 |
 |
Visa & Immigration |
|
 |
|
|
|
It is hard for us to keep up with the changes in Visa and Immigration policies, thus it is appreciable if the new students can notify of such changes when necessary by emailing us at hindusta@unm.edu .
I am accepted! What Should I do next?
On acceptance by the University of New Mexico, you should start working on your visa. Getting a visa is an extremely important step , and you should take full care in applying for one. A small mistake could lead your plans to doom. Read these steps carefully or print them out. We have taken great pains in structuring a step-by-step procedure in applying for a visa.
When to apply :
An applicant may apply for a student Visa not earlier than 90 days before the registration date specified on the FORM I-20. If the registration date is already passed or the applicant cannot reasonably expect to arrive at the school by the registration date, the applicant should obtain an amended I-20 or a letter of extension from the issuing institution stating by what date the applicant may arrive.
Applicants should apply at the consular section of the American Embassy any working day, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:30 and 10:00 AM.
Documents required are :
Valid Passport valid for at least six months from the date of departure. This is important because of the lack of efficiency of the Regional Passport office , India , renewal may take up to 3 months!
One Passport size photograph (Black and White or Colour)
Form I-20 executed by the authorizing official of institution concerned, signed by the applicant.
Evidence of financial ability to cover the costs of the education and maintenance involved
Visa fee to be paid in Indian Rupees by Bank Draft
Fully filled DS-156 , DS-157 and/or DS-158 forms.
The Visa Application forms:
DS-156
This form is of 2 pages, must be printed back-to-back on a single sheet, and completed by all applicants. Two-paged applications will not be accepted. Download DS-156
DS-157
This form is of 1 page, must be printed on a single sheet, and must be completed by all male applicants aged 16 to 45 years along with Visa application form DS-156. Download DS-157
DS-158
This form is of 2 pages, must be printed back-to-back on a single sheet, and completed by applicants applying for F,M and J class of visa along with Visa application form DS-156. Two-paged applications will not be accepted. Download DS-158
The Application Centres will NOT accept form DS-156 from male applicants aged 16-45, unless a completed form DS-157 is submitted alongwith.
We would recommend you to type the information in the adobe reader itself after opening the file, and print the form , as the U.S. Visa forms have inbuilt script checkers to check weather you filled the information correctly. This surely helps you from re-revising your form at the VFS.
Photograph
Ask your photo-lab for a U.S. Visa Sized photograph. They should know about it.
General
The photograph for each visa applicant must be an unmounted, full face photo, as described below
The photograph must have been taken within the last six months.
One (1) photograph must be submitted stapled or glued to the application DS-156
Photo Size
The photo for each visa applicant submitted must measure:
2 by 2 inches (roughly 50 mm square) with the head centered in the frame.
The head (measured from the top of the hair to the bottom of the chin) should measure between 1 inch to 1 3/8 inches (25 mm to 35 mm) with the eye level between 1 1/8 inch to 1 3/8 inches (28 mm and 35 mm) from the bottom of the photo
Photo Appearance
The photograph must be a full-face front view in which the visa applicant is facing the camera directly.
The face should cover about 50 percent of the photo area.
The photograph may be in color or black and white, but must have only a white or off-white background. Photos with dark, busy, or patterned backgrounds will not be accepted.
In general, the applicant's head, including both face and hair, should be shown from the crown of the head to the tip of the chin on top and bottom and from hairline side-to-side. It is preferable that ears be exposed
Head coverings and hats are only acceptable due to religious beliefs, and even then, may not cover any portion of the applicant's face.
Sunglasses or other wear, which detracts from the face, are not acceptable unless required for medical reasons (an eye patch, for example).
A photograph depicting a person wearing a traditional facemask or veil that does not permit adequate identification is not acceptable.
Photos of military, airline, or other personnel wearing hats are not acceptable. Photographs of applicants wearing tribal, national costume, or other headgear not specifically religious in nature are not acceptable.
Attaching the Photo to the DS-156
Staple or glue one photograph to the DS-156 in the designated space. If the photograph is stapled, staples should be placed as far away as possible from the applicant's face.
Before going to the VFS:
Fees:
1) Demand Draft for Visa Application Fee: Rs 4400/- Favouring " American Consulate General , Mumbai" payable in Mumbai.(non-refundable)
2) Logistics fee: Rs 441/- (non-refundable) in cash or demand draft favouring "VFS a/c - US Visa" payable in Mumbai.
The amount includes service and education cess tax at 10.2% (Rs 41/-)
3) Write your name, passport number and sign behind each Demand Draft.
4) Ensure that you draw your demand draft from a National bank such as State Bank of India. State owned banks wont do any good example, Krishna Shetty Bank of Tamil Nadu (Just kiddin'). You can draw from local branches of International banks such as American Express , HSBC etc. Demand Drafts from co-operative banks will be rejected.
5) In case something goes wrong , for example you got a wrong amount , don't worry , you can draw demand drafts from the VFS , so carry enough cash with you.
6) Carry a 500 rupees note for the "Stars and Stripes" lounge service.
VFS:
What is the VFS?
The Visa Facilitation Service Center is a commercial profit-making Indian owned company. The visa services have been outsourced to VFS by the Consulate . They accept and process applications only. VFS is not owned by the American General Consulate nor it's an American Company. It soley renders service to the consulate. The VFS doesn't decide your fate in getting your visa , so don't bother about being nervous in front of the counter girls and there will be no interview conducted , so don't waist your time formally dressing up , you could be if you want to ;)
Where can i find the VFS?
Mumbai:
Tirupati Apartments, Basement 3A
Bhulabhai Desai Road,
Opp Mahalakshmi Temple,
Mumbai- 400026.
info@visa-services.com
Ahmedabad:
Shri Ambica Mills,
Gujarat Chambers Building,
Ashram Road,
Ahmedabad -380009.
info@visa-services.com
Pune:
106 Sohrab Hall,
1st Floor Sassoon Road,
Behind Pune Station Junction
Pune - 411001.
info@visa-services.com
Counter Timings:
0800-1700 hours (for Mumbai Application Centre only)
0800-1300 hours & 1400-1500 hours (for Pune & Ahmedabad Application centres)
Applications accepted on 1st come, 1st served basis.
Applications will be accepted Monday to Friday, except Consulate holidays.
You told me that V.F.S. is an Indian Company , so is there a branch in "Bharatpuri" also?
No , you would have to come to Mumbai, Ahmedabad or Pune to submit your paperwork.
At the Consulate:
Points to Remember When Applying for a Nonimmigrant Visa
(courtesy of NAFSA: Association of International Educators)
1. TIES TO YOUR HOME COUNTRY. Under U.S. law, all applicants for nonimmigrant visas, such as student visas, are viewed as intending immigrants until they can convince the consular officer that they are not. You must therefore be able to show that you have reasons for returning to your home country that are stronger than those for remaining in the United States. "Ties" to your home country are the things that bind you to your home town, homeland, or current place of residence: job, family, financial prospects that you own or will inherit, investments, etc.
If you are a prospective undergraduate, the interviewing officer may ask about your specific intentions or promise of future employment, family or other relationships, educational objectives, grades, long-range plans and career prospects in your home country. Each person's situation is different, of course, and there is no magic explanation or single document, certificate, or letter which can guarantee visa issuance.
If you have applied for the U.S. Green Card Lottery, you may be asked if you are intending to immigrate. A simple answer would be that you applied for the lottery since it was available but not with a specific intent to immigrate. If you overstayed your authorized stay in the U.S. previously, be prepared to explain what happened clearly and concisely, with documentation if available.
2. ENGLISH. Anticipate that the interview will be conducted in English and not in your native language. One suggestion is to practice English conversation with a native speaker before the interview, but do NOT prepare speeches! If you are coming to the United States solely to study intensive English, be prepared to explain how English will be useful for you in your home country.
3. SPEAK FOR YOURSELF. Do not bring parents or family members with you to the interview. The consular officer wants to interview you, not your family. A negative impression is created if you are not prepared to speak on your own behalf. If you are a minor applying for a high school program and need your parents there in case there are questions, for example about funding, they should wait in the waiting room.
4. KNOW THE PROGRAM AND HOW IT FITS YOUR CAREER PLANS. If you are not able to articulate the reasons you will study in a particular program in the United States, you may not succeed in convincing the consular officer that you are indeed planning to study, rather than to immigrate. You should also be able to explain how studying in the United States relates to your future professional career when you return home.
5. BE BRIEF. Because of the volume of applications received, all consular officers are under considerable time pressure to conduct a quick and efficient interview. They must make a decision, for the most part, on the impressions they form during the first minute of the interview. Consequently, what you say first and the initial impression you create are critical to your success. Keep your answers to the officer's questions short and to the point.
6. ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION. It should be immediately clear to the consular officer what written documents you are presenting and what they signify. Lengthy written explanations cannot be quickly read or evaluated. Remember that you will have 2-3 minutes of interview time, if you're lucky.
7. NOT ALL COUNTRIES ARE EQUAL. Applicants from countries suffering economic problems or from countries where many students have remained in the United States as immigrants will have more difficulty getting visas. Statistically, applicants from those countries are more likely to be intending immigrants. They are also more likely to be asked about job opportunities at home after their study in the United States.
8. EMPLOYMENT. Your main purpose in coming to the United States should be to study, not for the chance to work before or after graduation. While many students do work off-campus during their studies, such employment is incidental to their main purpose of completing their U.S. education. You must be able to clearly articulate your plan to return home at the end of your program.
If your spouse is also applying for an accompanying F-2 visa, be aware that F-2 dependents cannot, under any circumstances, be employed in the United States. If asked, be prepared to address what your spouse intends to do with his or her time while in the United States. Volunteer work and attending school part-time are permitted activities.
9. DEPENDENTS REMAINING AT HOME. If your spouse and children are remaining behind in your country, be prepared to address how they will support themselves in your absence. This can be an especially tricky area if you are the primary source of income for your family. If the consular officer gains the impression that your family will need you to remit money from the United States in order to support themselves, your student visa application will almost certainly be denied. If your family does decide to join you at a later time, it is helpful to have them apply at the same post where you applied for your visa.
10. MAINTAIN A POSITIVE ATTITUDE. Do not engage the consular officer in an argument. If you are denied a student visa, ask the officer for a list of documents he or she would suggest you bring in order to overcome the refusal, and try to get the reason you were denied in writing
Additionally , we would like you to post any queries regarding the U.S. Visa at our new students forum. Please do so . | | | | | | | Before and After Coming | | | Before coming to Albuquerque
1. Health
Get supplies of prescription drugs, if you need any, to last a few days. Remember, your doctor's prescription may not be accepted here. If you have any dental problems, you would be better advised to undergo treatment back home. Most insurances do not provide any dental coverage and it is expensive without an insurance. This applies to eye care as well - you may want to get an extra pair or two of glasses/contact lenses, if you use them.
2. Clothes
Though winters are normally not as cold as in the Midwest USA or the East coast, it does reach -10° C in the peak of winter. You would need some decent winter wear - 2 woollen sweaters, gloves, mufflers etc. We suggest that you buy winter jacket, preferably a leather one inlined with fleece or some other warm lining as they are cheaper in India. You might also need a lighter fleece jacket for the not-so-cold period. These are available here too for around $10-20, a good bargain at Walmart (this store will become an inseparable part of your US life). You might also want to get a couple of bed sheets and pillow cases. You can buy sleeping bag after coming here as they are better and cheaper. This is for your settling-in period in Albuquerque. You could also get 1 or 2 pair of your ethnic dresses, there are annual cultural festivals and few social parties when you could wear these. Most of the time you would be wearing casuals, so you might want to bring 4 to 5 jeans, sweatshirts, t-shirts. You might want to bring 1 or 2 pairs of formal wear but not more than that, as you wont get to wear them a lot. You can also get a suit for formal occassions such as seminars, graduation etc. You must get a pair of casual shoes, a pair of sandals, a pair of formal shoes to go with your formal wear and sports shoes too if you use them. You might want to consider other accessories such as belts, wallet, walkmans, music cds etc. Most of the students do laundry every 10 days or 2 weeks or sometimes even a month !!- depends on their laziness levels ;). So you might want to get a lot of undergarments, jeans, t-shirts, socks etc.
3. Cooking Utensils
We strongly suggest that you get either a Pressure Cooker/Pressure pan and extra gaskets and valves for it. You may want to get other kitchen stuff like frying pans, serving spoons, plates etc. though you can buy them after you come here. When buying these utensils, make sure they are big enough to cook for 4 people. We suggest that you bring enough quantities of masalas that are used in cooking, chilli powder, tea powder, pickles, sambar powder etc. to last for the first couple of months. All these are available here, so do not bring a lot of them. If you would like to carry kitchen knives, put them in your check-in baggage and not in your cabin/carry-on baggage as any sharp instrument is not allowed in cabin baggage.
4. Miscellaneous
Last but not the least, get your 4 wheeler Indian Drivers License (LMV), as it is easier to get New Mexico License with your Indian License.
You can get some small gifts for your professors and host families - Indian artifacts are well liked. Finally, do get a few kgs of your regions special sweets for all of us. :)
5. Things you should not get
Do not get any electrical appliances because they wont work in US. The electrical applicances in India operate at 220V while electricity in US is supplied at 110V. We suggest you do not buy any textbooks suggested in your department catalogs. Each semester the same course is taught by different professors, and each professor suggests different textbook for the same course. So you might want to check with the seniors of your department before you buy any textbooks. After landing in Albuquerque
The OIPS also organizes lunches and get-togethers frequently during the semester and we encourage you to make time for them and build good ties with the International Students Office. If you receive any material regarding an American host family arrangement, you may want to fill it and return it. It can be a new experience to spend some time with an American family and get to know their culture and share yours.
Going around the campus will be very confusing for the first few days. Get a Campus Map. Do go around the campus and familiarise yourself, this will be helpful when searching for on-campus jobs.
2. Health Insurance
It is mandatory for every international student to have health insurance. The Student Health Center (next to Mesa Vista Hall) gives out student health insurances. If you are prone to frequent illnesses even of a minor nature, we strongly advise you to take Plan A which is slightly more expensive compared to Plan B, which has limited coverage. You will learn more about health insurance plans after you get here.
3. Bank Account
You are free to open an account in whichever bank you like. There is a bank on campus called New Mexico Educators Federal Credit Union bank. You would prefer it too, if you are like most of us.
4. NM State ID
NM state ID is a picture ID which you are encouraged to get within the first few weeks. This ID will be like a substitute for your passport, it is not advisable to walk around with the passport. Keep in touch with us and we will let you know when we plan to take you all to the Motor Vehicles Department which issues the state ID. Getting a Driver's License is pretty easy in New Mexico.
5. UNM Account
You should open a computer account after you have registered. This can be done online by accessing the UNM home page at CIRT. Note that you may have to wait a couple of days for your records to be created and it will take same time for your email a/c to be activated as well. Also, you should have the contact number and address of the place where you are temporarily or permanently staying.
After you get your valid UNM id, please email hindusta@unm.edu to join India Student Association listserv.
Remember that vehicles are driven on the right side of the road; in fact, even people walk on the right side of a pathway or staircase. Take care while crossing roads, jay walking is a punishable offense.
A FINAL WORD
If have any other concerns, email us at hindusta@unm.edu and we will be glad to help you out. Feel free to bug your seniors even after you come here - they did just that to their seniors. We, from the India Students Association, wish you all the best in your studies and work here at UNM. Albuquerque sure is a nice place and we welcome you with great happiness to UNM. Good Luck, we want to make UNM your Home Away From Home.
| | | | | | | | | |  | | If you are a new student and would like assistance from ISA, please read the following:
1. Email to hindusta@unm.edu.
2. Provide the following details with subject as "Courtesy Pickup"
- Your full name
- Email address
- Complete details of your arrival (Airline, date of arrival, time of arrival)
- If you would like temporary accommodation
Please note: We receive several requests for assistance and innumerable queries for the University each year. Since ISA is a volunteer-based organization, it may, at times, take some time before we respond back to your query. Please be patient and avoid sending us incessant emails.
|  |
| Contact the ISA! |
| |
| If you have any questions about any
activity or events, please make sure that you contact the ISA at hindusta@unm.edu . | | | | | |
