This article highlights 5 important study guides to prepare you as an international student in the US. Being an international student in the US is not so easy, but if you arm yourself with the right information before embarking on your study, you will likely find most things easy as an international student. You should  bear in mind that no two countries are the same, different countries and institutions have things that set them apart from other institutions and countries, therefore it is paramount that you have this information handy, assimilate and keep it as a reference material while you make your plans to become an international student.

Information, they say, is powerful and those who are not well informed may likely become deformed. That being the case, before you embark on your journey to study in the US., you need to arm yourself with the right information so that you don’t get stuck along the way. In this article, we have highlighted 5 important study guides to prepare you as an international student in the US.

1. Make research about your program

Our first guide to helping you prepare as an international student in the US is to research your program. You need to know what it takes to study the course you are applying to study. In the US, Postsecondary education has six degree levels which are associate, bachelor, first professional, master, advanced, intermediate and research doctorate.

The United States of America also offers a postdoctoral degree but does not offer a second or higher doctorate degree. As an international student, you want to be sure of all the available options before making your choice.

While researching to see the options you have available, you should consider looking for an educational advising center in your country . These centers are responsible for giving advice to international students on higher education. They can also help students find study opportunities in the United States. You can also look up colleges by type of institution, locations and key programs.

Another area of focus during your research should be to know if the School you’re looking to study in the United states, is Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certified. Also find and listen to the experiences of other international students and learn a thing or two from them.

ALSO READ: STUDY IN THE US WITH F1 M1 VISA

2. Fund Your Studies

The next step after research is for you to fund your studies. When planning to study in the US., you must bear in mind that the US. Government does not provide loans, grants or help with scholarships to international students. You will need to find alternative sources of income to gain financial aid during the course of your study. We have listed some options you can try in preparation to fund your fees as an international student in the US.

One of the options you can try when seeking financial aid as an international student is to try exchange programs administered by the U.S. Government, though these exchange programs only render help to qualified international students. These programs are available for all levels and you can look up to see if you are qualified to benefit from this program here.

 In addition to this, there is also the Fulbright Program. This program is led by the US. Government and is in partnership with over 160 countries worldwide. The Fulbright Program offers international educational and cultural exchange for passionate and accomplished students, scholars, artists and many other professionals to study, teach or pursue important research and professional projects. You can look up this program to see how to qualify to get financial aid for your studies through it.

Option two is to try your home country education authorities. Most countries offer financial aid to their own nationals studying in another country. Inasmuch as these authorities offer financial aid, these students must meet up with two criteria before the authorities can help. One of the criteria is, they have to be qualified for the program they have applied for.

The second criteria is they must already be admitted into an approved program or institution abroad. If You meet this criteria, you can look up your home country’s educational sites or visit their offices in your location to find out how they can help you with funds to run your international program in the US.

A third option is The International Admissions Office. Every school in the US has an “International Admissions Office”. This body coordinates international student admissions for undergraduate and graduate programs and also provides advice and assistance to students.

They also ensure that admissions procedures comply with immigration laws and regulations. Since this body provides advice to international students, they will likely let you know what scholarship options you have in their institution and guide you on the process to apply for it. Once you find a school, check their International students admission desk and find out how and if they have available financial aid to help you fund your studies and also see if you are eligible for any sort of financial aid.

The last option I can think of is Scholarships and Grants. As much as the US Government does not give scholarships to international students except on very rare occasions, many organizations offer scholarships and grants for study research. These organizations range from private foundations, businesses and nonprofits organizations. You need to do extensive research to learn about these organizations and how you can benefit from their study grants and scholarships here.

3. Finalize your Application

Universities and colleges in the US. establish their own requirements for admission. Some of these requirements are minimum scores on third party standardized tests. You are advised to follow whatever requirements the admissions office of the school you are applying to has set. Below are some of the requirements your school of interest may likely need in order to determine if you will be admitted or not.

• Test of English as a foreign Language: Otherwise known as TOEFL, is a test which is used to measure the English language skills of an applicant. You will need to check to see if the school you have applied to, do this TOEFL test so that you can prepare for it in advance.
• Beside the TOEFL, there are other tests which some schools require to determine the admission eligibility of applicants. Some of these tests are used to measure an applicant’s general academic ability, comprehension of scientific information, and analytical information which measures the readiness for graduate-level study. 

You are advised to at least take the appropriate test one year ahead of your application. These tests can be taken more than once incase your first result is low, to increase your scores. However, be advised, that this test varies according to your course, level of study and institution, therefore do an extensive research to find out which of the tests suits you depending on your course, level and chosen institution. Find out more about these tests from their individual websites. DAT, GRE, GMAT, MCAT, LSAT.

4. Apply for your visa

Another thing worthy of note is that you must be accepted by Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certified schools before you can start applying for your visa. You can find a list of certified schools SEVP here.

After the SEVP approved school accepts your application, you will be registered for the SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) and pay the required fee. After this,the school will issue you a formI-20, after which you can proceed to apply for your visa at a US embassy or consulate for a student. You can carry out extensive research to learn how you can prepare for your US visa appointment and things you need to do before then. You are advised not to get any tickets till your visa is out.

This is because, if you book a flight ticket before your visa is out, they may be time discrepancies which may cause you to loose all or part of your ticketing fee, therefore, wait till your visa is out before booking for your flight.

5. Get Ready for departure

After successfully getting through the visa application process, you need to find out how to start life in the U.S. You need to find out how to live there and also learn more about their holidays, the states and places there. Also, if you desire to work  while studying there, you need to look up information for international students who wish to work during the period of their study in the U.S.

There are training opportunities available for international students and new graduates. This is an on-the-job training that adds to the knowledge gained during their academic studies. Also important is to learn about what it takes for a foreigner to drive in the U.S so as not to break any rules.

As a foreign resident in the U.S, some states will require you to have an International Driving Permit (IDP) and also a valid driver’s license from your own country and also a valid driver’s license from that state before you will be qualified to drive in that state. You will need to contact that state’s motor vehicle department to know all about their requirements. 

If you are not very fluent in the English Language, you want to immerse yourself in learning the Language so as to be able to communicate effectively, also improve basic reading, writing and listening skills so as to be able to communicate effectively with natives on your arrival.

After going through these steps and you need to speak with someone who can give you a one to one consultation on this subject matter and other related traveling matters, speak with our travel experts here and book an in-person consultation and be properly guided on how to go about becoming an international student in the United States of America.

This blog post is originally from 5 Important Study Guides to Prepare You as an International Student in the US and written by silvercloudtravels

The United States has become known for its outstanding universities and high educational standards. As a result, many international students apply each year to study in the United States. You will need either the F-1 or M-1 student visa to study full-time as an international student. Each of these student visas is a nonimmigrant visa that allows you to study in the United States if you meet certain requirements.

ALSO READ: US Student Visa: 9 Guide for International Students

Eligibility Requirements for Student Visas

To qualify for an F-1 or M-1 visa, USCIS states that you must:

• Enroll full-time in a “academic” educational program, a language training program, or a vocational program.
• Acceptance into a school recognized by the Student and Exchange Visitors Program, Immigration and Customs Enforcement
• Be proficient in English or be enrolled in classes that will lead to English proficiency
• Proof of sufficient of  funds to support yourself for the duration of the proposed course of study.
• Maintain residence abroad and have no intention of giving it up

This blog post is originally from Study in the US with F-1 M1 Student Visa and written by silvercloudtravels

Are you thinking about studying abroad in the United States of America? In this article, we’ll examine your possibilities of working while studying in the USA and how to gain work experience after you graduate.

Consider the degree you want to obtain first. In the US, colleges and universities provide bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Less popular alternatives include diplomas and graduate certificates.

We’ve outlined your study abroad timeframe and the potential evolution of your employment prospects below. We’ll start with your enrollment as an international student and wrap up with some tips on how you might prepare to apply for citizenship in the future.

ALSO READ: 5 Cybersecurity Tips for International Students

 Working and Studying in the USA

You’ll first sign up for a post-secondary course of study. F-1 visas (for academic students) or M-1 visas are typically used by foreign students to enter the US (for vocational students). You must apply to a college or university that has been authorized international student admission by the US government.

Students on F-1 visas may not work off-campus during their first year of studying in the USA. But students on F-1 visas are permitted to work:

• Up to 20 hours a week during ordinary full-time semesters,
• Up to 40 hours per week during regular holidays like the winter and summer break,

Here are the three categories of off-campus work available to F-1 students after the first academic year is over:

• Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
• Optional Practical Training (OPT) can be completed either during or after a student has finished their program
• Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Optional Practical Training Extension (OPT).

However, any student that holds an M-1 visa can only start practical training after their graduation. Off-campus training must be related to the field of study for both F-1 and M-1 students. The Designated School Official of their institution and USCIS must authorize all training.

We advise looking for jobs long before graduating because international students only have a short window of time to find post-graduation work.

ALSO READ: 5 Types of Exams You Need to Study in the USA

How Does OPT Operate Before/ or After Studying in the USA?

Before or after studying in the USA you have the right to participate in OPT (Optional Practical Training) for up to 12 months before and/or after completing your academic degree if you are able to find full-time employment in your field. In other words, you don’t need a new visa to work in the United States for a short while.

However, the maximum of 20 hours of work per week still applies when school is in session. Any time spent on OPT while still in school counts towards the maximum 12-month allowance. When is on break for the summer, you are permitted to work full-time 40 hours a week.

As a student, you have the option of finishing your OPT full-time or part-time during and/or after your academic program. Whatever option you select, keep in mind that you will lose your right to OPT after graduation if you use up all of your OPT time while studying.

Did you complete a study program from one of the STEM Designated Degree Programs List? You can be eligible for a 24-month extension to your post-graduation OPT. For further information, see the US Citizenship and Immigration Services’ STEM OPT page

Applying for Work Visas Before/ or After Studying in the USA

While you are on an F-1 student visa, your employer has the opportunity to file for an H1-B visa on your behalf. They might carry out this action while you are on OPT or afterward.

They might carry out this action while you are on OPT or afterward. For new foreign workers, the H1-B visa is a visa lottery.

There is a yearly cap of 65,000 H1-B visas granted, and graduates with a master’s degree (or higher) from a US academic institution are eligible for 20,000 additional. However,  there are more applicants than the available spots. A lottery is used to issue H1-B visas because 308,613 people registered for the financial year 2022.

After studying in the USA you can stay and work in the US for up to three years if you are granted an H1-B visa. Although this period may be extended, it typically cannot exceed six years. Your employer has can take other visa routes if your H1-B is not granted.

It’s important to note that you might be able to obtain a cap-gap extension if you currently hold an F-1 student visa, and have filed an H1-B petition and change-of-status request, but your F-1 status will end before your request for change of status is approved.

Deciding to Stay After Studying in the USA

Your employer may submit an application for a Green Card on your behalf while you are employed in the US on an H1-B visa (Permanent Resident Card). You can remain permanently and work if you have a green card after studying in the USA. Individual Green Cards, on the other hand, must be renewed after 10 years.

Patience is key when applying for a Green Card. The processing time ranges from four to seven months. You can stay in the US while your status is pending.

As you prepare for your journey as an international student, we hope that this timeline and the information on working and studying in the USA will be helpful. If you need help with your study abroad application processing kindly click here.

ALSO READ: HOW TO APPLY AND STUDY IN CANADA

This blog post is originally from Work While Studying in the USA and After Graduation and written by silvercloudtravels