REQUIREMENTS TO TRANSFER TO USA

English proficiency
Students are required to achieve a minimal score of 500 on the TOEFL exam or 5.5 on the IELTS exam before transferring to Towson (January 2012).

Some advice:

• Be prepared to take IELTS/TOEFL exam from the beginning of the program.
• Take the IELTS/TOEFL exam on the proper date.

Credits and grade required

• Complete 41 units at UD
• Obtain a cumulative 3.00 Grade Point Average (GPA) for course work completed at UD with each course completed above the minimum passing C grade.
• Financial capability

 Show financial capability for tuition and living expenses at Towson.

Visa
     Obtain an F-1 student visa from the U.S. embassy/consulate to study in the United States.
Type of visa: F-1 student visa

• An F1 visa is issued to international students who are attending an academic program or English Language Program at a US college or university. F-1 students must maintain the minimum course load for full-time student status.
• They can remain in the US up to 60 days beyond the length of time it takes to complete their academic program.
• An F1 student can remain for 12 months after securing a degree to work under the OPT (Optional Practical Training) program.
• F1 students are expected to complete their studies by the expiration date on their I-20 form (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status) which is provided by the US college or university that the student has been accepted to and will attend.

(source: http://www.internationalstudent.com/immigration/f1-student-visa.shtml)

Document required

• Form I-20A-B, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status-For Academic and Language Students or Form I-20M-N, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (M-1) Student Status for Vocational Students.
• A completed application, Nonimmigrant Visa Applicant,Form DS-156, together with a Form DS-158.
• A passport valid for travel to the United States.
• Transcripts and diplomas from previous institutions attended;
• Scores from standardized tests required by the educational institution such as the TOEFL, SAT, GRE, GMAT, etc.;
• Financial evidence that shows you or your parents who are sponsoring you have sufficient funds to cover your tuition and living expenses during the period of your intended study. For example, if you or your sponsor is a salaried employee, please bring income tax documents and original bank books and/or statements. If you or your sponsor own a business, please bring business registration, licenses, etc., and tax documents, as well as original bank books and/or statements.

Procedure to apply for Student Visa (F1 Visa)
        The following is the chronological process that can help the applicants to apply for US student visa:

• o    The procedure starts with the application for the admission in US University. Once the university grants admission for the students, a Form I-20 (Certification of Eligibility) will be issued for the students and will be presented with visa application.
• Get an appointment with the US Embassy [You can apply within 120 days before the reporting date of university], so that you can make arrangements for the visa interview.
• Get ready with all the required documents (which are mentioned above) to support the application procedure.
• Pay the SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) fee along with the visa processing fee. It has to be paid while slotting your date for visa appointment which is not refundable.
• Appear in-person for the visa interview with confidence and show all the documents asked by the visa officer.
• Show the proof of financial assistance, which may be considered through the bank statements and other financial documents.
• If the tuition fee and the whole expenditure are sponsored by relatives or anyone other than the parents, students have to get an ‘Affidavit of Support’ and have to be submitted with other enclosures. In case of funding through bank loans, Embassy requires a letter from the bank that holds the funds.
• Answer for all the questions asked by them gently and with politeness.
• If you satisfy the visa officer and ensure that you are not intended for immigration in USA, they will surely issue US visa to you.

(http://www.prlog.org/10139967-new-procedure-included-in-us-student-visa-processing.html
http://vietnamese.vietnam.usembassy.gov/nonimmigrant_visas.html)

Contact places to obtain visa
Ho Chi Minh city
-    Email: hcmcinfo@state.gov
-    Fax: 84-8-3520-4235
-     Mail:    U.S. Consulate General Information Unit, 4 Le Duan Blvd., Dist.1 Ho Chi Minh City
Ha Noi city
-    Address:2nd Floor, Rose Garden Tower, 170 Ngoc Khanh Street, Hanoi
-    Telephone: (844) 38505100;
-    Fax: (844) 3850-5145, (844) 3850-5026
-    Email: visahanoi@state.gov
-    Mailing address: 7 Lang Ha Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi, Vietnam
Notes:
- Hours for telephone inquiries: 14:30 – 15:30, Monday through Friday.
- The Embassy is closed on U.S. and Vietnamese holidays.
- For further information: http://hochiminh.usconsulate.gov/contact/consular.html
or  http://vietnam.usembassy.gov/niv-contact.html

Support from DUE and TUD:

• counseling
• providing students with necessary academic documents to get visa
• assigning staff to accompany students to interview

Some advice:

• The students will need to apply for the visa and participate in the necessary interviews at the United States consulate/embassy during the second semester of the Program.
• Keep in mind that June, July, and August are the busiest months in most consular sections, and interview appointments are the most difficult to get during that period. Students need to plan ahead to avoid having to make repeat visits to the Embassy.
• Students should note that Embassies and Consulates are able to issue your student visa 120 days or less, in advance of the course of study registration date.