Visas for Students and Exchange Program Participants 

Students and exchange visitors having difficulty securing an appointment date via our online appointment system should contact the visa section by e-mail at BishkekConsular@state.gov in order to schedule an appointment.   Please provide your SEVIS number and reporting date, as listed on your I-20 or DS-2019.

Like applicants for any other type of visitor visa, applicants for a student (“F” or “M”) visa or an exchange visitor (“J”) visa must show they qualify under the provisions of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act. They should be able to establish to the satisfaction of the consular officer that they have binding ties to a residence outside of the United States which they have no intention of abandoning and to which they will return when they have completed their studies.
In addition to the basic documentation required of all visa applicants listed in our General Instructions, those seeking a visa for study in the United States should submit the following documents at the time of the visa interview: 

1. Proof of SEVIS fee payment: Persons applying for student and exchange visitor visas (‘F’, ‘M’, and ‘J’ visas) with I-20 or DS-2019 forms with an issuance date of September 1, 2004, or later are required to pay a SEVIS surcharge fee before applying for their visa. Applicants must present their I-901 receipt as proof of payment.

Please note the following changes effective October 27, 2008: F and M applicants will pay $200, while J applicants will pay $180.  Au pairs, camp counselors, and summer work/travel applicants pay a reduced fee of $35.  As before, applicant's dependents do not pay, nor do USG-sponsored exchange visitors.  For more information, please visit our SEVIS fee website

2. F visa applicants: a completed Form I-20A-B Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status for Academic and Language Students, issued by the U.S. academic institution.Please submit a photocopy of your I-20 with your visa application.

3. M visa applicants: a completed Form I-20M-N Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status for Vocational Students, issued by the U.S. academic institution.Please submit a photocopy of your I-20 with your visa application.

4. J visa applicants: a completed Form DS-2019 Certification of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor, issued by the U.S. academic institution.Please submit a photocopy of your DS-2019 with your visa application.

5. Both the primary applicant and each of his/her dependents must complete FORM DS-158: Contact Information and Work History for Nonimmigrant Visa Applicant.

6. All student applicants must provide proof of financial resources to meet the cost of schooling, such as parents’ bank statements or scholarship awards.

7. All student visa applicants, including continuing and transferring students, should be prepared to provide recent transcripts, TOEFL results, and/or standardized test scores, if requested.

7. An applicant for a student visa should be prepared to explain his/her reasons for studying in the United States, including post graduation plans. A student visa is not permission to work or remain in the United States following completion of your studies.

9. Spouses and minor children accompanying the student to the United States should bring marriage certificates and birth certificates with them to the interview, to prove the relationship between themselves and the principal applicant.