But how? Do not fear, as we will guide you through the application process as detailed as we can be.
This might be a first place to start if you have no clue....http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1268.html
Also, we will clarify now, that most of you will want to apply for an F1 Visa, F1 is the category for international students. Don't bother about anything else.
If you are here, we assumed that you already have your I-20 with no errors mailed to you from the school.
The whole process can be broken down to 3 steps:
1. Pay SEVIS I-901 Fee
2. Pay VISA fees
3. Filling out the DSO-160 form
4. Scheduling for a VISA interview
3. Going to the US embassy in Kuala Lumpur
1. Paying SEVIS I-901 Fee
-The reasons for paying this fee is explained in the link given above and hence will not be explained here.
-Next, proceed to click on "Proceed to I-901 Form and Payment". Or click here.
-When you are here, please be sure to have your I-20 ready with you, and make sure your computer is hooked up to a printer.
-Read the Caution section on that page.
-Then, check the I-20 check box as such and Hit OK.
-After this step, you are pretty much on your own, just remember that to enter every single detail correctly and whenever they ask for SEVIS number, just refer to your I-20, the number will be on the top right corner of your I-20 and it will be just above the bar code.
-After you have done filling up the form, you will have to pay an amount of $235.00.
-After that, the page will prompt you to print out a receipt confirmation. Please do so.
-After a week or so, you should receive an I-797C form, which is nothing more than a more official receipt. That is a very important document like your I-20 and you must not lose it, you will need it when you are attending your VISA interview at KL.
2.Paying VISA fees
| Visa Type | Visa Fees |
| B1/B2, F, M, J & all other types of visa | RM 434 |
| H, L, O, P, Q, R | RM 465 |
| E | RM 1209 |
| K | RM 1085 |
-You can either choose to pay cash directly at a Standard Chartered Bank branch or pay online if you have an account with Standard Chartered Bank.
-If you are paying directly by cash, you will have to bring your passport with you. Just tell them you want to pay the fees for applying a F1 Visa.
-After your payment is made. You will be given a receipt, keep that receipt as it contains details which you will need when you are scheduling for a VISA interview.
3. Filling out the DSO-160
-Before you proceed to do anything, be sure to have your picture taken. Please specify to your photographer that you want to take photo for VISA application, and they will know that the background should be white, instead of the traditional blue background.
-Next, filling out the DSO form, to learn more about it, click here.The link should have all the information you need to help you out in filling the form, but we are still going to list out the gist of the process here.
-Before you begin, please be sure to have these items with you:
1. Passport
2. Travel itinerary (if you have already made arrangements)
3. Dates of your last five visits to US
4. Your education and work history.
5. I-20 form
-Next, proceed to the DSO-160 form webpage, https://ceac.state.gov/GENNIV/Default.aspx
-You should be at this page, here enter Kuala Lumpur at the Region box. And then, click on Start Application.
-Please be aware that it is your responsibility to read and understand what you should and should not do while filling out the form. Read carefully what was stated in this page.
-You will be prompt to upload the digital photo that you have taken earlier. And then when you are ready, go ahead and click on start new application.
-From here on out, please be warned that if you leave your computer idle for a certain amount of time, you will have to restart the whole DSO-160 application process.
-Fill in the form with the utmost accuracy and precision.
-Again, if in doubt, please refer to http://travel.state.gov/visa/forms/forms_4401.html. It contains detailed help for all kinds of problems.
-After you have finished, you will be prompt to print out a DSO-160 confirmation page. Again, please do so and keep it properly.
- Also, you will get to choose how you want to get back your VISA. You can either choose to collect it yourself at the MCA building in KL, or you could choose to have them send it to you. Personally, I wold recommend collecting it yourself, because they probably will only take 2 to 3 days to process it and it is safer that way.
-Refer to http://www.ustraveldocs.com/my/my-niv-appointmentschedule.asp.
-Remember we asked you to keep the receipt given to you by the bank, this is when you will use it. You will need the payment code printed on that receipt to schedule an interview with the US embassy
- On Schedule an Interview page, prepare the documents as listed on the webpage with you before you proceed and once you are ready, go ahead and click on Schedule Appointment.
- Once you click that, you should be brought to this page.
- Follow the prompts as stated on the website on how to create a user account.
- Once that is done, go ahead and login and follow the instructions as stated.
- And you should be able to successfully schedule an appointment with the US embassy.
5. Phew... After all that work...It's time to head down to the capital, KL
- After you have done all the above, you should be good to go. Now all that's left is the interview.
- If I am not mistaken. after you have finish filling out the DSO-160 form, there should be a list telling you what you have to bring along for your interview.
- If not, here is the list of the most basic documents you will need for your interview:
1. I-20 form (have you realized now how important this is)
2. DSO-160 confirmation page.
3. Your passport (must be a valid one)
4. Some spare photographs of you (VISA style - white background)
5. The receipt you received from the bank after paying for VISA fees.
6. SEVIS I-901 fee receipt.
7. Transcripts from previous institutions attended. (School transcripts)
8. TOEFL/ SAT/ GRE/ GMAT or whatever standardized test scores
9. Financial evidence that shows you have enough money to study in the states (basically a Bank Statement will do)
- After you are done, just head to the embassy in KL. Here's their address and contact number:
376 Jalan Tun Razak PO Box 10035, Kuala Lumpur, 50400
50400
03-2168-5000
|
- Since it's close to the city center, I would suggest while you are down there for the interview, might as well take some time and relax at the capital.
- Last but not least, if you are taking my advice and chose to collect your VISA yourself. You will have to head to this address:
Jalan Ampang
50450 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur
|
- Normally they will only take 2 to 3 days to finish processing your VISA.
- One more thing before we rap up this tutorial, PLAN EARLY and make sure to PUT A SMILE ON YOUR FACE when you are interviewed, more often than not you will be issued a VISA, so don't worry.
Good luck applying for your VISAs.
Was this tutorial helpful? Are there any room for improvements?
Please leave us some comments or email us at kumalaysia@gmail.com
nice post. one question though.how do we know when is the visa ready to be collected?thanks
ReplyDeletethe same day that you go for your interview. If your visa application has been accepted they will let you know on the spot when to collect it from one of select centers, or if you choose for it to be mailed to a specific location it will be sent to that location within 10 working days at most (Mine took about that time. But it may vary nonetheless.
DeleteIf I am not mistaken, they will send it to you in mail. So make sure that you have your up-to-date mailing address filled in the form.
ReplyDelete