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NON-IMMIGRANT VISAS

Student Visas

The U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi accepts applications from individuals intending to travel to the United States for educational purposes or exchange programs, who are Emirati and/or resident in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, and who already possess an I-20 or DS-2019 on a walk-in basis, without an appointment at 8 a.m. on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday – excluding U.S. and Emirati holidays.


The process of applying for an F-1 student visa begins with acceptance to an American college or university.  Following admission, the educational institution in the United States will issue a Certificate of Eligibility for Non-Immigrant Student Status (I-20 form) and provide that to the student.


Sponsoring academic institutions are required to enter accepted foreign students’ names into SEVIS, the Student and Exchange Visitors Information System.  Students should verify with their sponsoring academic institutions that they are entered into SEVIS before they apply for a visa.  Upon receiving the I-20 form, students are required to pay a SEVIS fee online at http://www.fmjfee.com and bring a printed copy of this receipt to the visa interview.

Dependents of students studying in the United States may qualify for F2 or M2 visas.  These include the principal applicant’s spouse and all children under the age of 21.  Siblings and parents are not considered dependents, even if they plan to accompany an unmarried female student.  They would need to apply for a B1/B2 visa unless they plan to apply for their own student visa.

Each applicant between the ages of 14 and 80 years of age must schedule an appointment for an interview.  At the time of the interview, applicants must bring all of the following to the Embassy:

  • A passport that is valid for at least six months and has at least one blank visa page.
  • Photocopy of the bio-data page of their valid passport.
  • All previous passports (if available.)
  • Pink and blue fee receipt copies from any National Bank of Abu Dhabi branch for each applicant. (AED 484.70 per application. Please note that this payment is non-refundable.)
  • Fully completed and signed application forms.
  • One photograph.
  • Original I-20 Form from the school.
  • Photocopy of I-20.
  • Proof of payment of SEVIS fee.
  • Proof of financial ability. (Either bank statements or proof of a scholarship)
  • Transcripts for all educational institutions attended since beginning high school. 

 

Emirati recipients of most U.S. student visas are also required to pay a reciprocity fee once the visa is approved.  This fee is based on what the UAE government charges Americans who receive similar visas to study in the UAE.