USA

Choosing a university/college is one of the biggest decisions that you will make in terms of your education and it can be overwhelming and confusing. Here are a few important factors for you to consider while choosing the university

• Check if the course is offered
• Check the course content
• Check the Admission requirement and analyse of your are eligible
• Check the Tuition fee
• See the Location & Climate and do some research on the city
• Check for application fee waivers, scholarships & bursaries
• Lastly check for Indian student’s acceptance rate

Our US expert advisors will guide you thru this entire process.

The USA remains the world’s most popular destination for international students however it’s also among the most expensive choices in terms of tuition fee.

Universities in the USA are majorly divided into two categories :

• Public/State
• Private

The education cost at a public/state university is comparatively lesser than that of a private institution. Your expenditure on tuition fee depends on the type of qualification and university or school you opt for. Below is a indicative cost for different programs

For more specific details, please contact us or see the university/college websites

The GPA (Grade-point average) is the system in USA and followed by most universities. Its calculated on a 4-point scale (1 to 4), with 4.0 being the highest. The GPA can bea combination with letter grades.

The chart below shows you how much each letter grade is worth in number of points to GPA:

GPA is very important in US universities and students must keep a certain level of GPA to obtain scholarships or get admitted into a course.

The Grade point average can be calculated on a 4-point scale which is considered as the international standard followed by US universities.

The I-20 form is issued by the US university as a confirmation of an your admission into a program. It certifies that you:

• Are going to be an enrolled full time students pursuing using a Bachelor’s or Masters or other professional degree; and
• That you have satisfied all admission requirements
• Have proven that you have sufficient financial support to study and live in the US for the duration of your course of study.

You will need Form I-20 to obtain a student visa or to keep lawful F-1 status in U.S. This document is issued by SVEP (Student Visitor and Exchange Program) certified universities/institutes and includes the SEVIS ID which is unique for each student.

Once you receive the I-20 (Admission Letter) then you can start the visa application procedures.

Before attending your interview, you will need to have the following documents :

• Your passport
• One copy of your visa photograph
• Your printed DS-160 confirmation page
• Your printed I-901 SEVIS fee confirmation page
• Your visa application fee payment receipt
• Form I-20 for F-1/M-1 students, or Form DS-2019 for J-1 students (make sure to bring the original form — not a copy!) You will also require other documentation, such as:
• Official transcripts from colleges/universities you’ve attended
• Diplomas/degrees from high schools/colleges/universities you’ve attended
• Standardized test scores (TOEFL / IELTS or GRE / SAT whichever is applicable)

Proof of sufficient funds

• Bank statements or any other documents you believe will support your application and which give credible evidence that you have enough readily-available funds to meet all expenses for the first year of study and that you have access to funds sufficient to cover all expenses while you remain in the United States. M-1 applicants must demonstrate the ability to pay all tuition and living costs for the entire period of their intended stay.
• Photocopies of bank statements will not be accepted unless you can also show original copies of bank statements or original bank books.
• If you are financially sponsored by another person, bring proof of your relationship to the sponsor (such as your birth certificate), the sponsor's most recent original tax forms / payslips and the sponsor's bankbooks and/or fixed deposit certificates.
• Evidence of any work experience (Appointment letter, payslips and salary statement)
• Proof of your intent to depart the US at the end of your program

International students who have an F-1 and M-1 visa are allowed to work on-campus and in specified training programs. Students are not allowed to work off-campus during their first academic year. On-campus jobs are student oriented such as working in the library, cafeteria, or student center.

Note: Employment opportunities for international students while studying are limited. You should not plan on earning substantial money from a part-time job to help pay for your studies.

You will undergo personal interview with the visa officer at the US Consulate and the visa officer may ask the students various questions related to their past qualification, why they want to study in the USA, their future plans and goals, family background, how you want to fund your studies etc. to determine the students genuine intentions.

SEE : US Student Visa Interview Questions

Once your finish undergraduate or post-graduate course from a US university, you can opt for the below work options:

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a program that allows international students in the United States to work temporarily up to 12 months. OPT can be completed both before or after completing your studies, but it’s important to remember that you are only allowed to work 12 months total including pre-completion of degree and post-completion of degree.

OPT Extension for 24 months: If you have earned a degree in certain science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields, you may apply for a 24-month extension of your post-completion OPTS employment authorization.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT): This is an employment option available for students where practical training employment is considered to be an integral part of the academic program. CPT is defined to be alternative work/study, internship or any other type of required practicum that is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with university / colleges. CPT requires that the students have a valid student visa for minimum 9 months and are in proper standing in terms of academics and GPA.

H1B Work Visa :The H1B visa is the official and primary USA work visa available to people from all around the world. This visa allows US companies to employ graduate level workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise in specialized fields such as in IT, finance, accounting, architecture, engineering, mathematics, science, medicine, etc. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services sets a limit on how many H1B visas are issued each year. These numbers can change as per regulations of the US One of the main advantages of the H1B visa is that it’s a “dual intent” visa which means that one can apply for Green card (legal permanent residency).

The H1B visa is typically valid from 3 to 6 years and entitles spouses and children to accompany the main applicant. (Note : Please check the relevant USCIS website for latest information on H1B Visas)