VISAS
Student Visas
Visas For Study in the United States
Once you have been accepted to a study program in the United States, you should obtain a student visa. The Consulate of the United States in Merida processes visa applications from Monday through Thursday. You should call the telephone number listed in “How to apply”; this service is available from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday trough Friday, and from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 pm. Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
Before coming to the Consulate on your appointment date, all applications for F, J or M visas should have confirmation from the sponsoring institution (school, exchange program site) that your name, as well as those of your relatives if applicable, have been added electronically to the SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System), and confirms your acceptance in the school or exchange program. Neither student nor exchange visas can be issued until your data appears in the SEVIS system, thus, applicants should contact their respective sponsoring institutions.
NEW PAYMENTS: F-1, M-1 and the majority of the J-1 applicants, to whom I-20 or DS-2019 forms have been issued after September 1, 2004, should make and additional payment of $100 U.S. for SEVIS fees. This payment should be made directly to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) prior to the issuance of the visa. The fastest method to make this payment is by credit card through the SEVIS web site created by the DHS for this purpose.
There are different types of visas depending on the duration of the program, your level, and the source of program funding, etc. In general, the following documents are required to apply for a student visa:
Valid Passport (minimum 6 month validity)
Receipt from BANAMEX indicating that you have paid the processing fee equivalent to $131 Dollars (at current exchange rate).
Completed (DS-156) form. Male applicants between the ages of 16 and 45 must also complete the supplimentary (DS-157) form.
Completed (DS-158) form.
I-20 Form (this form is compulsory and it is only sent to the student by the educational institutions accredited in the United States, and it is the only evidence of having been accepted in a program.) Note: having the required I-20 Form does not guarantee visa issuance.
Evidence of means to pay for the costs of the program- depending on the case, this proof will consist of documentation from the institution indicating that the program has been paid for, bank accounts, letters from sponsors or the applicant’s parents, etc..
Proof of payment of the SEVIS fee as explained above.