According to travel.state.gov, there are generally two types of student visa, F visa and M visa. Based on your course of study and the type of school you plan to attend, you can determine which visa you will need. Students who plan to attend a US university or college are required to apply for a F-1 visa.

This visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows international students to temporarily live in the US while studying at institutions certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). You may refer to this website to check if your school is a SEVP-approved institution. If you’re interested in studying in the USA and looking for the right university, you can reach out to our counselors today!

The application process for an F-1 student visa starts once the student is accepted by a SEVP-approved school and receives the Form I-20 from the institution. The I-20 shall include your study details and supporting information about your duration of stay in the US. The process is very complex and time-consuming, so we advise our students to begin the process as soon as they receive their Form I-20.

SEVIS fee is a mandatory fee that international students and exchange visitors must pay to support the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), which tracks and manages individuals on F, M, and J visas in the United States. It is usually associated with Form I901.

To pay the SEVIS fee, follow these steps.
1. Visit the SEVP SEVIS I-901 Fee Payment website (https://www.fmjfee.com/).
2. Complete the Form with the following information: individual information, SEVIS No. and your address.
3. Pay SEVIS fee as per required.
4. Print out the I-901 SEVIS fee receipt for reference. It will be required during the visa interview.

As of October 2023, the SEVIS fee is US$350 for F-1 Student Visa.

International students who wish to study in the United States are required to apply for a student visa. The DS-160 is the required online form for student visa applications. This form should usually include your personal, academic, and professional information, travel plans, and contact information when you are in the United States.

Once you gather the documents that are required to complete the DS-160 (see below), you may submit your Non-Immigrant Visa Electronic (DS-160) form here.

Click here for a sample DS-160 form.

What documents will be required for the DS-160 form?
– One 2×2 inch digital photograph (You may refer here for the photo requirements)
– A passport valid for travel to the United States
– Your SEVIS ID
– Travel itinerary
– Resume or curriculum vitae (CV)
– Other relevant information including study gap, travel history, and social media information

After you submit your application online, make sure you save the printed confirmation of DS-160 form with the barcode on it as it will be required for the visa interview.

Nonimmigrant visa application fee is also known as the MRV fee. After students complete and submit the DS-160 form, they are required to pay for the MRV fee to proceed with the visa application.

How to Pay Visa Fee in Malaysia?
The MRV application fee is determined by the type of visa and this visa page list shows the types of visas and correlating visa fees in U.S. dollars and Malaysian ringgit.

Generally, there are three fee payment options including Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), JomPAY, and Cash at Ambank. Visa fees are non-refundable. After making the payment for the application, there will be a receipt that allows you to schedule your interview at the U.S. embassy. The processing time for each payment method is different, see below to find out more on when you may schedule the interview appointment.

As of October 2023, the F-1 visa application fee is US$185.

Click here for the bank and payment options page.

To find out more information about visa application, you may refer to the U.S. Embassy in Malaysia website.

How to Schedule U.S. Visa Appointment in Malaysia?
There are two methods to schedule a visa appointment, either through online or through the call center. You will be required to attend the interview in person at a U.S. Embassy near you.

According to ustraveldocs, below are the documents that will be required in order to schedule an appointment.
1. A valid passport
2. MRV fee payment receipt number
3. DS-160 confirmation page: ten (10) digit barcode number

Some additional information will be required when you schedule the appointment, including visa type, document delivery method, and visa payment confirmation. Waiting time varies by country and some can take months. So, it is important to schedule your appointment as early as possible to avoid any delays.

Click here to find out what is the current visa appointment wait times.

F-1 visa interview is designed to understand why students will be traveling to the U.S. and confirm that the students are coming to study as legitimate, serious students. Before you attend your interview, you should prepare and bring the following documents for evaluation by the consular officer.
1. A valid passport
2. One 2x2inch photograph that you will be using for your visa
3. All payment confirmation receipts (I-901 SEVIS and DS-160)
4. Form I-20
5. All transcripts that you have submitted for your university application
6. Bank statements to prove that you have sufficient funds to study in the U.S.

Where will the US visa interview take place in Malaysia?
U.S. Embassy in Kuala Lumpur
376 Jalan Tun Razak
50400 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia

These are some common questions that will be asked during a visa interview.
– Why do you want to study in the U.S.?
– What are your study plans?
– What is your university choice ?
– How are you going to fund your studies?
– What do you plan to do after you graduate?

Still not sure how to apply for a F-1 visa? Check out the online resources by USTravelDocs.