaning that it is for temporary use and not meant to lead to a permanent stay in the U.S. The consular officer who makes the decision on your visa application is required to think of you as someone who plans to come to the U.S. and stay permanently (an “immigrant”), and you must prove that you intend to return to your country after completing studies. U.S. law very clearly states that F visas may be given only to persons who intend to remain in the U.S. temporarily. This rule is the number one reason for denials of student visa applications.
The other important rules include:
(1) You must have a definite academic or professional objective. You must know what you are going to study and where it will lead.
(2) You must be qualified for the program of study.
(3) You must be definite about your choice of schools. If you do not seem certain that you want to attend Lake Land College, you will not get a visa.
(4) You must be adequately financed and have the documents to prove it. Except in the unusual case when employment is particularly authorized on the Form I-20, you may not plan to use employment as a means of support while you are in the U.S.
Both what you say in your interview and what you bring are important. When possible, have papers to show your connections to your home country.
Be sure that your passport is valid.
Be clear and definite about your studies. Be ready to say what you want to study and what kind of career it will prepare you for in your home country. Be prepared to explain why it is better for you to study in the U.S. than in your home country.
With papers, show ties to your home country. If your family owns a business, take letters from a bank – describing the business – to the visa interview with you. If your family owns property, take the deeds. If you have a brother or sister who studied in the U.S. and then returned home, take a copy of the brother’s or sister’s diploma and a statement from an employer showing that they have returned home. If possible, show that an individual or company in your home country will give you a job when you return. If you cannot get a promise of a job, try to get a letter saying that you will be considered for a job, or that the company needs people with the kind of education you are coming to the U.S. to receive.
Do not emphasize any ties you may have to the United States or to family members in the United States. Your visa application is stronger and better if at least part of your financial support comes from your home country, even if most of it comes from the U.S.
Do not speak of working in the United States unless employment is authorized on your Form I-20. Though limited work permission is possible for students in F-1 status (but not for dependents in F-2 status), employment is not guaranteed and cannot be used as part of your financial support for visa purposes.
Read your Form I-20. Some of the rules you must obey are printed on this document. Be aware of these rules – especially the requirement that you study full-time. Look at the date entered in item #5 for reporting to the school. You must apply for the visa in time to reach the school no later than that date. You may visit the consulate to obtain the visa up to 90 days prior to that date, and can enter the U.S. no more than 30 days prior to that date.
Your spouse and children may apply for visas with you or they may apply to join you after you come to the U.S., but only if dependents are mentioned in item #7c of your Form I-20.
If your visa is denied, send an email to international@lakelandcollege.edu with complete details of everything that was said at your interview. Include the name of the consular officer and send a copy of any written document you may have received. Students who believe they were rejected unfairly are encouraged to schedule a second interview and will in most cases be given a different consular officer.