The United States is the most sort out study destination in the world for many reasons which include its high quality of education and academic excellence, cutting edge technology, research, teaching and training opportunities, long term career prospects as well as a rich campus life experience. As an international student, take the liberty to enjoy an amazing learning experience by finding out more about the US Study Visa for Cameroonians.
If you want to study in the US and are not a US citizen, you will need to obtain a student visa such as the US Study Visa for Cameroonians which can be a long process, so make sure you start preparing well in advance – at least three to five months before your course is due to start and consult the instructions on the website of the embassy or consulate for more details.
Eligibility
As an international student, you can apply for a United States study visa for Cameroonians by following these simple steps:
- Apply to a SEVP-approved Institution: Apply to and be accepted by a Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-approved school in the US (six to twelve months prior to your US study). As an international student, you should ensure you choose an institution and program accredited by the US government’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). Once you have been accepted by an institution, the university will enrol you in the SEVIS system and you will be sent a SEVIS-generated document called Form I-20 if you are eligible for an F or M visa, or Form DS-2019 if you are eligible for a J visa.
- Pay the SEVIS Fee: You must pay the SEVIS fee at least three days prior to submitting an application for a US visa. In order to pay the fee, you’ll need to file either an online or paper form. Both can be accessed through the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) SEVP website.
Also,
- Complete a US Student Visa Application: You can make an appointment with a US consulate or embassy in your country for a US student visa application after paying the SEVIS fee. It’s best to apply as early as possible as visa processing times can vary. Your visa can be issued up to 120 days before you’re due to enter the US.
- Proof of Sufficient Funds: You are required to provide proof of sufficient financial resources.
- Visa Payment: You must obtain and print a visa payment confirmation from the website after processing your payment.
Application Procedures
When applying for the United States study visa for Cameroonians, you’ll need to complete the online visa application form DS-160 and ensure you have all the documents and information you need to fill in the application. Personal details required to complete the DS-160 form include:
- Name and date of birth.
- Address and phone number.
- Passport details.
- Details of travel plans, and travel companions (if any).
- Details of previous US travel (if any).
- Your point of contact in the US.
- Family, work and education details.
- Security, background and medical health information.
- SEVIS ID and address of US school/program you intend to enrol in (as printed on I-20 or DS-2019 form).
Additionally,
- A recent passport photograph according to photograph requirements will need to be uploaded but if your photo upload fails you’ll need to take a printed photograph to your visa interview.
- You can prepare for and attend your interview either online or using the phone, by calling your US embassy or consulate. In either case, you should complete the MRV fee payment first, as you may need to give your MRV fee number.
- Print out the confirmation page containing the barcode, barcode number and your application ID number and take to your visa interview appointment.
- Be sure to answer all the questions accurately and fully as you may have to reschedule your visa interview appointment if you make any errors.
- Submit the MRV which is the visa fee receipt when you get to your visa interview appointment.
Visa Fee
The United States study visa for Cameroonians application fee is also called the Machine Readable Visa Fee, ‘MRV fee’. The I-901 fee is US$200 for F/M visa holders and $180 for J student visa holders. J visa holders working as camp counsellors, au pairs or in summer work/travel pay $35 instead. There are three ways to pay the non-refundable, non-transferrable visa application fee:
- In person at an approved bank.
- By phone (you’ll receive a fee confirmation number).
- Online (you’ll need to print your receipt).
Required Documents
The documents required for your visa interview may include:
- Passport valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the US. If more than one person is included in your passport, each person who needs a visa must submit a separate application. You may also need to bring all your current and old passports.
- Signed SEVIS Form I-20 or DS-2019 (including individual forms for spouse/children).
- Form DS-7002 (for J-1 Trainee and Intern visa applicants only).
- SEVIS fee receipt.
- DS-160 application confirmation page with bar code and application ID number.
- MRV fee payment confirmation receipt.
- The printed copy of visa interview appointment letter
- 1-2 photographs in the format explained in the photograph requirements. Should be printed on photo quality paper.
You should also be prepared to provide the following documents:
- Transcripts and diplomas from previous institutions attended.
- Scores from standardized tests required by the educational institution such as the TOEFL, LSAT, GRE, GMAT, etc.
- Financial evidence showing you or your sponsor (i.e. parents or a government sponsor) has sufficient funds to cover your tuition, travel and living expenses during your stay in the US.
- Evidence of student status (such as recent tuition receipts and transcripts).
You can also bring along a separate written list of all your previous employers and schools you have attended for reference.
Any derivative visa applicants will need to take:
- A copy of the marriage and/or birth certificate for proof of relationship.
- A copy of the principal applicant’s visa (i.e. F-1, M-1, J-1), or official documentation from the USCIS confirming the principal applicant’s status.
Arrival in the US
If arriving in the US by plane, you’ll need to fill in a Customs Declaration form (CF-6059) before you land. You will also need to fill in an Arrival/Departure Record I-94 form, online or paper form. Your United States student visa is valid until the date shown on your visa. If you are given a paper I-94 form, make sure to keep it safe in your passport as you’ll need to return it to a CBP official when you leave the US. If you have an electronic I-94, a CBP official will record your departure using manifest information obtained from the air or sea carrier with which you are travelling.
You should also report to the office in your institution which is responsible for assisting international students within 30 days of your course start date, as this appears on your SEVIS I-20/DS-2019 form or your record will be automatically terminated.
Departure from the US
F-1 visa holders may remain in the US for an additional 60 days following the completion of their course, while M-1 and J-1 visa holders can only remain an additional 30 days following the completion of their course but all students must depart before the date on their I-94 form/stamp or risk being out-of-status. If you wish to extend your stay, you’ll need approval from USCIS. If you’re a continuing student you may renew your visa at any time, as long as you have maintained your student status and have current SEVIS records.
Contact Address
The US Embassy in Cameroon is located at the Avenue Rosa Parks
Yaounde, Cameroon
Phone: (237) 22220-1500
Fax: (237) 22220-1500.
Work days are
Monday to Thursday: 07:30 am to 17:00 pm
Friday: 07:30 am to 12:30 pm
The Embassy is closed on U.S. and Cameroonian holidays.
Click here to complete a visa application form
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