Information on Safe Migration
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assisting in the realization of civil and social rights
Studying in the USA. How to get a higher education
Ways to obtain education in the USA
Most American children start going to school at the age of 5-6. At this age, kids study in what is called Kindergarten, which is most often translated into Russian as "kindergarten".
Having started studying in "kindergarten" at the age of 5, a child will graduate from school by the age of 17. Thus, each year the student moves to a new grade. The 12-year school education is organized using the "6-3-3" plan:
1-6th grade – elementary school (Elementary School);
7-9th grade – middle school (Middle School);
10-12th grade – high school (High School).
7-9th grade – middle school (Middle School);
10-12th grade – high school (High School).
The academic year usually lasts from early September or late August to May or June and is divided into two semesters
Classes and grades
A letter grading system is used to evaluate students' knowledge, ranging from A (the highest score, 5) to F (the lowest score, 0). Also, in some schools, you can find a 100-point system, but much less frequently.
It is noteworthy that any child can study in an American school, regardless of their immigration status. When applying to a school, you will not be asked about the presence or absence of a visa, Green Card, or citizenship. All you need is a rental agreement in the area served by a particular school.
After graduating from high school and successfully passing the SAT (or ACT) exam, the applicant has the right to apply to a university.
If you decide to get a higher education in the USA, then the sequence of your steps should be as follows:
Determine which program you need based on your age and level of existing education, and where you would like to study in the USA.
Associates Degree is a professional education. You can get this degree in two years. Having received it, a person is free to start professional activity, or continue their studies (+ another two years) to the Bachelor's degree.
Bachelor's degree is no longer a professional, but an academic degree. The duration of the studies is four years. Graduates of American schools can go to study directly to a bachelor's program, or, as mentioned above, first get an Associates Degree.
Master's degree is a postgraduate academic degree. The duration of the studies is 1.5-2 years. (Associates Degree, Bachelor's degree, or Master's degree)
Choose an educational institution based on the specialty you would like to get education in.
You can find a list of universities in the USA at the following link: https://www.educationindex.ru/universities-by-country/americas/united-states/
General list of documents for applying to an American university, please check the exact list of documents with the university:
- An application for admission prepared by prospective international students.
- A motivation letter outlining your goals, desires, and reasons for choosing this particular educational institution. This is a very important letter, and its preparation should be taken as seriously as exams.
- Receipts for payment of fees. If the applicant is currently studying at a university at the time of submitting the application, certified copies of all grades for the last year of study must be provided.
- Certificate that you have passed the TOEFL language test.
- Certified copies of all existing education documents.
- Letters of recommendation. These can be provided by teachers, and it is better to have several letters from teachers of different subjects.
You can also find information on the website of the US Embassy in Belarus:
https://by.usembassy.gov/be/visas-be/nonimmigrant-visas-study-exchange-be/
https://by.usembassy.gov/be/visas-be/nonimmigrant-visas-study-exchange-be/
Important information
US immigration law prohibits the issuance of an F-1 visa for the purpose of studying at a public elementary and secondary school (up to and including the 8th grade). Any foreigner wishing to attend grades 9-12 of a public high school on an F-1 visa must provide proof that the local education authority, in whose jurisdiction the school is located, has received compensation for their tuition in the amount of the subsidy allocated by the state for the education of one student in that area. In addition, the total time of study at an American public school should not exceed 12 months. These requirements do not apply to other visa categories: J-1 exchange program participants or school-age children whose parents are in the USA on other types of non-immigrant visas (A, E, H, I, L, etc.).
The F-1 visa cannot be issued for participation in an adult education program funded from the state budget.
Level of education
Applicants for a student visa must have the appropriate education, i.e., successfully complete the course of study required for admission to the given educational institution. A student, except in cases where the purpose of their trip is to study English, must either have a sufficient command of English to study in the proposed program, or the educational institution must provide the student with the opportunity to study English or be taught in the student's native language.
Financing
Applicants for a student visa must also provide documented proof that they have or will have sufficient funds from a specific reliable source to cover the costs associated with tuition and living expenses for the entire period of stay in the United States. Applicants for an M-1 visa must provide evidence that they have sufficient funds to fully pay for tuition and living expenses for the entire period of planned stay in the United States.
Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status
An alien planning to go to the United States for the purpose of study must be admitted to a full course of study at an educational institution recognized by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The educational institution must send the future student Form I-20A-B "Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status for Academic and Language Students". Vocational or non-academic educational institutions must send Form I-20M-N "Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (M-1) Student Status For Vocational Students". Educational institutions receive Forms I-20A-B and I-20M-N from the Department of Homeland Security.
Application Procedure
Those wishing to study in the United States may apply at any American consulate. However, outside their country of permanent residence, it may be more difficult for them to prove that they have a permanent place of residence outside the United States that they do not intend to leave, which is a prerequisite for obtaining a student visa. For this reason, they should apply at the American embassy or consulate in their place of permanent residence.
Required Documents
Each applicant must provide:
- $160 in cash without change (payment for the visa application, which is not refundable in case of issuance or refusal of the visa);
- passport (for citizens of the Republic of Belarus: valid for 6 months from the date of предполагаемого return from the USA);
- confirmation page with a barcode about filling out the DS-160 visa application form;
- applicants for an "F" visa – form I-20A-B. For an "M" visa – form I-20M-N (see above);
- if you yourself could not upload a photo via the Internet while filling out the visa application form (see requirements for digital photos), bring with you a color photo 5 x 5 cm in size, front view, head – 50% of the total area of the photo (see photo requirements);
- information about financial resources (see above);
- confirmation of payment for registration services in the SEVIS system.
More detailed information can be found at http://www.ice.gov/sevis/i901/index.htm
Applicants for a student visa must prove to the satisfaction of the consular officer that they have a permanent place of residence outside the United States that they do not intend to leave.
Applicants for a visa provide evidence of the existence of such a place of residence by demonstrating the presence of economic, social, family and other ties outside the United States that would force them to leave the United States upon completion of their studies. Documents indicating the presence of such ties (property, work, social and family ties) may help you when applying for a visa.
Port of arrival in the USA
Applicants for visas should be aware that a visa does not guarantee entry into the United States. DHS has the right to refuse entry. In addition, the period during which the holder of a student visa can stay in the United States is also determined by DHS, not the consular officer. The period of stay in the United States is determined by a DHS officer at the port of arrival and is entered on Form I-94 (Record of Arrival-Departure) – the arrival-departure record form. More complete information can be found at http://cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/i-94_instructions/
Employment
Individuals in the United States in F-1 status are not allowed to work outside the educational institution during the first year of study. To work outside the educational institution in subsequent years, you must obtain special permission from DHS. Students may work within the educational institution without DHS permission.
A student on an M-1 visa in the USA is not allowed to take up employment except for temporary job placement for the purpose of work experience.
Visas for family members of student visa holders
Useful information about the USA:
Calls and written inquiries are temporarily not accepted.
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