Study Overseas

Q: I am considering Studying In America but am not sure if I can afford or want to study for four years in another country. Are there any other options available to me?

Ephrem Mamom, Ethiopia

A: Why not consider an Associate degree at a Technical or Community College which you can gain in just two years! Two year programs are a great way to start your education journey in the USA. If money is tight (as it often is for students!) a two year program at a technical or community college can be the perfect option. Often an educational experience comparable to 4 year colleges or universities can be earned here at a fraction of the cost. Each year students save thousands of dollars by beginning their academic career at these colleges and are often very pleasantly surprised by the high quality instruction and personalized attention that they receive.

Also, if you enjoy your time once in America and can find the additional funding why use this as a starting point to eventually transfer to a Four year program. Transfer agreements between many city and community colleges and 4 year institutions offers students guaranteed transfer of their course from specific AA to BA and BSc programs. So, don't be afraid to ask what universities the college has these agreements with when you are choosing a program. Most International students find that the advantage of studying the first two years at a community or technical college is that they have saved thousands of dollars on their education, but have still earned the same degree. What better way is there than to earn your degree and maintain your financial goals at the same time?

For more advice contact the American Association of Community Colleges at www.aacc.nche.edu

Q:I would like to study in America but I have heard that it is quite difficult to get a visa. Is this true? How would I go about applying for entry to the USA?

Amjad Iqbal, Pakistan

A:Applying for a Visa is one of the most important parts of organizing you trip to the states. Despite rumours to the contrary, obtaining a visa in the USA, alongside the necessary criteria, is simply a matter of following simple steps. However, you must be organised and make sure that your visa arrives before you start your journey so don't try and do this last minute!

Most non-U.S. citizens who wish to study in the United States will seek an F-1 (non-immigrant) student visa. However, in order to apply for an F-1 visa you must first have a SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System)-generated document (either an I-20 or DS-2019). The U.S. academic institution or program sponsor will provide you with the appropriate SEVIS-generated form only when you have been academically admitted to the institution or accepted as a participant in an exchange program. The institution or program sponsor will also send you additional information about applying for the appropriate visa, as well as other guidance about beginning your academic program in the United States.

Once you have all the required documentation, you may apply for the visa, even if you do not intend to begin your program of study for several months. It is best to apply early for the visa to make sure that there is sufficient time for visa processing. When apply for a visa amongst the things you'll need to do is pay the SEVIS fee, pay the visa processing fee and make an appointment for the visa interview. Procedures will differ from Embassy to embassy. However, do make sure that you have all the documentation you will need when you go for the interview, including the visa-qualifying document (I-20 or DS-2019), financial support documents, proof of payment of the SEVIS and visa fees, and a completed visa application form.

To ensure that you complete the visa application correctly and for all your visa advice use the guideline on the Department of State website available at: www.unitedstatesvisas.gov

If you have any worries or simply need some advice about studying in the USA then why not e-mail the Studying In America team at: info@studyoverseas.com