Ask the Consul

Ask the Consul is a collection of questions and answers complied by the Consular Section that cover a variety of subjects of interest for those who want to visit or live in the United States and for U.S. citizens visiting or residing in Bolivia.

If you have a general consular question, please send it to us by e-mail. Then check this page every two weeks.  We select five questions and post the answers twice a month in the below space.

Important Note: Other than the questions we select to answer below, we DO NOT respond to the questions sent to the Ask the Consul E-mail address.   If you have a question and would like to receive a response, please send your question to either the American Citizens Services Unit (ConsularLaPazACS@state.gov), the Immigrant Visa Unit (ConsularLaPazIV@state.gov) or the Nonimmigrant Visa Unit (ConsularLaPazNIV@state.gov) directly.

First Five Questions:

What kind of visa do I need to study in the United States?

Most non-U.S. citizens who wish to study in the United States will seek an F-1 student visa in order to study at an accredited U.S. college or university or to study English at a university or intensive English language institute.  There are other non-immigrant visas such as a J-1 Exchange Visitor visa, to participate in an educational and cultural exchange program, and an M-1 Student Visa, to engage in non-academic or vocational study or training.

For student related information, visit the EducationUSA website created by the Department of State's, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs to learn about educational opportunities for undergraduate and graduate study, opportunities for scholars, financial aid, testing, admissions, and much more. For a brief overview, you may also visit the America.gov article Basics on U.S. Visas.

The first step for a prospective non-immigrant student is being accepted for enrollment in an established school which is SEVP certified. In general, for academic students attending a university, college, high school, private elementary school, seminary, conservatory or other academic institutions, including a language training program, an F visa is the appropriate category. For students attending vocational or other recognized nonacademic institutions, other than a language training program, an M visa is generally the appropriate category.

If you are going to the U.S. primarily for tourism, but want to take a short course of study that is recreational, and the course is less than 18 hours per week, you may be able to do so on a visitor (B) visa. If your course of study is 18 hours or more a week, you will need a student visa. When traveling to the U.S. to attend seminars, conferences or a program of study for academic credit, then you will need a student visa.

I have been accepted to a school in the U.S. for the first time. What are the steps I need to take to apply for a student visa?

Congratulations!  To apply for your student visa, you will need to follow these steps to schedule an appointment at the U.S. Embassy in La Paz.  You are required to bring the following with you for your interview:

1. Completed I-20:  Obtain an I-20 from the college or university to which you were admitted.

2. Passport: Check that your passport is current and that it will be valid for the time you plan to be in the United States.

3. Completed DS-160 Application: Complete the DS-160 online at https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/ and print the bar code.

4. Proof of SEVIS Payment:  Pay the SEVIS Fee online at www.fmjfee.com.

5. Financial Evidence: To qualify for a student visa, you must demonstrate that you have the ability to pay for one year of tuition and living expenses, as defined on the I-20 form mentioned earlier. You must have this money available as cash in a bank account that is available for withdrawal. The bank account may be in your parent's name.

When Do I Need to Apply for My Student Visa?

Students are encouraged to apply for their visa early to provide ample time for visa processing. Students may apply for their visa as soon as they are prepared to do so.

Students should note that Embassies and Consulates are able to issue your student visa 120 days or less, in advance of the course of study registration date. If you apply for your visa more than 120 days prior to your start date or registration date as provided on the Form I-20, the Embassy or Consulate will hold your application until it is able to issue the visa. Consular officials will use that extra time for application processing.

Students are advised of the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) regulation which requires that all initial or beginning students enter the U.S. 30 days or less in advance of the course of study start/report date as shown on the Form I-20. Please consider this date carefully when making travel plans to the U.S.

A beginning student who wants an earlier entry into the U.S. (more than 30 days prior to the course start date), must qualify for, and obtain a visitor (B1/B2) visa.  A prospective student notation will be shown on his/her visitor visa and the traveler will need to make the intent to study clear to the U.S. immigration inspector at port of entry. Before beginning any studies, he or she must obtain approval for a change to Exchange Visitor status, filing Form I-539, Application for Change of Nonimmigrant Status and pay the fee. Also you must submit the required Form I-20 to the Department of Homeland Security office where the application is made. Please be aware that one cannot begin studies until the change of classification is approved.

Continuing students may apply for a new visa at any time, as long as they have been maintaining student status and their SEVIS records are current. Continuing students may also enter the U.S. at any time before their classes start.

We understand that it is important for you to have your visa ready when classes begin and we want to make the process as quick and as simple as possible. However, we cannot guarantee how quickly you will receive your visa after your interview. To be safe, it is best if you gather your documents and schedule your appointment as soon as possible. 

Good luck with your studies!

What will the officer ask me during my student visa interview?     

If English is required for your program, the officer will conduct your interview in English.  The officer will also review your I-20, SEVIS receipt, and financial documents.  Other questions may include why you chose your school and details about your education, family and life in Bolivia.

What Is SEVIS and SEVP? What Should You Know about It?

The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) is designed to help the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of State better monitor school and exchange programs and F, M and J category visitors. Exchange visitor and student information is maintained in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).  SEVIS is an Internet-based system that maintains accurate and current information on non-immigrant students (F and M visa), exchange visitors (J visa), and their dependents (F-2, M-2, and J-2). SEVIS enables schools and program sponsors to transmit mandatory information and event notifications via the Internet, to the DHS and Department of State (DOS) throughout a student or exchange visitor's stay in the United States.  

All student applicants must have a SEVIS generated I-20 issued by an educational institution approved by DHS, which they submit when they are applying for their student visa. Your school is responsible for entering your information for the I-20 student visa form into SEVIS. The consular officer will need to verify your I-20 record electronically through the SEVIS system in order to process your student visa application. Unless otherwise exempt, all F-1 or M-1 principal applicants must pay a SEVIS I-901 fee to the DHS for each individual program.

How long may I stay on my F-1 student visa?

When you enter the United States on a student visa, you will usually be admitted for the duration of your student status. That means you may stay as long as you are a full time student, even if the F-1 visa in your passport expires while you are in the United States. For a student who has completed the course of studies shown on the I-20, and any authorized practical training, the student is allowed the following additional time in the U.S. before departure:

F-1 student - An additional 60 days, to prepare for departure from the U.S. or to transfer to another school.

M-1 student - An additional 30 days to depart the U.S. (Fixed time period, in total not to exceed one year). The 30 days to prepare for departure is permitted as long as the student maintained a full course of study and maintained status. An M student may receive extensions up to three years for the total program.

As an example regarding duration of status, if you have a visa that is valid for five years that will expire on January 1, 2009, and you are admitted into the U.S. for the duration of your studies (often abbreviated in your passport or on your I-94 card as "D/S"), you may stay in the U.S. as long as you are a full time student. Even if January 1, 2009 passes and your visa expires while in the U.S., you will still be in legal student status. However, if you depart the United States with an expired visa, you will need to obtain a new one, applying at an Embassy or Consulate abroad, before being able to return to the U.S. and resume your studies.