MS in USA
To pursue a Master’s (MS) degree in the United States, students typically need to take specific standardized exams. The exact requirements vary by university and program, but the most commonly required exams include:
1️⃣ GRE (Graduate Record Examination)
- Required for most MS programs (especially in STEM fields).
- Measures quantitative, verbal reasoning, and analytical writing skills.
- Some universities are making the GRE optional due to recent policy changes.
2️⃣ GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test)
- Required for business-related MS programs (e.g., MS in Finance, MS in Business Analytics).
- Focuses on quantitative, verbal, and analytical writing skills.
3️⃣ English Proficiency Tests (For Non-Native English Speakers)
- TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
- IELTS (International English Language Testing System)
- Duolingo English Test (Some universities accept it as an alternative to TOEFL/IELTS)
- Required to prove English language proficiency for students from non-English-speaking countries.
4️⃣ Other Tests (Depending on the Program & University)
- Subject GRE (Some universities may require it for specialized programs like Physics, Mathematics, etc.)
- MCAT (For medical-related programs).
- LSAT (For law-related programs).
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Several U.S. universities require international applicants to submit their academic transcripts through credential evaluation services like World Education Services (WES). This process ensures that foreign educational credentials are accurately assessed and comparable to U.S. standards.
List of Universities Requiring WES Evaluation:
- Fairfield University, CT (Selected Programs)
- Chicago State University, IL
- Florida A & M University
- Florida Atlantic University
- Middle Tennessee State University, TN
- New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM
- Northeastern Illinois University, KY
- San Diego State University, CA
- South Dakota State University
- St. Cloud State University, MN (Selected Programs)
- University of Central Florida, FL
- University of Memphis
- University of Texas at Pan America, TX
- Villanova University, PA (CS Major)
- North Carolina A & T University
- Georgia Southern University
- California State University, Channel Islands
- Minnesota State University, Mankato, MN
- Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, MA
- Oakland University, Michigan
- Santa Clara University, CA
- Sam Houston State University, TX
- SUNY New Paltz, NY
- Tennessee State University, TN
- University of Hartford, CT
- University of Louisville, KY
- University of Nevada Las Vegas
- University of North Carolina Greensboro, NC
- Roosevelt University, Chicago, IL
- Long Island University, NY (Pharmacy)
- Texas A & M College Station, TX (MIS Program)
Note: This list is based on information from Happy Schools Blog. citeturn0search0
Understanding WES Evaluation:
A WES evaluation converts your academic credentials from any country into their U.S. equivalents. This process helps U.S. institutions understand your educational background and ensures that your qualifications meet their admission standards. The evaluation typically involves verifying the authenticity of your documents and providing a detailed report on your academic achievements.
Steps to Obtain a WES Evaluation:
- Create an Account: Register on the WES website to start your credential evaluation process.
- Submit Documents: Provide all required academic transcripts and certificates as per WES guidelines.
- Choose Evaluation Type: Select the appropriate evaluation service based on your needs (e.g., Course-by-Course or Document-by-Document).
- Payment: Pay the evaluation fee to proceed with the assessment.
- Receive Evaluation: Once completed, WES will send the evaluation report directly to the institutions you've selected.
For a comprehensive understanding of the WES evaluation process, including fees and document requirements, refer to Yocket's guide on WES Evaluation. citeturn0search7
Alternative Universities:
While many institutions require a WES evaluation, some universities may accept international credentials without it. It's essential to check the specific admission requirements of each university to determine if a WES evaluation is necessary. For instance, certain universities accept Higher National Diploma (HND) transcripts directly without requiring a WES evaluation. citeturn0search6
Conclusion:
A WES evaluation is a crucial step for many international students aiming to study in the U.S. It ensures that your academic credentials are recognized and valued by U.S. institutions. However, requirements vary by university and program, so it's advisable to review the admission criteria of each institution carefully.
Disclaimer: Admission requirements are subject to change. Always verify the latest requirements directly from the university's official admissions page.
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GRE Test Pattern and Scoring System
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is a standardized test required for admission to many graduate programs in the United States and other countries. It evaluates analytical writing, verbal reasoning, and quantitative reasoning skills.
GRE General Test Pattern
The GRE General Test consists of three sections:
| Section | Number of Questions | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Analytical Writing | 1 Task (Issue & Argument) | 30 Minutes |
| Verbal Reasoning | 27 Questions | 41 Minutes |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 27 Questions | 47 Minutes |
1. Analytical Writing (Score: 0–6 in 0.5 increments)
- One task: Analyze an Issue (30 minutes)
- Assesses your critical thinking and writing skills
- You must provide a clear, logical argument in response to a given prompt
2. Verbal Reasoning (Score: 130–170 in 1-point increments)
- Includes Reading Comprehension, Text Completion, and Sentence Equivalence
- Tests your vocabulary, understanding of passages, and ability to draw conclusions
- New Adaptive Pattern: Questions are adaptive based on your performance
3. Quantitative Reasoning (Score: 130–170 in 1-point increments)
- Covers Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, and Data Analysis
- Tests your problem-solving and mathematical reasoning
- Basic calculator is provided on-screen
Total GRE Score Range
- Verbal Reasoning: 130–170
- Quantitative Reasoning: 130–170
- Analytical Writing: 0–6
- Total GRE Score: 260–340
Top Scores:
- 320+ → Excellent (Top Universities)
- 310–320 → Competitive (Good Universities)
- 300–310 → Moderate (Average Universities)
- Below 300 → Needs Improvement
Other GRE Test Types
- GRE Subject Test (Optional) – For specialized fields like Math, Physics, Psychology, etc.
- Required by specific graduate programs
GRE Test Mode
- Computer-based GRE: Most common (adaptive pattern)
- Paper-based GRE: Available in some locations
Conclusion
The GRE tests your reasoning and analytical skills rather than subject-specific knowledge. A higher GRE score improves your chances of admission to top universities and scholarships.
Would you like help with GRE preparation tips or study materials? 😊
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Admission Deadlines of selected Universities
Universities with Deadlines in December |
1. Stanford University – 6 December |
2. University of California, Irvine – 15 December |
3. University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign – 15 December |
4. Temple University – 15 December (Computer Science) |
5. University of California, San Diego – 15 December (For most of the departments) |
6. University of California, Santa Barbara – 15 December (For most of the departments) |
7. University of Colorado, Boulder – 15 December (Computer Science) |
8. University of Colorado, Boulder – 1 December (Other Engineering Departments) |
Universities with Deadlines in January |
1. Louisiana State University, Baton Rogue – 1 January (Priority) |
2. Worcester Polytechnic Institute – 1 January |
3. Indiana University, Bloomington – 1 January (Computer Science) |
4. Indiana University Purdue University – 2 January (Except Computer Science) |
5. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute – 2 January |
6. University of California, Riverside – 5 January (with Aid) |
7. Kansas State University – 8 January |
8. Washington State University, Pullman – 10 January |
9. Vanderbilt University – 15 January |
10. University of Texas, Dallas – 15 January |
11. University of Virginia, Charlottesville – 15 January |
12. Texas Tech University – 15 January |
13. Tufts University – 15 January |
14. University of Alaska, Fairbanks – 15 January |
15. University of Central Florida – 15 January |
16. University of Cincinnati – 15 January |
17. Northeastern University, Boston – 15 January (priority, All engg departments except Computer Science) |
18. Lehigh University – 15 January (Most of the departments, with aid) |
19. University of Pittsburgh – 15 January (Computer Science) |
20. Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago – 31 January |
Universities with Deadlines in February |
1. Case Western Reserve University – 1 February |
2. University of Tulsa – 1 February |
3. University of Tennessee, Knoxville – 1 February |
4. University of Florida, Gainesville – 1 February |
5. San Jose State University – 1 February (Computer Science, Online) |
6. Texas State University – 1 February (Priority, All departments Except Software Engg) |
7. Texas State University – 15 February (Software Engineering) |
8. Eastern Michigan University – 15 February |
9. Florida Atlantic University – 15 February |
10. Florida International University – 15 February |
11. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology – 15 February |
12. Polytechnic Institute of New York University, Brooklyn – 15 February |
13. South Dakota School of Mines & Tech – 15 February |
14. University of Montana – 15 February (Computer Science) |
15. University of Rochester – 15 February |
16. University of San Francisco – 15 February |
Universities with Deadlines in March |
1. California State University, Chico – 1 March |
2. California State University, Sacramento – 1 March |
3. Central Michigan University – 1 March |
4. New Mexico State University, Las Cruces – 1 March |
5. North Carolina State University – 1 March |
6. University of Texas, El Paso – 1 March |
7. Oklahoma State University, Stillwater – 1 March (Most of the departments) |
8. University of Nebraska, Lincoln – 1 March |
9. University of Toledo – 1 March |
10. Tufts University – 1 March |
11. University of Maine, Orono – 1 March |
12. University of Pittsburgh – 1 March |
13. Indiana University Purdue University – 1 March |
14. George Washington University – 15 March |
15. Polytechnic Institute of New York University, Brooklyn – 15 March |
16. South Dakota School of Mines & Tech – 15 March |
17. University of Colorado, Denver – 15 March |
18. University of Kentucky, Lexington – 15 March |
19. University of North Texas, Denton – 15 March |
20. Stevens Institute of Technology – 15 March |
21. University of Pennsylvania – 15 March |
22. California State University, Northridge – 31 March |
23. University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa – March |
Universities with Deadlines in April |
1. Idaho State University – 1 April |
2. University of Arkansas, Little Rock – 1 April |
3. California State University, Fresno – 1 April |
4. Oregon State University, Corvallis – 1 April |
5. University of Houston, University Park – 1 April |
6. University of Michigan, Dearborn – 1 April |
7. University of Texas, San Antonio – 1 April |
8. University of Utah, Salt Lake City – 1 April |
9. Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University – 1 April |
10. West Virginia University, Morgantown – 1 April |
11. Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo – 1 April |
12. Wichita State University – 1 April |
13. University of Arkansas, Fayetteville – 1 April |
14. University of Houston, Clear Lake – 1 April |
15. University of Oklahoma, Norman – 1 April |
16. University of Memphis – 1 April |
17. Villanova University – 1 April |
18. California State University, Los Angeles – 15 April |
19. Lamar University – 15 April |
20. Old Dominion University, Norfolk – 15 April |
21. South Dakota State University, Brookings – 15 April |
22. University of Georgia – 15 April |
23. University of Iowa, Iowa City – 15 April |
Universities with Deadlines in May |
1. City University of New York, City College – 1 May |
2. Clarkson University – 1 May |
3. Illinois State University, Normal – 1 May |
4. Mississippi State University – 1 May |
5. Northern Illinois University, Dekalb – 1 May |
6. Oakland University, Rochester – 1 May |
7. University of Idaho, Moscow – 1 May |
8. University of Memphis– 1 May |
9. University of Michigan, Dearborn – 1 May |
10. University of Nevada, Las Vegas – 1 May |
11. University of New Mexico, Albuquerque – 1 May |
12. Wayne State University – 1 May |
13. Western Illinois University – 1 May |
14. University of North Dakota, Grand Forks – 1 May (General) |
15. University of Texas, Dallas – 1 May (General) |
16. Boise State University – 15 May |
17. Southern Methodist University – 15 May |
18. University of Louisiana, Lafayette – 15 May |
19. University of Colorado, Denver – 15 May (Final) |
20. Louisiana State University, Baton Rogue – 15 May (Final) |
21. University of North Dakota, Grand Forks – 15 May (Computer Science) |
22. Montana State University, Bozeman – 15 May (Most of Engineering Departments) |
23. Wright State University, Dayton – 15 May (Early) |
24. Lawrence Technological University – 22 May |
Universities with Deadlines in June |
1. Louisiana Tech University, Ruston – 1 June |
2. Monmouth University – 1 June |
3. California State University, Fresno – 1 June |
4. Kent State University – 1 June |
5. New York Institute of Technology – 1 June |
6. Syracuse University – 1 June |
7. Texas A & M University, Kingsville – 1 June |
8. Texas State University – 1 June (Final) |
9. University of Arkansas, Fayetteville – 1 June |
10. University of Arkansas, Little Rock – 1 June |
11. University of California, Riverside – 1 June (without Aid) |
12. University of Detroit, Mercy – 1 June |
13. University of Illinois, Springfield – 1 June |
14. Florida Institute of Technology – 8 June |
15. Drexel University – 13 June |
16. Marist College, Poughkeepsie – 15 June |
17. California State University, Northridge – 15 June |
18. George Mason University, Fairfax – 15 June |
19. Missouri University of Science & Technology, Rolla – 15 June (Final) |
20. Tulane University – 15 June |
Universities with Deadlines in July |
1. Florida State University – 1 July |
2. Lamar University – 1 July |
3. Minnesota State University, Mankato – 1 July |
4. Arkansas State University – 3 July |
5. Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville – 15 July |
6. University of Bridgeport, Bridgeport – 15 July |
7. University of South Alabama, Mobile – 15 July (Computer Science) |
8. University of South Alabama, Mobile – 1 July (Other Engineering Departments) |
Universities with Deadlines in August |
1. State University of New York, Albany – 1 August (without Aid) |
2. Villanova University – 1 August (Computer Science) |
3. University of North Carolina, Charlotte – 15 August (Final) |
University in california |
California Institute of Technology |
California State University Long Beach |
California State University Los Angeles |
San Diego State University |
San Francisco State University |
San Jose State University |
Santa Clara University |
University of California Irvine |
University of California Los Angeles |
University of California Riverside |
University of California San Diego |
University of California San Francisco |
University of California Santa Barbara |
University of California Santa Cruz |
University of Northern California |
University of San Diego |
University of San Francisco |
University of Southern California |
Selection of Universities for MS in USA
In order to be a systematic in selection of University for MS in USA, a list of universities that match your requirements, including the following factors/items should be prepared in the comparative form. The comparative chart should include information of around 25 to 30 Universities.
1. Name of the University,
2. GRE / TOEFL Score requirement and last cut off marks,
3. Rankings (ratings),
4. Course offered & duration of course.
5. Application Deadline
6. Tuition fees, cost of living, housing
7. Scholarship/financial aid
8. Application fee
9. WES requirement,
10. Percentage of foreign students accepted and their review on Edulx
11. Climate of location,
12. Contact person at University (postal address, e-mail, website address, phon
13. University type – Private or Public (Private Universities are costlier than
14. No. of Big companies around the city of university for employment /jobs.
15. Per cent age of VISA approval for the University for foreign students.
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On preparation of the Comparative Chart , as mentioned above, we will have to choose total 9 Universities and classify into the following three (3) categories – Ambitious, Moderate, Safe and prepare the chart, as shown below as Sample:
CATEGORY A: Ambitious Universities, admission probability minimum | |||||
Name of University | State | Tuition Fees | Living Cost | Other Expenses | Total |
Code | |||||
1. Arizona State University – Tempe | AZ | 22366 | 18942 | 3108 | 44416 |
2. North Carolina State University (12 months) | NC | 29894 | 14224 | 1727 | 45845 |
3. State University of New York – Stony Brook | NY | 25149 | 15437 | 1301 | 41887 |
4. University of California – Irvine | CA | 31318 | 17000 | - | 48318 |
5. University of Colorado – Boulder | CO | 30323 | 16653 | 1800 | 48776 |
6. University of South Florida – Tampa | FL | 29590 | 15700 | 2340 | 47630 |
7. University of Southern California | CA | 37174 | 20716 | - | 57890 |
CATEGORY B: Moderate Universities, admission probability 50%-70% | |||||
8. Kansas State University – Manhattan | KS | 20502 | 11200 | 1000 | 32702 |
9. Missouri University of Science & Technology | MO | 22748 | 7796 | 8015 | 38559 |
10. Portland State University | OR | 20004 | 14220 | - | 34224 |
11. San Diego State University | CA | 14938 | 16630 | 1330 | 32898 |
12. State University of New York – Buffalo | NY | 26724 | 13755 | - | 40479 |
13. University of Texas – Dallas | TX | 22504 | 14464 | 2182 | 39150 |
14. University of Utah – Salt Lake City | UT | 26662 | 17263 | - | 43925 |
CATEGORY C: Safe, admission probability 100% | |||||
15. Michigan Technological University | MI | 16385 | 12836 | 600 | 29821 |
16. San Jose State University (WES evaluation compulsory) | CA | 15340 | 18133 | 1279 | 34752 |
Applying Universities for MS in USA
Once you select 9 Universities that you would like to apply to, you should immediately start preparing all the documents required for the admission and keep ready all such scan copies into your PC. You will have to send by Speed Post, all the Documents including score card of GRE/TOFEL, as per procedure of the University. Generally, we will have registered User id created at University website, where all communication / mails are given about the status of your application for admission. If you fail to transmit the documents by Speed Post, it will waste your time for dispatch and it will delay further all the process or even your Application may likely be rejected by the Admission Committee/Coordinator.
Each University asks for Application fee ranging from $50 to $200 and you may need to pay off the application fee online. So, be careful about your Bank Authorizations or get it confirmed. You will need to spend round about Rs.80,000/- at this stage of applying for admission.
HDFC is suitable for banking transactions of fund transfer.
Applying to a US Masters degree can be quite an extensive process. Universities want to make sure students end up on the right graduate programmes and therefore put a lot of time and effort into their admissions process. They expect you to do the same with your application. This doesn’t mean that it is difficult task. You will need to provide more material and more detail about your existing qualifications than you might be asked for elsewhere.
You should try to begin your application to study abroad in the USA early – ideally before the end of the second year of your undergraduate programme. In most cases you should aim to have submitted your full application by the end of March in the academic year before you expect to enrol. (If you are proceeding directly to postgraduate study this will be the final year of your undergraduate degree programme). Some institutions will also accept applications in the previous December. Meeting this earlier deadline may be advantageous if you wish to be considered for some scholarships and other funding arrangements.
Admission to a US graduate programme will require an appropriate undergraduate degree. This should be in a similar field to your Masters, but it may not need to be in exactly the same subject.
Whatever your degree result, it will normally need to be converted into a GPA before it can be used for an American graduate school application.
American universities will require more from you than an undergraduate degree result. You may need to submit a full academic transcript as well as academic references and personal statements. If English is not your first language you may also be asked for a language test score. American universities may ask for Color Copy of Engineering Degree certified/ Sealed by the University itself.
More selective graduate programmes often require scores from graduate admissions tests. Some will ask to interview you if you are shortlisted.
Transcripts,
Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
TOFEL
SOP, Letters of Recommendations, Experience Certification, Recommendation letter from employer
As per procedure, Some Universities asked for , directly, Letters of Recommendations through mail id of the Principal, HOD etc., along with scanned copies of Solvency / Capability certificate from Bank (Bank indicates in the Capability certificate that you are capable of raising fund equivalent to your tuition fees and cost of living in the United States. Most bankers give such certificate to their regular customers.
CHOOSE COLLEGE WHICH SUITS YOUR LIFESTYLE AND BUDGETS
Your plans to learn in USA depend significantly on your monetary status too. Prior to apply with any university, make a rough estimation regarding your total educational charge, traveling and living expenses. Some Universities are asking for Financial Statement with application itself.
After receipt of Admit notification :
Every University sends an acknowledgement of admission application and sends you admit or reject through their website. It takes two to three months from the date of deadlines of admission process to inform the decision. Reason for reject is also announced by the University. Students should check up regularly, the status of this Admission application. If necessary, students can write their application through mail to the Admission Coordinator or Committee to know the further status of this Admission application
Sample e-mail from “Utah State University” for admit:
I am pleased to inform you that we have accepted your application for admission in Fall 2017 semester to pursue the Master of Science (MS) degree in the Electrical and Computer Engineering graduate program. Your temporary advisor will be Dr. Koushik Chakraborty. You can contact him at koushik.chakraborty@usu.edu .
Once you arrive on campus, it will be your responsibility to contact your temporary advisor for guidance on courses for Fall 2017. Also, they will guide you on a research project in your area of interest. Ideally, a project should be established by the end of your first semester.
The tuition schedule can be found at http://www.usu.edu/budget/Documents/TuitionFees/2017-18usutuition-feeschedule.pdf .
You are required to maintain a GPA of 3.0 (out of 4.0) during your MS program.
Orientation for new graduate students in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, School of Graduate Studies, will be held the week before classes begin. Classes begin for all students on August 28, 2017. More information will be coming at a later date.
We are looking forward to having you join our graduate program. Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have questions.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jacob Gunther
Department Head
Mary Lee Anderson
Graduate Program Coordinator/Student Advisor
Utah State University
Electrical and Computer Engineering
4120 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322-4120
(435) 797-8340, fax (435) 797-3054
The following table is prepared from the data of Admit filled in by the Students on Website https://www.edulix.com/
E&TC | Jalpaiguri Government Engineering College | |||
GRE | TOFEL | UNIVERSITY | ADMISSION | |
318 | 99 | Admit | Updated in Portal. Received email after one day.Applied in Solid state devices . | |
Admit | updated on website .Admit on 03/25/14 | |||
Admit | its like a dream.updated in AIS on 16th march.Applied in Device Science and Nanotechnology . Guys, I would advise you to apply in less popular major .It helps .:) | |||
Admit | Admit on 17/12/13 :I20 Amount $37,350 | |||
Reject | got reject email on 16th April . again, made a mistake to apply in VLSI. | |||
Reject | Came as a shock.Updated in Raiderlink Denied Admission on 1/22/2014.I think, they check marks in individual subjects .I had poor grade in VLSI and I applied in VLSI there. | |||
Reject | Received Email on 4th march about Status Change.may be Due to poor grade in VLSI. | |||
Reject | Updated on Apply now on 27/3/2014. |
Final selection of University:
From the above table, you can note that out of total 8 universities applied for, Admit from 4 Universities have been received. You should wait till you get replies from all the Universities. Your final decision should be made on the basis of a careful comparison of relative merits / demerits / reviews of each one of them.
Criteria for selection should be
Objective Criteria:
1. Length of program, choice of course
2. Best funding offered
3. Cost of living
4. Scholarship
5. Placement after MS
Subjective Criteria :
1. Location/climate
2. Reputation/ranking
3. Housing
4. Social life
Sending confirmation letter to your University:
Once you have made your final decision, you must send a confirmation letter to the university you have chosen and ask for I-20 form. Sometimes, University sends the I-20 form along with the admission letter itself.
You must also inform the other universities of your decision of not joining them. This is a matter of courtesy and is necessary to enable the universities to offer your seat of another students in the waiting list.
I-20 form is received from University by Post. Please Check up that name on I-20 form is matching with that shown on Passport.
US VISA
1. Fill your DS160 :
DS160 is basically a form in which you provide all your details that your Visa Officer will need to go through while taking your interview. It will include basic stuff like your personal details, education details, work ex detail etc. Keep it in mind that DS160 is supposed to be filled with details which are true as per best of your knowledge. Make sure you fill all the relevant details as per your passport. You will need your SEVIS number handy, which will be printed on your I20’s right hand side top corner near barcode. It will be something like N1234567890. Create your application, fill the complete form and submit it. You will get a confirmation page. Save it. You will need its printout for your visa interview.
2. Schedule your Visa appointment :
To schedule your Visa appointment, first of all you need to create your account on www.ustraveldocs.com. Register your account and then fill up all the required basic details. After that you will be taken to the payment page. You have to pay $160 via NEFT/IMPS/Deposit at Axis bank. The payment instructions for all three modes will be given on that page. Once you make the payment, a payment receipt will be AUTOMATICALLY GENERATED after two-three business hours in the tab provided to enter receipt number on the very same payment page. There after you can proceed ahead and schedule your appointment. First you will have to select location for your interview and for collecting your passport. Then after selecting slot for your Visa interview followed by slot selection for your OFC.
NOTE: Please note that you can reschedule your Visa Interview twice for free of cost.
3. SEVIS fees payment :
SEVIS fees $200 is to be paid online. On payment of SEVIS fees, we get its receipt before your Visa Interview. You can pay it via your credit card unlike Visa scheduling fees. Do note that it has nothing to do with scheduling your appointment so you can fill it any time before your VI. You will just need its payment receipt during your visa interview. Once you pay the fees, do save and print the SEVIS fees receipt. You can now also get it later on from the same page.
US consulate is at Mumbai address:
C49, G Block Rd, G Block BKC, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra East, Mumbai, MH 400051
US Visa Biometrics Appointment - Fingerprinting & Photograph is at Mumbai address:
Trade Center, Gr. Floor, G Block,Bandrakurla Complex, Bandra East, Mumbai - 400051 Trade Center, Gr. Floor,G Block,Bandrakurla Complex
You should plan ahead for this appointment. You cannot have the appointments with the VAC and the consulate on the same day. A minimum one-day gap is required between the two appointments. You are asked to arrive 15 minutes early to the appointment; no earlier than that.
Hotels near to US consulate BKC
HOTEL | ADDRESS | CONTACT | DISTANCE | STAR | RATE | CD |
KF RESIDENCY | KURLA WEST, 156/9, Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg, Near Kurla Court, Kurla West, | 077109 58046 | 2 | 3.2 | 2400 | KURLA W |
Hotel Kamran Residency | Adjacent to Kalpana Cinema,, Lal Bahadur Shastri Rd, Kurla West, Mumbai | 022 2503 0757 | 2.9 | 3 | 2900 | KURLA W |
FabHotel Embassy Park BKC | Shashmira Building, Opp. Marcedes Showroom, CST Rd, Kalina, Santacruz East, | 070424 24242 | 2.4 | 3.5 | 3200 | SANTA E |
beacon t2 hotel | T2 Beacon Mumbai, Opp. Jarimari Temple, Andheri Kurla Road, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400072 | 099870 35567 | 5.7 | 4 | 3200 | SANTA E |
Treebo Olive Inn | Fortune Arcade, Near EQUINOX Business Park / Bus depot, CST No. 27-A, L.B.S. Marg Kurla west, | 9322 800 100 | 2.4 | 3.5 | 4200 | KURLA W |
Royce Executive Hotel, | E-26, Opp. Kismat Nagar, C S T Road, Rupa Nagar, Kurla West, Kurla, | 098670 13666 | 2.7 | 4 | 4200 | KURLA W |
LA Hotel Metro | LA Hotel Metro, Near BKC, Opp Kurla Garden, Kurla West, | 91-22-26500 473 / 26500 474 | 2.2 | 4 | 4425 | KURLA W |
Kohinoor Elite, | Kohinoor Elite, Kohinoor City, Kirol Road, Off. LBS Road, Kurla West, | 098111 57173 | 3.9 | 4 | 4800 | KURLA W |
OYO 8838 Bandra East | Flat No.11, 1st Floor, Jasmine Co-operative Hsg. Society, Madusudan Kelkar Marg, Bandra (E) | 070650 67405 | 3.9 | 4 | 3200 | BANDRA W |
Visa Interview experience in Mumbai Consulate - 2nd attempt
18th June (have mentioned reason(s) in parenthesis for why I purposely included certain points in my answers):
Me: Good morning ma’am!
VO: Hi, good morning!
VO: So tell me why USC?
ME: My interest lies in data mining and web/mobile application designing. USC has 5 dedicated laboratories for database and related field, and one dedicated lab for data mining and machine learning. Also, rank wise USC is the highest ranked university from all admits that I have received. (Though I have only 7/13 admits I mentioned this because all 7 admits are from: USC, NCSU, NEU, SUNY SB, NYU, UFL with scholarship and one worthless GMU. 6 universities from where I got rejects are ranked between 1 to 13. So I could have said though I didn’t stand chance, I wanted to try because MS is once in a lifetime opportunity)
VO: What after MS? (I went through many Vis and asked many people before finalizing on following answer, thanks to my couple of friends)
ME: I would like to be part of a research team in my field on interest as a research analyst. (At least at Mumbai Consulate don’t keep repeating ‘IN INDIA’, ‘BACK HERE IN INDIA’, and ‘WILL COME BACK TO INDIA’. Who on earth would believe that after spending $100,000k you plan to come back to India immediately! They will ask you where if they really need to know)
VO: Where? (As I said
)
ME: Ma’am, wherever my company asks me to. But I would PREFER INDIA. (Here I conveyed an important message: I haven’t pre-determined any country for my future job. It’s not me but my company that would take a call about it, but my preference is INDIA. If you say IN INDIA, they know/think you are being dishonest. You can’t even say US, so what to do? Well just let them know it’s not your choice! :P )
VO: Who is going to sponsor you? (I had prepared all questions related to finance quite well because that was the APPARENT reason why my visa of denied previously)
ME: my parents.
VO: What do they do?
ME: My dad by profession is a ZZZ and has his own firm HERE IN INDIA named YYY (interrupts, I think after saying firm in India she must be sure he’s not going to shift to USA)
VO: You need a $100k for your course, how are they going to sponsor? (Most awaited question, highly unexpected reaction)
ME: ma’am, my parents have total assets worth $xxx (I purposely started with grand total) out of which movable is (interrupts)
VO: How much did you say? 0_o
ME: ma’am, $xxx.
VO: Did you just say $xxx? 0_o
ME: yes ma’am, $xxx worth of total assets.
VO: Are you sure?
ME: Yes ma’am, would you like to see the summary?
VO: oh yes, I would like see your summary.
(Passed summary report that I had prepared for her quick review and didn’t get it attested or whatever the term is by a C.A. All assets in rupees and dollars @ 56)
VO: who has made this? The bank?
ME: no ma’am I have made this but i have all supporting documents.(immediately passed all originals. Saw the number of documents and returned it)
VO: oh, it’s ok. (Kept passport aside, I knew I was done here and was all set to run outside :P)
VO: your test score?
ME: 1350 in GRE…800 in quant and 550 in verbal (if you have scored good why not give detailed info :P). TOEFL 106.
VO: out of?
ME: (seriously? After approving VISA!) 120 ma’am. Would you like to see the score card?
VO: No. You visa has been approved. Enjoy your stay at US.
ME: Thank you ma’am. Thanks a lot (in my mind: I deserved it you ……)
Me: Good morning ma’am!
VO: Hi, good morning!
VO: So tell me why USC?
ME: My interest lies in data mining and web/mobile application designing. USC has 5 dedicated laboratories for database and related field, and one dedicated lab for data mining and machine learning. Also, rank wise USC is the highest ranked university from all admits that I have received. (Though I have only 7/13 admits I mentioned this because all 7 admits are from: USC, NCSU, NEU, SUNY SB, NYU, UFL with scholarship and one worthless GMU. 6 universities from where I got rejects are ranked between 1 to 13. So I could have said though I didn’t stand chance, I wanted to try because MS is once in a lifetime opportunity)
VO: What after MS? (I went through many Vis and asked many people before finalizing on following answer, thanks to my couple of friends)
ME: I would like to be part of a research team in my field on interest as a research analyst. (At least at Mumbai Consulate don’t keep repeating ‘IN INDIA’, ‘BACK HERE IN INDIA’, and ‘WILL COME BACK TO INDIA’. Who on earth would believe that after spending $100,000k you plan to come back to India immediately! They will ask you where if they really need to know)
VO: Where? (As I said
)ME: Ma’am, wherever my company asks me to. But I would PREFER INDIA. (Here I conveyed an important message: I haven’t pre-determined any country for my future job. It’s not me but my company that would take a call about it, but my preference is INDIA. If you say IN INDIA, they know/think you are being dishonest. You can’t even say US, so what to do? Well just let them know it’s not your choice! :P )
VO: Who is going to sponsor you? (I had prepared all questions related to finance quite well because that was the APPARENT reason why my visa of denied previously)
ME: my parents.
VO: What do they do?
ME: My dad by profession is a ZZZ and has his own firm HERE IN INDIA named YYY (interrupts, I think after saying firm in India she must be sure he’s not going to shift to USA)
VO: You need a $100k for your course, how are they going to sponsor? (Most awaited question, highly unexpected reaction)
ME: ma’am, my parents have total assets worth $xxx (I purposely started with grand total) out of which movable is (interrupts)
VO: How much did you say? 0_o
ME: ma’am, $xxx.
VO: Did you just say $xxx? 0_o
ME: yes ma’am, $xxx worth of total assets.
VO: Are you sure?
ME: Yes ma’am, would you like to see the summary?
VO: oh yes, I would like see your summary.
(Passed summary report that I had prepared for her quick review and didn’t get it attested or whatever the term is by a C.A. All assets in rupees and dollars @ 56)
VO: who has made this? The bank?
ME: no ma’am I have made this but i have all supporting documents.(immediately passed all originals. Saw the number of documents and returned it)
VO: oh, it’s ok. (Kept passport aside, I knew I was done here and was all set to run outside :P)
VO: your test score?
ME: 1350 in GRE…800 in quant and 550 in verbal (if you have scored good why not give detailed info :P). TOEFL 106.
VO: out of?
ME: (seriously? After approving VISA!) 120 ma’am. Would you like to see the score card?
VO: No. You visa has been approved. Enjoy your stay at US.
ME: Thank you ma’am. Thanks a lot (in my mind: I deserved it you ……)
Changes Done for 2nd Visa Attempt
1. No sub totals in summary report.
2. Tried speaking like normal people.
3. Tried to restrict my answer.
4. Believed in myself!
5. Kept answering questions in my mind whenever I had nothing to do.
6. Gave mock interviews to friends on phone.
2. Tried speaking like normal people.
3. Tried to restrict my answer.
4. Believed in myself!
5. Kept answering questions in my mind whenever I had nothing to do.
6. Gave mock interviews to friends on phone.
F1 Visa InterviewTips
Many people said ‘be confident’, but not many said how? Well, you can be confident only if you know s**t coming out. Don’t mind, but it’s true. We all go and talk s**t there, nothing we say is true. What matters is how well you know what you are talking. So list points for all possible questions. 3-5 points depending on question. If you know what you are talking, you would be confident, 95% if not 100%.
Have specific answer for why so and so university. But don't name any professor unless you have enough details about him/her. Just talk about your interest and courses. Ranking if its good.
When it comes to finances, always start with larger number. Example:
Dad’s income?-->Total family income is xyz out of which dad earns abc. If even total income is low, start with total assets worth pqr and total income xyz. Let them think you must have not understood the question properly, but you passed an important piece of information here, that you have good savings, or total income is more than sufficient. Why I’m suggesting this is that not everyone is asked further question, to explain savings or income and all. It might happen that they might simply reject you after listening to your father’s income which is low.
Any question regarding Savings?--> Total assets(movable + immovable) worth $xxx thousand. Say this in dollar. I bet your total would be more than above average American family’s assets. This is what happened in my case, that’s what got me visa. Continue…out of which movable is so and so. Stop here. Give specific details like balance in bank and all only if asked. In my case bank balance was few hundreds lesser than i20 amount. If asked I would have said: ma’am, in India gold and FDs have higher return values and my parents were thoughtful enough to invest all their savings in it which is worth $xxx. I hope you got my point here.
Have specific answer for why so and so university. But don't name any professor unless you have enough details about him/her. Just talk about your interest and courses. Ranking if its good.
When it comes to finances, always start with larger number. Example:
Dad’s income?-->Total family income is xyz out of which dad earns abc. If even total income is low, start with total assets worth pqr and total income xyz. Let them think you must have not understood the question properly, but you passed an important piece of information here, that you have good savings, or total income is more than sufficient. Why I’m suggesting this is that not everyone is asked further question, to explain savings or income and all. It might happen that they might simply reject you after listening to your father’s income which is low.
Any question regarding Savings?--> Total assets(movable + immovable) worth $xxx thousand. Say this in dollar. I bet your total would be more than above average American family’s assets. This is what happened in my case, that’s what got me visa. Continue…out of which movable is so and so. Stop here. Give specific details like balance in bank and all only if asked. In my case bank balance was few hundreds lesser than i20 amount. If asked I would have said: ma’am, in India gold and FDs have higher return values and my parents were thoughtful enough to invest all their savings in it which is worth $xxx. I hope you got my point here.
F1 Visa Interview in Mumbai Consulate
VISA APPROVED | MUMBAI CONSULATE (both attempts) | 1st attempt:6th June | 2nd attempt:18th June | USC | MS CS
DISCLAIMER: ANSWERS GIVEN HERE, FOR FIRST INTERVIEW, MAY NOT BE EXACTLY HOW I HAD ANSWERED. BUT RESEMBLES WHAT I HAD ANSWERED! Its a long post (4 pages pf MS Word) It has transcripts of 2 interviews,probable reasons for reject, why i included certain points in my answers, changes done for second interview, tips, it is for worst case scenario. not everyone is lucky so not prepare for the best!
hope it's useful. ignore typos, spelling and grammatical mistakes.
6th June:
Me: Good morning ma'am.
VO: Please pass me your passport.
(Passed passport with i20 in it)
VO: so tell me why US?
ME: ma'am, curriculum in US is practical oriented. Most of the patents in the field of engineering are filed in US, which shows the level of research that takes place there. While in Indian institutes there's not much research done. Also in worldwide rankings, Indian institutes are nowhere near American schools, so why settle for substandard school in India if I can get top university like USC.
VO: What was your GRE score?
ME:1350.(she was staring at me, seemed was expecting breakup, so told her 800 in Q and 550 in verbal. gave a strange look when i said 550 in verbal and repeated it, "ok, 550 in verbal")
VO: Why master in computer science?
ME: sorry ma'am, can you please repeat the question.
(she repeated the question)
ME: Ma'am I recently gave my computer engineering final exam and would like to continue in the same field. Apart from that I have a startup company here in which I have developed few applications, all related to the field of computer science, so I would like to gain in depth knowledge in this field so as to fulfill my dream of having my own company.(i think i went overboard here, shouldn't have given additional details)
VO: Tell me about your under graduate, what was your aggregate.
ME: I recently gave my final exam for Computer Engineering and my aggregate is 72.18%.
(She asked me something about GRE, i didn't get her so asked her to repeat. She didn't rep[eat question and asked for GRE score card, said I’ll see it by myself)
VO: Any backlogs?
ME: no.
VO: Parents annual income.
ME: Annual income is around XX lakh rupees.
VO: what do they do?
ME: (told)
VO: How much saving do they have in bank?
ME: $xx in bank, FD and cash (total more than i20 amount). And we also have other assets worth $xxx and properties worth $xxx.
VO: What assets exactly?
ME: Ma'am, nsc, kvp, shares, jewellery.
VO: But your i20 says $51k for one year so you will need $100k. This will wipe off all your savings.
ME: ma'am the savings is for one year, in fact more than what i will need for first year. But we have nsc, kvp, shares, jewellery worth $xxx which can be converted to liquid cash anytime we need. And we have properties which can again be liquidated. So ma'am, going to USC won’t affect my parents’ standard of living here.
VO: just give me your assets summary.
(Checks it properly. typed all details into her system)
VO: i think going here will wipe off all your savings (i tried telling her again that how it won't be a problem but she didn't let me speak) and then you might not come back. So i cant issue your visa right now.
DISCLAIMER: ANSWERS GIVEN HERE, FOR FIRST INTERVIEW, MAY NOT BE EXACTLY HOW I HAD ANSWERED. BUT RESEMBLES WHAT I HAD ANSWERED! Its a long post (4 pages pf MS Word) It has transcripts of 2 interviews,probable reasons for reject, why i included certain points in my answers, changes done for second interview, tips, it is for worst case scenario. not everyone is lucky so not prepare for the best!
hope it's useful. ignore typos, spelling and grammatical mistakes.6th June:
Me: Good morning ma'am.
VO: Please pass me your passport.
(Passed passport with i20 in it)
VO: so tell me why US?
ME: ma'am, curriculum in US is practical oriented. Most of the patents in the field of engineering are filed in US, which shows the level of research that takes place there. While in Indian institutes there's not much research done. Also in worldwide rankings, Indian institutes are nowhere near American schools, so why settle for substandard school in India if I can get top university like USC.
VO: What was your GRE score?
ME:1350.(she was staring at me, seemed was expecting breakup, so told her 800 in Q and 550 in verbal. gave a strange look when i said 550 in verbal and repeated it, "ok, 550 in verbal")
VO: Why master in computer science?
ME: sorry ma'am, can you please repeat the question.
(she repeated the question)
ME: Ma'am I recently gave my computer engineering final exam and would like to continue in the same field. Apart from that I have a startup company here in which I have developed few applications, all related to the field of computer science, so I would like to gain in depth knowledge in this field so as to fulfill my dream of having my own company.(i think i went overboard here, shouldn't have given additional details)
VO: Tell me about your under graduate, what was your aggregate.
ME: I recently gave my final exam for Computer Engineering and my aggregate is 72.18%.
(She asked me something about GRE, i didn't get her so asked her to repeat. She didn't rep[eat question and asked for GRE score card, said I’ll see it by myself)
VO: Any backlogs?
ME: no.
VO: Parents annual income.
ME: Annual income is around XX lakh rupees.
VO: what do they do?
ME: (told)
VO: How much saving do they have in bank?
ME: $xx in bank, FD and cash (total more than i20 amount). And we also have other assets worth $xxx and properties worth $xxx.
VO: What assets exactly?
ME: Ma'am, nsc, kvp, shares, jewellery.
VO: But your i20 says $51k for one year so you will need $100k. This will wipe off all your savings.
ME: ma'am the savings is for one year, in fact more than what i will need for first year. But we have nsc, kvp, shares, jewellery worth $xxx which can be converted to liquid cash anytime we need. And we have properties which can again be liquidated. So ma'am, going to USC won’t affect my parents’ standard of living here.
VO: just give me your assets summary.
(Checks it properly. typed all details into her system)
VO: i think going here will wipe off all your savings (i tried telling her again that how it won't be a problem but she didn't let me speak) and then you might not come back. So i cant issue your visa right now.
Reasons for Visa Rejection
Probable reasons for being rejected:
1. Though confident, not concise and precise.
2. Gave out unnecessary details.
3. Complicated my financial report by showing sub-totals of liquid, other investments and properties.
4. I talk very fast much have confused her further.
5. She was not in a mood because I know financially my parents can sponsor my education at USC without any additional burden, okay, without any significant additional burden.
1. Though confident, not concise and precise.
2. Gave out unnecessary details.
3. Complicated my financial report by showing sub-totals of liquid, other investments and properties.
4. I talk very fast much have confused her further.
5. She was not in a mood because I know financially my parents can sponsor my education at USC without any additional burden, okay, without any significant additional burden.
Consulate: Hyderabad
Time: 12.45pm
Counter No. 14
Final Destination: University of Virginia (UVa)
Vo was a lady in late 30's. She rejected four F1 visas before me.
Me: Good afternoon madam.
Vo: Good afternoon, (looking at my i20) Wow, you want to be a cavalier, huh? (Athletic teams at UVa are called Virginia Cavaliers )
Me: (Blankface) Hmm
Vo: So tell me why University of Virginia?
Me: Well, I have admits from ASU, NEU and University of Virginia. Out of these three University of Virginia was my first choice. Moreover, it's one among top two public universities in USA. And it has a separate course for systems engineering which I'm interested in whereas in the other two it is basically Industrial engineering. (She kept on typing while I was speaking) And I heard it has a pretty good climate.
Vo: you heard what?
Me: I heard it has a pretty good climate.
Vo: Yeah, it does. Charlottesville is a very beautiful city.
Me: (While she was typing) And other reason I chose this university over NEU boston is the climate there is pretty cold and I'm not used to it at all.
Vo: (nodding while typing) what's your GRE score?
Me: 309
Vo: (typing) So how are you going to fund your education?
Me: I have a loan of 20lakhs from SBH and my father is sponsoring mee too. He has a savings of xx lakhs.
Vo: How did he save that kind of money?
Me: He is DGM at Dangote Cements and he earns xx lakhs per annum and when I told him about my plans he started saving from then.
Vo: how much did you say he earns? And how much was the loan? (She was entering the data into the computer)
Me: *told*
Vo: What was his designation again? Where does he work? (typing)
Me: *told* (I even had to spell the company name for her)
Vo: So, have you been to US before?
Me: No ma'am this will be my first time.
Vo: Have you been to anywhere outside India?
Me: Yes, I have been to my father's place twice. Last time was just a few months back. I thought I would spend some time before I fly to US.
Vo: Okkaay! I'm excited for you. You are going to Virginia. Congratulations.
Me: *awestruck* Thank you ma'am.
Be clear, loud and confident. It works.
Time: 12.45pm
Counter No. 14
Final Destination: University of Virginia (UVa)
Vo was a lady in late 30's. She rejected four F1 visas before me.
Me: Good afternoon madam.
Vo: Good afternoon, (looking at my i20) Wow, you want to be a cavalier, huh? (Athletic teams at UVa are called Virginia Cavaliers )
Me: (Blankface) Hmm
Vo: So tell me why University of Virginia?
Me: Well, I have admits from ASU, NEU and University of Virginia. Out of these three University of Virginia was my first choice. Moreover, it's one among top two public universities in USA. And it has a separate course for systems engineering which I'm interested in whereas in the other two it is basically Industrial engineering. (She kept on typing while I was speaking) And I heard it has a pretty good climate.
Vo: you heard what?
Me: I heard it has a pretty good climate.
Vo: Yeah, it does. Charlottesville is a very beautiful city.
Me: (While she was typing) And other reason I chose this university over NEU boston is the climate there is pretty cold and I'm not used to it at all.
Vo: (nodding while typing) what's your GRE score?
Me: 309
Vo: (typing) So how are you going to fund your education?
Me: I have a loan of 20lakhs from SBH and my father is sponsoring mee too. He has a savings of xx lakhs.
Vo: How did he save that kind of money?
Me: He is DGM at Dangote Cements and he earns xx lakhs per annum and when I told him about my plans he started saving from then.
Vo: how much did you say he earns? And how much was the loan? (She was entering the data into the computer)
Me: *told*
Vo: What was his designation again? Where does he work? (typing)
Me: *told* (I even had to spell the company name for her)
Vo: So, have you been to US before?
Me: No ma'am this will be my first time.
Vo: Have you been to anywhere outside India?
Me: Yes, I have been to my father's place twice. Last time was just a few months back. I thought I would spend some time before I fly to US.
Vo: Okkaay! I'm excited for you. You are going to Virginia. Congratulations.
Me: *awestruck* Thank you ma'am.
Be clear, loud and confident. It works.
how to know if visa is approved ??
After your visa interview, you will be told if your visa application is approved, denied, or requires administrative processing. If your visa is approved, you can collect the visa and passport the following business day from 3:00 to 3:30 p.m. only. If the application requires administrative processing, you will be asked to check the status of your visa from our website. If your VISA application has been denied, the passport will be returned to you after the visa interview itself.
Check the Status of Your Visa
You can check the status of your application any time at this website: https://ceac.state.gov/ceac/ Please wait at least three business days following your visa interview to check on the status of your application. Application barcodes appearing on this website means the application is complete and we are ready to receive the passport to process the visa. Passport drop off times are only from Sunday through Thursday from 8:00 to 10:00 am. Application barcodes not appearing on this website means the application is not finished and still requires time to complete.
This website is updated every business day when we receive information.
Required Documents for Passport Retrieval
USA Visa Passport Collection Center in Pune
Address : Marvel Edge, 4th Floor, Clover Park, Viman Nagar, Pune, Maharashtra 411014
Supporting Documents
To collect your passport you must present your original (not a photocopy) government-issued photo ID. We recommend you also bring a printed copy of your appointment letter.
If a representative is collecting your passport from the document collection office on your behalf - even in case of family members - the representative must present:
Their own original government-issued photo ID for identification
A photocopy of your government-issued photo ID
A letter of authority, signed by you, authorizing your representative to collect your passport. The letter of authority must contain the following information:
Your representative's full name as shown on their government-issued photo ID
Your name
If the applicant is under the age of 16, the following documents are required:
An original, signed letter of authority from either of the applicant's parents
A clear photocopy of the government-issued photo ID belonging to the parent who signed the applicant's letter of authority
The representative's original government-issued photo ID
Note: In case of a group/family, a single letter of authority with the required information for each of the applicants will be accepted.
What documents are required for passport collection?
Pick-up Information
Documents required | Applicant collecting own passport |
A photocopy of applicant's Indian government-issued photo ID | |
A copy of your appointment letter preferred | ✔ |
Representative's original Indian government-issued photo ID and 1 photocopy | |
Original authorization letter |
Monday to Friday – 10:00 a.m. to 04:00 p.m. and Sunday 01:00 p.m. to 05:00 p.m.
Pick-up Information
Stanley and Blue Dart provide facilities where your passport is held for pick-up. You will see a list of our passport/visa collection locations when you schedule your interview and can choose the most convenient location from that list.
To collect passport/visa from Stanley/Blue Dart collection locations you will have to carry following Supporting Documents (as applicable) Please present your ORIGINAL valid Indian government-issued photo ID to the security personnel at the entrance and then proceed with the following documents.
Documents required | Applicant collecting own passport | Representative collecting passport - even in case of family members | Applicant under the age of 18 if passport is collect by representative / family member | Applicant / representative collecting for Group/family |
Applicant's original Indian government-issued photo ID | ✔ | |||
A photocopy of applicant's Indian government-issued photo ID | ✔ | ✔ -Birth Cert. or School ID card is acceptable | ✔ | |
A copy of your appointment letter preferred | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Representative's original Indian government-issued photo ID and 1 photocopy | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
Original authorization letter | ✔Single letter for whole family signed by all applicants | ✔ - signed by parents | ✔ - Single letter for whole group signed by all applicants | |
A clear photocopy of the Indian government-issued photo ID belonging to the parent who signed the applicant's letter of authority | ✔ |
Pune | Mon-Fri 10:00a.m.-4:00p.m. | F Core, Marvel Edge, 4th Floor, Viman Nagar, Pune, Maharashtra – 411014 India |
At the end of your immigrant visa interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate, the consular officer will inform you whether your visa application is approved or denied.
Visa approval - When approved, you will be informed how and when your passport and visa will be returned to you.
Visa denial - If denied, you will be informed why you are ineligible to receive a visa. Review About Visa Denials below and the Denials webpage for more detailed information.
Visa Approval - When you receive your visa
Passport with Visa – Your immigrant visa will be placed on a page in your passport. Please review the printed information right away to make sure there are no errors. If there are any spelling errors, contact the embassy or consulate promptly.
Sealed Immigrant Packet - You will also receive a sealed packet containing documents that you must present to U.S. Customs and Border Protection at a port-of-entry (often an airport) upon your arrival in the United States. You must not open the sealed packet.
When You Should Travel - You must arrive and apply for admission in the United States no later than the visa expiration date printed on your visa. An immigrant visa is usually valid for up to six months from the date of issuance unless your medical examination expires sooner, which may make your visa valid for less than six months.
USCIS Immigrant Fee - You must pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) after you receive your immigrant visa and before you travel to the United States. Only children who enter the United States under the Orphan or Hague adoption programs, Iraqi and Afghan special immigrants, returning residents (SB-1s), and those issued K visas are exempt from this fee. Select USCIS Immigrant Fee on the USCIS website for more information. Important Notice: USCIS will not issue a Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551 or Green Card) until you have paid the fee.
Vaccination Records - Children are required to have certain vaccinations before they can enroll in school in the United States. Therefore, it is recommended that your child have complete vaccination records before immigrating. Learn about vaccination requirements by state on the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website under State Vaccination Requirements.
Entering the United States
When traveling to the United States, the primary (or principal) applicant must enter before or at the same time as family members with visas. With your immigrant visa (before it expires), and sealed packet, you will travel to a U.S. port-of-entry (often an airport) and request permission to enter the United States. A visa does not guarantee entry into the United States. The Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials have authority to grant or deny admission. Learn about admission and entry requirements on the CBP website under Travel. When you are admitted, you will enter as a Lawful Permanent Resident, also called a green card holder, and will be permitted to work and live permanently in the United States.
When You are a Permanent Resident - Coming to the United States to live permanently, you will want to learn more about your status as a Lawful Permanent Resident. See Welcome to the United States: A Guide for New Immigrants to review information on the USCIS website about living in the United States.
Social Security Number – To learn about the U.S. Social Security Administration benefits available to Legal Permanent Residents, and how to apply for a social security number card, visit the Social Security Administration website.
About Visa Denials
In some situations the consular officer does not have sufficient information needed to process your application to conclusion, or you may be missing some supporting documentation. The consular officer will inform you if information or documents are missing and how to provide it.
Some applications may require additional administrative processing after the interview before the application can be processed to conclusion. The consular officer will inform you if additional administrative processing is necessary.
Based on U.S. law, not everyone who applies is qualified or eligible for a visa to come to the United States. Under U.S. law, many factors could make an applicant ineligible to receive a visa. See Ineligibilities for U.S. Visas. In some instances, the law might allow you to apply for a waiver or the ineligibility. If you are able to apply for such a waiver, the consular will advise you on the steps to take.
The Departure Check list
After obtaining your VISA stamped on your passport, you are ready to leave for US. The following points are supposed to be taken care of :
1. Accommodation at or near to the University : Arranging accommodation on campus itself or outside the campus is one of the important point, as it may disturb throughout your periodicity of MS study. On selecting a campus accommodation, you may save time and money for transportation etc., On selecting outside campus accommodation, you may get accommodation in group of Indian students and it saves your living cost as well. If you have an idea about what you prefer, the accommodation office at your university will be able to tell you what accommodation they have available - so that’s the place to start. If you are thinking of renting from a private landlord or if your chosen university can’t offer you anything in its own residential facility, the accommodation office should be able to provide you with a list of private properties and landlords in the area.
2. Wherever you choose to live, you should make sure that you know your contractual rights and responsibilities. In most cases, you will be asked to enter into a tenancy agreement, which you should read thoroughly before you sign.
3. Applying for a foreign health insurance / travel insurance for the USA
For stays in the USA, foreign health insurance / travel insurance should be taken into account. In the USA, health services are comparatively expensive and there is no basic health care (especially not for foreign travellers) as we know them from some other countries. Many hospitals and doctors will only treat you if you can prove a certain creditworthiness or financial capacity. It is up to the health care institutions to reject any person who cannot afford to pay for a treatment. At the same time, expensive fees and treatment costs quickly lead to a cost explosion and your planned travel budget will be blown away in the event of illness and the necessary treatment. So keep in mind to put that health insurance on to your USA Travel Checklist.
Some providers of foreign health insurance have specialised in the distribution of travel insurance for the USA. Compare suppliers and prices and make sure you have adequate health insurance before entering the United States. It is certain that nobody knows when an illness will occur, we strongly advise against speculating on a good state of health during the trip
4. Flight bookings :
Here are some of my favorite airlines:
EMIRATES:
UNITED AIRLINES:
DELTA AIRLINES:
QATAR AIRWAYS:
ETIHAD AIRWAYS:
Food:
You get both Veg and Non Veg cuisines. Meal in Emirates are comparatively better than other airlines. Food / Snacks are served without any limit, but we should control as per our desire.
Landing and Escalation time:
Landing at the Airport should be preferably nearest to the University. Escalation time at the Airport should NOT be exceeding three hours
Fare:
Air flight Tickets are quite nominal if booked earlier. Last minute it is subjected to increase as any other airlines. Comfort zone should be preferred rather than lowest one in fare charging.
It is rarest when it is cheaper airline tickets through a travel agent than an online travel portal. An online travel website has more suppliers to provide you the cheapest. Generally it is not: rather, the agent may add on extra charges that you could have avoided by booking directly with the airline.
It is rarest when it is cheaper airline tickets through a travel agent than an online travel portal. An online travel website has more suppliers to provide you the cheapest. Generally it is not: rather, the agent may add on extra charges that you could have avoided by booking directly with the airline.
Luggage Allowances:
Student should preferably book the ticket in group, so that they can help each other. Generally, the amount of carry-on baggage you may bring depends on which class you are flying.
First Class and Business Class customers are permitted two pieces of carry-on baggage: one briefcase plus either one handbag or one garment bag. The briefcase may not exceed 18 xby 14 xby 8 inches (45 xby 35 xby 20 cmcentimeter); the handbag may not exceed 22 xby 15 xby 8 inches (55 xby 38 xby 20 cmcentimeter); the garment bag can be no more than 8 inches (20 cmcentimeter) thick when folded. The weight of each piece must not exceed 7 kgkilograms (15 lbspounds).
Economy Class customers are permitted one (1) piece of carry-on baggage that should not exceed 22 xby 15 xby 8 inches (55 xby 38 xby 20 cmcentimeter) and must weigh no more than 7 kgkilograms(15 lbpound).
Note: Customers boarding in India are allowed one piece of carry-on baggage. The carry-on bag may not exceed 115 cmcentimeters or 45.3 inches in total dimensions (length + width + height).
Note: For all flights departing from Brazil, customers can carry up to 10 kgkilograms of cabin baggage.
Restricted items and dangerous goods
Due to international regulations, and to ensure the safety of our customers, there are a number of restrictions on items that can be carried in your carry-on baggage.
Items that may cause injury or represent a security or safety threat can only be carried as checked baggage and are not allowed in carry-on baggage. These items should be appropriately packed for carriage as checked baggage, in accordance with IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations and relevant Emirates regulations. Medicines should be in container, along with Doctor’s prescription and should be carried in check in baggage.
These items may include but are not limited to:
· Real or toy weapons
· Arms and ammunition
· Explosives or anything containing explosives (for example, fireworks or firecrackers)
· Knives of any kind, type, shape, or size
· Letter openers
· Metal cutlery
· Slingshots
· Razor blades and straight razor blades
· Tradesmen's tools
· Darts
· Scissors
· Nail files
· Hypodermic needles and syringes (unless required for medical reasons and accompanied by a medical certificate confirming the medical condition necessitating carriage)
· Knitting needles
· Corkscrews
· Laser pointers
5. Pick up arrangement from Air port.
6. Carrying money with you on your trip to the US :
The price level in the United States varies widely. While there are comparatively cheap states in which you can get very far even with little money, most of the states with a high demand for tourism are quite expensive. A particularly important point to consider is the supply of food. While restaurants and takeaways in most countries are more expensive than preparing your own food, the situation in the USA is usually reversed. Comparatively cheap food is only available in fast food takeaways and other restaurants. If you want to cook yourself, you should plan for a higher budget. However, as already mentioned, this applies only to certain states and not to all of them however, think about increasing the budget on your USA Travel Checklist.
7. Credit card / Cell Phone:
Credit Card:
One of the easiest ways to build credit as a new international student inside the US is with a credit card. Using a credit card responsibly is a simple way to build and maintain a good credit score. Credit cards are now used as widely as (if not more than) cash in the US, making it almost obligatory to own one. Not having a credit card can make it difficult, if not impossible to do certain things like buy things online and rent a car.
The best way to build credit with a credit card is to use it for your daily purchases and pay off your charges each month or week. This will allow you to have regular use of the card, and steady payments- both of which lenders like to see. To ensure you never miss a payment (and harm your credit score), create an automatic payment for the minimum due each month. You can then manually pay the difference of what you’ve spent on the card.
Although having a credit card during your studies in the US is important, it can be difficult to find a company that will allow you to open a credit card as a new international student- especially if you don’t have a social security number or credit history. However, it is possible to find companies, like Deserve, that will allow you to open a credit card as an international student. Citifin & HDFC are the choices out of ..
SIM card :
Your only two choices are AT&T and T-mobile for SIM Card to be purchased at America.
AT&T prepaid SIMs can be bought at Major chain stores,drug stores, Supermarkets, convenience stores, electronic stores etc. T-Mobile prepaid SIMs can be found in the same shops as well. Both carrier SIMs are easy to activate by simply follow the instructions included in the SIM kit.
You can pick one up five paces from an airplane terminal. Literally. The thing to look out for is if you do not come the North American Continent, you will need either a T-Mobile or AT&T for your GSM phone. If you have a phone for CDMA and GSM, you can look into more carriers, like Sprint and Verizon.
8. Vaccination Card :
United States immigration law requires immigrant visa applicants to obtain certain vaccinations (listed below) prior to the issuance of an immigrant visa. Panel physicians who conduct medical examinations of immigrant visa applicants are required to verify that immigrant visa applicants have met the vaccination requirements, or that it is medically inappropriate for the visa applicant to receive one or more of the listed vaccinations:
a) Hepatitis A
b) Hepatitis B
c) Influenza
d) Influenza type b (Hib)
e) Measles
f) Meningococcal
g) Mumps
h) Pneumococcal
i) Pertussis
j) Polio
k) Rotavirus
l) Rubella
m) Tetanus and diphtheria toxoids
n) Varicella
In order to assist the panel physican, and to avoid delays in the processing of an immigrant visa, all immigrant visa applicants should have their vaccination records available for the panel physician's review at the time of the immigrant medical examination. Visa applicants should consult with their regular health care provider to obtain a copy of their immunization record, if one is available. If you do not have a vaccination record, the panel physician will work with you to determine which vaccinations you may need to meet the requirement. Certain waivers of the vaccination requirement are available upon the recommendation of the panel physician.
9. Financial arrangement with Bank Loan etc.,
The cost of living depends heavily on what part of US will you be living in along with how much you will socialize. Some of the basic elements for living as an international student in the US are:
· Accommodation rent ( on campus or off campus )
· Groceries and food
· Utilities like electricity, water, gas, internet
· Phone bills
· Text and reference books
· Airfare for traveling back to India.
Other elements which may differ from person to person would be:
· Dining out
· Travel and Vacation
· Car rent and Car insurance
· Cable TV connection
10. Piano folder with all Documents
a) Valid F-1 Visa
b) Valid passport
c) Endorsed and original Form I-20 – this is the form issued to you by your designated school official when you are accepted into a Student and Exchange Visitor Program-certified institution.
d) Proof of financial support to pay living expenses and tuition fees, such as bank statements, salary slips, and other documents
e) Contact information for the designated school official at the SEVP-certified school they attend.
11. Check list of Travel items.
1. Letter of acceptance
2. Letter of enrolment
3. Student ID card
4. Flight tickets
5. Hard and soft copies of pay slips and fee receipts
6. Attested copies of academic certificates
7. A rental agreement (if you’ve already found a place) or other documents indicating where you will be staying
8. Bank statements, salary slips, and other documents that prove you have the funds to sustain yourself during the course of your program
9. Scholarship certificate (if you’ve earned a scholarship)
10. Copies of medical reports and history
11. Certificates confirming you’ve received all the necessary vaccinations
12. Blood group ID (not compulsory, but recommended)
13. Health insurance papers
14. Passport (with copies)
15. Visa (with copies)
16. Residence permit (with copies)
17. Medical fitness certificate
18. Travel insurance
19. Driver’s license and other identification documents
20. FINANCE:
a) International credit card
b) Traveller’s cheque
c) Local currency
Check in travel bag (23kg X 3) and Cabin bag (7 kg)
Travel Luggage bag-1
SL | ITEM | QUANTITY |
1 | Innerwear -Boxer | 16 |
2 | Borosil - bowls | 2 |
3 | Tea Strainer | 1 |
4 | Body spray-Foog | 1 |
5 | Umbrella | 1 |
6 | Containers- plastic | 4 |
7 | Flower printed pounch : | |
peeler | 1 | |
Torch | 1 | |
Nail cutter | 2 | |
shoes polish | 1 | |
shoe brush | 1 | |
Cooker rings | 2 | |
Cooker Walves | 2 | |
Elect.Adapter | 2 | |
Rubber band | 2 | |
Scisors | 2 | |
Knief | 1 | |
Combs | 2 | |
Satasat Gellets | 8 | |
8 | Slippers | 1 |
9 | Tea mugs | 2 |
10 | Bowls | 4 |
11 | Hangers | 6 |
12 | Bed Sheets | 2 |
13 | Pillow covers | 2 |
14 | Dohar | 1 |
15 | Chopper (Anjali Make) | 1 |
16 | Tawa | 1 |
17 | Shorts | 7 |
18 | Shoes | 3 |
19 | Air pillows | 1 |
20 | Idli maker-Microwave | 1 |
21 | Elect.Extension board | 1 |
22 | Registers | 2 |
23 | Socks | 9 |
24 | Pepper bottle | 1 |
25 | Scratch bite | 4 |
26 | Sponge | 2 |
25 | Tooth brush | 6 |
26 | Shaving foam | 1 |
27 | After Shave | 1 |
28 | Sunscreen | 1 |
27 | Nivea body | 1 |
28 | Close up paste | 2 |
29 | Sonodyne | 1 |
30 | Soap Wildstore | 3 |
Travel Luggage bag-2
SL | ITEM | QUANTITY |
1 | Innerwear -Boxer | 16 |
2 | Borosil - bowls | 2 |
3 | Tea Strainer | 1 |
4 | Body spray-Foog | 1 |
5 | Umbrella | 1 |
6 | Containers- plastic | 4 |
7 | Flower printed pounch : | |
peeler | 1 | |
Torch | 1 | |
Nail cutter | 2 | |
shoes polish | 1 | |
shoe brush | 1 | |
Cooker rings | 2 | |
Cooker Walves | 2 | |
Elect.Adapter | 2 | |
Rubber band | 2 | |
Scisors | 2 | |
Knief | 1 | |
Combs | 2 | |
Satasat Gellets | 8 | |
8 | Slippers | 1 |
9 | Tea mugs | 2 |
10 | Bowls | 4 |
11 | Hangers | 6 |
12 | Bed Sheets | 2 |
13 | Pillow covers | 2 |
14 | Dohar | 1 |
15 | Chopper (Anjali Make) | 1 |
16 | Tawa | 1 |
17 | Shorts | 7 |
18 | Shoes | 3 |
19 | Air pillows | 1 |
20 | Idli maker-Microwave | 1 |
21 | Elect.Extension board | 1 |
22 | Registers | 2 |
23 | Socks | 9 |
24 | Pepper bottle | 1 |
25 | Scratch bite | 4 |
26 | Sponge | 2 |
25 | Tooth brush | 6 |
26 | Shaving foam | 1 |
27 | After Shave | 1 |
28 | Sunscreen | 1 |
27 | Nivea body | 1 |
28 | Close up paste | 2 |
29 | Sonodyne | 1 |
30 | Soap Wildstore | 3 |
TRAVEL BAG-SMALL PURPLE COLOR (BRITISH AIRWAYS BKG.ID AMD6CDE9 (CABIN BAG) | ||
SL | ITEM | QUANTITY |
1 | Big Towels | 3 |
2 | Hand Towels | 2 |
3 | Jeans pant | 1 |
4 | Tea Shirts | 2 |
5 | Slippers | 1 |
6 | Stationery Pauch: | |
Ball pens | 1 | |
Pencil Box | 1 | |
Scientific Calculator | 1 | |
Highlighters | 2 | |
Marker pens | 2 | |
Erasers | 4 | |
Pencil sharpner | 4 | |
Glue stick | 1 | |
Stapler | 1 | |
Pin Box | 1 | |
Rulers | 4 | |
Travel luggage bags available in Indian Markets are as follows:
7 |
GRE Test Pattern and Scoring System
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is a standardized test required for admission to many graduate programs in the United States and other countries. It evaluates analytical writing, verbal reasoning, and quantitative reasoning skills.
GRE General Test Pattern
The GRE General Test consists of three sections:
| Section | Number of Questions | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Analytical Writing | 1 Task (Issue & Argument) | 30 Minutes |
| Verbal Reasoning | 27 Questions | 41 Minutes |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 27 Questions | 47 Minutes |
1. Analytical Writing (Score: 0–6 in 0.5 increments)
- One task: Analyze an Issue (30 minutes)
- Assesses your critical thinking and writing skills
- You must provide a clear, logical argument in response to a given prompt
2. Verbal Reasoning (Score: 130–170 in 1-point increments)
- Includes Reading Comprehension, Text Completion, and Sentence Equivalence
- Tests your vocabulary, understanding of passages, and ability to draw conclusions
- New Adaptive Pattern: Questions are adaptive based on your performance
3. Quantitative Reasoning (Score: 130–170 in 1-point increments)
- Covers Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, and Data Analysis
- Tests your problem-solving and mathematical reasoning
- Basic calculator is provided on-screen
Total GRE Score Range
- Verbal Reasoning: 130–170
- Quantitative Reasoning: 130–170
- Analytical Writing: 0–6
- Total GRE Score: 260–340
Top Scores:
- 320+ → Excellent (Top Universities)
- 310–320 → Competitive (Good Universities)
- 300–310 → Moderate (Average Universities)
- Below 300 → Needs Improvement
Other GRE Test Types
- GRE Subject Test (Optional) – For specialized fields like Math, Physics, Psychology, etc.
- Required by specific graduate programs
GRE Test Mode
- Computer-based GRE: Most common (adaptive pattern)
- Paper-based GRE: Available in some locations
Conclusion
The GRE tests your reasoning and analytical skills rather than subject-specific knowledge. A higher GRE score improves your chances of admission to top universities and scholarships.
Would you like help with GRE preparation tips or study materials? 😊
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