Visas To Documents, All You Need To Know About Higher Studies In US

Studying abroad has emerged as a popular option for Indian students to excel in life. The US continues to lead in the number of Indian students it hosts, although the UK, Australia and Canada all control the majority of this market. Aside from these, new study destinations like Germany, Ireland, Malaysia and Singapore in Asia and France in Europe are rapidly catching up.

For students intending for higher education in the US, let us get to know which documents are required before the start of the semester, what are the types of student visas and what is the pattern of studies in the USA.

Before applying to any American university, it is important to understand the grading system. Higher education in the US is divided into 4 categories – associate degree (AA, AS, AAS), bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and PhD or doctoral degree. Different credits are required to attain each level. After each semester, credits are awarded to students based on their performance. A semester consists of about thirty credits. For a bachelor’s degree, most universities require a total of 120–130 credits per semester, and for a master’s degree, 30-64 credits. You must ascertain the credit structure of the university to which you are applying.

The US gives 3 types of visas to foreign students (Student Visa in America). Depending on the type of their student visa, students are also advised to apply for the International Student Health Insurance Scheme-

1. F-1 Visa: F-1 visa is given for academic studies.

2. J-1 Visa: It is given for those courses in which practical training is mandatory for the students.

3. M-1 Visa: – It is advisable to take this visa for professional studies in America.

The following documents will be required before enrolling for the semester. Most universities provide you with a checklist that consists of all the important documents

1- Passport

2- Visa

3- Multiple photocopies of all necessary documents

4- I-20 Form

5- High school mark sheet

6- Degree certificate

7- English proficiency test scores

8- University admission letter

9- Flight documents

10- Medical records, Health insurance documents