cover letter for d visa stamping

Office of International Students & Scholars

Change of status to f-1, introduction.

A student acquires F-1 status using the Form I-20, issued by the school they plan to attend, in one of two ways:

• By entering the United States with the I-20 and an F-1 visa obtained at a U.S. consulate abroad (Canadian citizens are exempt from the visa requirement); or
• By applying to USCIS for change of nonimmigrant status (if the student is already in the United States and cannot travel). In choosing the latter, you will not receive an F-1 visa, only F-1 status. This means that the first time you travel outside the U.S. while in F-1 status, you will have to apply for an F-1 visa at a U.S. consulate in order to be able to return to the U.S.

A person in any non-immigrant status except C, D, K, or M (and in some cases J), and except those who entered the United States under the terms of the Visa Waiver Program, can apply for a change to F-1 status if they have maintained lawful non-immigrant status up to the time of application. Those with J status who are subject to 212(e) two-year home country physical requirement cannot change status in the U.S. unless a waiver has been granted. Non-immigrants in A, G, or NATO status must first complete Form I-566, and have it properly endorsed by the foreign mission to the U.S. and the Department of State.

Work With Your Adviser

Newly admitted students considering an application for a change of status must consult with their OISS Adviser before submitting the application. Your I-20 must be issued for change of status not initial entry. Change of Status is a complicated process which can take 11-13 months to process and in some cases can result in requests for further evidence or a denial. Note that not all visa statuses will allow you to start your studies while the application is pending. You will also be unable to begin on-campus employment, receive assistantships, or other funding until your F-1 status is approved. In order to submit the best possible application it is critical that you work with your OISS Adviser. 

Documentation Needed to Apply for Change of Status to F-1

• A cover letter (one page or less) requesting the change of status from your current status to F-1. This letter should include a brief explanation as why you wish to change to F-1 status. You should also provide a checklist of the documentation you are including in your application.
• USCIS Form I-539 Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status : Read all instructions carefully as they differ if you choose to file with a paper application or use the e-filing option. The application form will include a application fee of $420 for online, or $470 for paper filing.
• Evidence of financial support (i.e., bank statement, assistantship letter, etc.). If you have been offered an assistantship from the department and therefore will need to start your on-campus job under approved F-1 employment authorization, you may want to include additional funding evidence that you can support your living expenses until you are approved. 
• Admission letter from the University.
• Scan of the three pages of your Form I-20. Before scanning the I-20 be sure you sign in “Student Attestation” section on page 1 . 
• Receipt indicating payment of the SEVIS fee . Please note that the $350 SEVIS fee is separate from the application fees noted above.
• Documents showing that you are currently in lawful non-immigrant status. Examples depending on your current status can include  Form I-94 , visa stamp, DS-2019, Form I-20 for F-2 status, I-797, EAD card, etc. 
• Biographical page of your passport, including the expiration date of your passport, and an explanation if the passport is expiring soon.
• If changing status from an employment based visa, such as J-1 Researcher or H-1B you should include three recent paystubs, or other evidence of employment.
• If previously in J status and subject to the 212(e) Two-Year Foreign Residency Requirement, include the I-612 proof of waiver approval.

We recommend that you save a copy of the application materials for your own record.

How to File

There two ways to submit this application to USCIS, online or by mail, and the process is different depending on the option you choose. OISS recommends that you apply online using the specific USCIS instructions on how to file electronically (e-file) found here. E-filing will allow you to pay the fees with a credit card, change your address as needed, upload updated documents, respond to requests for additional evidence, and receive your approval more quickly than by mail. If you choose to file by mail instead, please request additional details from your OISS Adviser.

If your change of status is pending with USCIS and you later decide to leave the U.S., your change of status request will be abandoned. You will need to get a new I-20 from OISS for your travel and visa application outside the U.S. so please let your OISS adviser know at least two weeks in advance of changing of your plans.

Important Things to Remember

The I-539 application is your personal application. While OISS Advisers may give general guidance on how to prepare a successful application, we are not permitted to give detailed legal advice. In rare cases that are very complex in nature you may need to pay an immigration attorney for a consultation. Please coordinate use of any attorney before making payments or commitments.

If you are currently in B1/B2 status:

Source: 8 CFR § 214.2(b)(7) and §248.1(c)

• Individuals in B1/B2 status are prohibited from “enrolling in a course of study” until after USCIS approves their change of status application.

If you are currently in F-2 status:

Source: 8 CFR (Code of Federal Register) § 214.2(f)(15)(ii)

• Individuals in F-2 status are eligible for part time study. Refer to F-2 Dependents for details. However, once your change of status to F-1 is approved, you are required to be enrolled full time. If your change of status has not been approved by the deadline for adding/dropping classes, your I-20 start date will be deferred until the start of the next semester and you must stay enrolled part time until the end of the current semester in order to maintain your F-2 status.

If you are currently in any other status (e.g., H, J, L, E, etc.):

• If your current status allows full-time studies in the U.S., you may start classes before your change of status application is approved. However, you are not allowed employment under F-1 status until after your application is approved. For example, if you have an assistantship, you won’t be able to start it until after you receive your F-1 status. 

Program Start Date

If the I-539 application is not adjudicated by the original start date on the I-20, the program start date will have to be amended to a later date. This may result in receiving multiple updated I-20s depending on how long your application is pending, and each will have to be attached to your application as an update.

Traveling and Reentering the U.S. after Approval

If you acquire your F-1 status through a change of status process, remember that you will only receive F-1 status, not an F-1 visa. This means that the first time you travel outside the U.S. while in F-1 status, you will have to apply for F-1 visa at a U.S. consulate in order to be able to return to the U.S.

For further information about travel and re-entry and/or visa applications, refer to the U.S. Department of State website and OISS Travel Guidance .

If you would like to discuss the risks and benefits of your strategy for change of status, or have questions about your options, please contact your OISS adviser .

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Schengen Visa Cover Letter Format with sample and common mistakes

Schengen visa cover letter format with samples and common mistakes.

So, a close friend was rejected a Tourist Schengen Visa for France from India – twice in a row. She had to postpone her flight to a later date, but lost quite some money on Visa fees, hotel bookings and some internal flights within Schengen area. The reason quoted for the rejection was – ‘The information submitted regarding the justification for the purpose and conditions of the intended stay was not reliable‘ and ‘Your intention to leave the territory of the Member States before the expiry of the visa applied for could not be ascertained’ . I was intrigued and asked her for the covering letter that she submitted while applying for Schengen Visa. Her cover letter, though has necessary details, and was flawed at some places, which triggered me to pen down this post.

How am I qualified to write this post on Schengen Visa Cover Letter?

Having obtained Schengen Visa twice now – for Italy in 2016 and Sweden in 2017, though not an expert on this topic, I stand qualified to share my 2 bits – How not to screw up your Covering letter for Schengen Visa?

First off, let’s discuss – Why do we need a cover letter at all?

Why do we need a cover letter for Schengen Visa?

Just like any official interaction, be it a job application or any sort of request where we are seek attention of the reader – we need to introduce ourselves and make our intentions clear , right? That is why we need a cover letter. Given this, we need to make optimum use of this opportunity and give a clear picture to the Embassy officer – who doesn’t know who we are nor has the power to read our minds nor does he/she have the patience to figure out the jigsaw puzzle we have handed over to them in the form of travel documents!

Covering letter is your best chance to convince the Embassy officers to put that much needed Visa stamp on your passport. Imagine a cover letter like an interview, only that you will not be present in front of them, but it speaks on your behalf. (Scroll down at the end of this page to receive your Free copy of an editable format of an ideal ‘Schengen Visa Cover Letter’ )

Just think, in an interview – What all they might ask? What do you need to inform them about you? About your trip?

Any apprehensions, any communication – everything has to be done through the cover letter.

While applying Schengen Visa Italy last year, I did not understand why a cover letter is so important. But this time around, while applying Schengen for Sweden, I realized the power of a cover letter . The reason being these three scenarios:

1. Our middle names in the flight tickets were left out, as the website which was used to book the tickets had some bizarre mandatory name requirements. This was a worrying factor. So, before we applied Schengen for Sweden, I wrote to Sweden VFS Visa helpline and they responded within a day and instructed me to mention the same in the cover letter.

2. In Sweden, we will be travelling to Swedish Lapland and we have an overnight train journey from Stockholm to Kiruna and the same applies for the return journey too. A First class sleeper coach was booked for the night train journey, which was attached with the Visa application. In VFS office, the teller there pointed out that there are no hotel bookings made for those two dates. For which we diligently showed the train bookings with specific dates, travel time that exceeded 16 hours each side and a mention of sleeper coach. She highlighted dates in the train bookings and still insisted that we mention the same in the cover letter . We had to write that info at the back of the cover letter and sign it, as adding the same in the soft copy of cover letter and getting a print again was not feasible at that point in time.

So, what all do we need to mention in a cover letter?

• The purpose of your travel to the Schengen countries – is it for tourism purpose? Or official purpose? Or for studies? • List the countries are you visiting during your stay in Schengen area. • How and who is sponsoring your trip? Is it self-sponsored or sponsored by someone (husband, father etc.) and by what means – Cash (by showing balance in bank)? Credit card? Forex? Traveller cheques? • If you have a sponsor in the country you are visiting, then ask them for an invitation letter and clearly explain your relationship with your sponsor and the reason why they will be sponsoring your trip. Here, a sponsor might be a friend, relative or something/someone official. • A brief of your itinerary . Here, it is a good idea to use a table format with countries you’d like to visit, days spent there and a mention of places you will be visiting while you are there. (For an example, see the sample below) • Explain clearly why you chose to apply at that specific Embassy and not through any other country. • List the documents that are attached with the Visa application • In case you are not able to produce any particular document , mention that and try providing an alternative document which would cover the necessity of the former. • Mention the company and your designation of your employment in cover letter and write that you have taken a leave for the duration of the trip and are required to join back work after the vacation. • And any other specific communication which you think the Embassy officer needs to know.

Some tips and suggestions:

• Apply Visa as early as possible – we can apply for a Schengen Visa 90 days before our travel date. • Go through the Visa requirements checklist many times – even after securing all documents, there might be something that is always left out for the last minute! Isn’t it? Mr. Murphy is always lurking somewhere nearby. • Do NOT assume that the things are obvious and will be understood from the documents submitted. Always mention such things. The Embassy officer has to go through loads of applications every day. So, its not a really good idea to let him/her figure out stuff. • Try limiting your cover letter to one page. • And obviously, write a convincing cover letter 🙂 • Go through it again and check it for any spelling mistakes and do a Spell Check in MS Word or similar. Its not that you will be penalized for spell errors. It just gives a good first impression. • Doesn’t matter for what country you are applying – France, Hungary, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Norway, Austria or any Schengen country for that matter – whether a cover letter is mandatory or not – Just write it and write a rocking one!

My secret tip: Almost all visa applications ask for confirmed hotel bookings. With so many booking sites and hundreds of hotels and apartments, its indeed difficult to choose the place which suits our taste. I always check the prices of hotels/apartment from this website and compare prices offered by different booking sites and book the accommodation from the one that offers the best price. Compare hotels by checking in this search box below !

For booking car for our self drive journeys, I trust this site and have booked from here in all our self drive sojourns.

Fine, enough for today’s Theory session. Let the practical class begin now!

This was my friend’s Cover Letter. Let me try and point out what could have been added and how can it be improvised.

21/06/2017 Place: Bangalore

THE HONOURABLE CONSUL, EMBASSY OF FRANCE 21 Palace Road, Vasanth Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560052

Dear Sir or Madam,

Sub: Application for Short Stay Visa for Tourism from 30/06/2017 to 11/07/2017 (Self-Sponsored)

I intend to travel to countries France, Belgium and Switzerland from 30/06/2017 to 11/07/2017 and would therefore like to obtain a Schengen travel visa.

The purpose of my trip is tourism, to visit popular places in these European countries, especially the Eiffel Tower, the Paris Disneyland and the Louvre Pyramid in France, Interlaken, Jungfrau in Switzerland and Grand Palace, Bruges, Pairi Daiza etc in Belgium. During the trip in Belgium, I will stay in my sister’s home who is a resident of Belgium (attached the required document for the same)

Please find enclosed the following documents to support my visa application: 1. Original and copy of my passport 2. Application Form duly filled and signed with Photograph as per specifications, attached 3. Documentary evidence of my employment (leave sanction letter) 4. Copy of my booking at Hotels in Paris and Switzerland. 5. Invitation letter from my sister, a resident of Belgium and copy of residential permit 6. Income tax returns of last 3 years 7. Personal bank statements of last 3 months 8. Salary slips of last 3 months 9. Copy of my travel medical insurance policy, valid for the whole Schengen Area and covering up to 100,000 Euros for medical and hospital care plus repatriation for emergency medical reasons 10. Copy of e-ticket for my return flight to Bangalore via Doha with Qatar Airways

I trust you will find that everything is in order, but please feel free to contact me should you need any additional details or documents. Looking forward to hearing from you,

Yours sincerely, XYZ, Address, Phone, Email.

Here, I find 3 major flaws:

• She had submitted the official leave letter with the application, but there isn’t any mention of her employer or designation in the cover letter. As I said earlier, lets not assume that it is understood. Even if it is obvious, mentioning it in the cover letter makes a huge difference. • The itinerary presented was very cloudy . Seems like there is a no perfect plan chalked out. But in reality, the plan was present, that is why the hotel bookings were done. But it hasn’t been mentioned clearly in the cover letter. • Another major point – there is NO reason presented here as to why France is being chosen as a Consulate to apply Schengen Visa.

A template or a sample which we used for Schengen Italy Cover Letter:

May 3, 2016 Bengaluru

The Honorable Consulate, Embassy of Italy, Kanchanjunga, Piano Terra, 72 G.Deshmukh Marg Mumbai – 400 026

Dear Sir/Madam,

I would like to apply for Schengen visa to spend a holiday in five countries – Italy , Croatia , Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia and Montenegro, this May 27 to June 12, 2016. I am applying through your Honourable Consulate, as Italy is my main destination and first point of entry as well as my point of exit.

We are a family of five travelling together. Tourism is the main purpose of our visit, to see the beautiful sights especially the museums and ancient architecture.

Our detailed itinerary is attached inside. Brief itinerary would be as follows:

I am employed at XYZ, Bengaluru since July 2010 and currently holding the position of ABC. Vacation from work has already been approved for the whole duration of this trip.

Please find the following documents to support my visa application enclosed herewith:

* Application form, duly dated and signed with passport-size picture * Passports * Employment and Leave certificates showing the date I’m expected to return for work * Detailed itinerary * Hotel booking reservation as proof of accommodation * Payslips, Bank Statements, Statement of Account as proof of income, ITR, Credit card statements, Forex receipts * Travel Insurance with benefits coverage of 50,000 Euro for each person travelling * Plane ticket booking reservation via Qatar Airways for Bangalore – Rome – Bangalore on May 27 – June 12, 2016

I trust that you will find that everything is in order, and I remain at your disposal for any further information. Thank you very much for your time. I hope for a favourable response for my visa application. For questions and clarifications, please feel free to contact me anytime.

Sincerely, Name Mobile: Email:

This format bought us Schengen Visa for Italy on our European Odyssey last year.  Hope this post helps you in crafting your letter.

If you are planning to apply a Schengen Visa for Italy, then  click here to read a post about the process of applying Schengen Visa for Italy.

Please note that right click is disabled on this page to discourage plagiarism. However, you can get the cover letter sample by entering your email in the box below to receive an editable sample of ‘Schengen Visa Cover Letter’.

Enter the email to which you wish to receive a FREE editable sample of Schengen Visa Cover letter

If you liked this post, show us some love and pat us on our backs! Like us on Facebook , follow us on Twitter  and Instagram  and subscribe to our Youtube channel !

Other related important reads:

Ultimate guide for Schengen Visa Italy from India

Italy Self drive Itinerary

Iceland 10 day itinerary

Croatia 7/10 days itinerary

14 things to know before driving in Italy

Plitvice Lakes – Land of Falling Lakes, Croatia

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114 comments

Lovely article and timely we r applying for our visa in coming week. This article is very informative. Thank you to pen it down

Glad it was of your help 🙂

Hi Ashwini, I’ts a great help for me your blog since, I’m a first timer to travel. Would you mind please to share with me your email as i want to write you for more clarification? as I’m a bit confused. Thanks and awaiting Chona

Please write into us at [email protected]

Hi Ashwini, Thanks a ton for this article. we are applying for our visas next weeK, we intent to travel to Italy, switzerland and france. p.o.e. Italy. Some queries to be answered, as i am getting mixed replies for the same. Do we need to book all internal train travels i.e. rome to venice, venice to interlaken n henceforth. we have done no prepayment booking from booking.com for accomodations, hope thats valid.

There is no need for you to show the proof of travel inside a specific country. However, it is a good practice to mention how you intend to travel inside a country and between two countries. And this can be achieved through a cover letter!

And yes, no prepayment bookings from booking.com is valid. We always do the same 🙂

this article is very informative and helpful for visa we Indians not blessed with highest rank passports which allows visa on arrival to most of countries. It seems so much headache when applying for visa.But if apply it in order as you mentioned issues can be resolved

Very true Mayuri!

Hi Ashwini,

I plan to visit my brother who stays in Germany, can you kindly let me know how should the invitation letter be all are the required details? Do share if u have any format for the same. Thank you.

Sorry for the late reply Vini. I do not have a format handy. I shall write a blog post on it soon.

Hi ashwini, You have mentioned about Detailed itinerary, could you please explain this also, I mean how one should write it. Are we suppose to mention each and every thing which we are going to do each day?

Hai Harpreet,

If you see the sample I have provided, the itinerary we mentioned was one line with places we planned to go for that day. I think that should suffice and too much detail will make the cover letter too lengthy and unappealing. Hope I have answered your question!

YOUR ARTICLE HAS BEEN OF GREAT HELP…..HOWEVER ONE THING IS REALLY CONFUSING ME…. I AM PLANNING TO APPLY FOR FRANCE AND SWISS TOURIST VISA……PEOPLE ARE ADVISING TO GO WITH FLIGHT RESERVATION AND DUMMY HOTEL BOOKING FOR APPLYING THE VISA……IS IT SAFE TO DO SO…….

Yes Karan. Thats is true. Go through this post for more details. http://hoppingmiles.com/schengen-visa-italy-indians-citizens-checklist/

Hey … thanks for amazing info. I have question . Did you visit bosnia and croatia in same schengen visa … because they dont come in schengen country.

Even though Bosnia and Croatia do not come under Schengen Visa, these countries allow visitors with a valid Schengen Visa. For this, you need to have a Multiple Entry Schengen Visa.

Hey Ashwini I also applied for France from Delhi and my visa got rejected with same reason. Now I am scared from which Embassy I should apply as I already booked my paid ticket and hotel I submitted all paid hotel and flight tickets even for Europe, I think I am going on solo trip that may the reason not sure. Any suggestion which country I should apply?

Hi Adhiman,

The rule goes by the fact that we need to apply to the country where we are staying for more number of days. If we are by any chance staying in two countries for equal number of days, then we need to apply to the Embassy of the country which will be our first port of entry.

Thanks for the article, this was helpful. Do you have any advice for writing an invitation letter? I want to give one to my brother to visit.

Sure Ezinne. I shall try to pen down that post soon 🙂

My name is Vivek. I would be travelling with my wife. So apart from booking two appointments, will there be a need to get two sets of required documents and two covering letters or only one set. Her application form would be different.

Yes.Two separate set of documents and seperate application forms. Cover letter can be the same but you need separate copies of that each too!

Hi…My schengen visa got rejected due to reason for travel does not seem reliable. I am reapplying for the same. Just wanted to know in the new covering letter do i write the letter as a fresh application or do i mention the previous rejection and give further justifications

I am in two minds about it as I haven’t been in this situation. Why don’t you call the VFS helpline? They are the best folks to answer this question.

Hi i would like to read your thoughts about our story, please. We have been granted a Belgium Schengen visa my wife and i but after our departure date. We have reached out the Consulate to get our passports back, to our surprise Bangg! empty passports. The consulate officer told us that they couldn’t put our visas into our passport because it’s been granted after our travel date so what does it mean? do they have the right to do that after been approved? your thoughts will be appreciated , thanks

Honestly, If I were you, I too would have been disappointed. And yes, what they say is right. Because, the reason that a schengen visa demands a confirmed return flight is that they want to confirm that we come out of schengen area within a specific time frame. If your flight date has lapsed, that means you can’t commit to your promise of going and coming out of schengen area on the dates you have mentioned in the cover letter. So, a fresh application is recommended. But this time, be careful and apply as early as possible.

Thank you very much, i appreciate your reply.

By the way do we need to stick our-self with the same consulate?

That depends on your travel plans. Read this post if you are visiting multiple schengen countries and have a confusion as to which country to apply to : http://hoppingmiles.com/schengen-visa-italy-indians-citizens-checklist/

Hi! Thank you for the link, very helpful. I have got another question, how can we proof that we have been granted a Schengen visa if we decide to go to Italy this time. As I mentioned before we have been granted, but we didn’t travel because the consulate didn’t stick our visas into our passport due to the fact that our departure date has passed, Thank you in advance

There is no proof as your visas haven’t been stamped. Try a fresh application. All the best.

Thanks for sharing your knowledgeable experience, I really appreciate your care and concern Ashwini towards helping people. I’m sending you an email for your further help as i applied for visa and got refused.

Hi Ashwini, Really your post is very informative. I am planning to invite my wife to Paris as I’m already here from past 1 month. And when we asked for the details we have lot of opinions so more confused with what are the basic requirements. We have been told that will require an Invitation letter from me inviting my wife to Paris. I tried to search for a format but not able to get it. can you help me on that?

Also if my wife provide 6 months bank statement for my salary account will it be ok for Consulate?

As I’m already in Paris I have stay booked till my return journey is it fine to provide the same with my name?

Even we have suggestion for my wife to not show that you are working to save document for leave approval which is quite difficult for her.

I have 1 question in mind as we didn’t planned any internal journey as of now and if we mention about the visit to different countries is it mandatory to show the details of the stay for other countries? Looking forward for your reply which will help us. Thank you

Hrisheekesh Pargaonkar ±33753190588 ±917588436499

Answering your questions one by one.

q: We have been told that will require an Invitation letter from me inviting my wife to Paris. I tried to search for a format but not able to get it. can you help me on that? a: Will try writing a post on that.

q: Also if my wife provide 6 months bank statement for my salary account will it be ok for Consulate? a: They ask only for recent 3 months. Doesn’t count even if you provide more as they will remove extra months docs in VFS Office. Just make sure you have a healthy bank balance.

q: As I’m already in Paris I have stay booked till my return journey is it fine to provide the same with my name? a: Guess that would suffice. Confirm once with VFS call centre.

q: Even we have suggestion for my wife to not show that you are working to save document for leave approval which is quite difficult for her. a: Confirm once with VFS call centre.

q: I have 1 question in mind as we didn’t planned any internal journey as of now and if we mention about the visit to different countries is it mandatory to show the details of the stay for other countries? a: Definitely yes. You can do temporary bookings in booking.com. If you have plans of visiting other countries, then make sure she gets a ‘multiple entry’ Schengen visa.

Hope this helps. Thanks

hello , my wife is the citizen of italy (permanant green card ) as such we got married on dec 2015 and now she is pragnant and in italy she wants to invite me for her delivery as such i m having her name on my passport , marriage certificate, my name on her passport issue from milan italy. and a doctor covring letter of her pragnancy form italy. i need to know that how can i apply and a covering letter format. and the chances of visa….really worried about can u help a part.

waiting for reply

Please contact your VFS office and they will be able to guide you better. Thanks and congrats on the baby 🙂

Can you please put more light on the format of ‘Detailed Itinerary’

Detailed Itinerary would be your confirmed accommodation booking printouts, flight tickets and inter city/inter country travel docs if any.

Thanks for the info here. One more thing i wanted to know that yesterday i called Thomas Cook for the Visa and they said that they can get it done and they will show the confirmed tickets & hotel bookings and as we get the visa they will cancel it and we can then book our hotels on our own. Do you think hiring them will be good idea or shall i do the visa process on my own.

It upto you Vikas. Totally your decision 🙂

Hi, I was planning to go for a road trip in Europe, all planning is done from caravan to tickets. But all hopes are on visas. How do I compel them not to reject our visa. Please help. And if possible can u send me your mail. Thanks

If your planning is already done, then please apply visa asap. Follow the points given in the article and craft a convincing cover letter – that is the only thing we can do from our side to compel them. Subscribe with your mail id in the text box provided in the article and you will automatically get the mail.

Hi, I am planning a solo trip to Amsterdam in coming June month for 7 days. Is it a fact that solo trip visas are mostly rejected ? and I intend to travel in and around Amsterdam only. Would that be a problem considering it is a short itinerary for cover letter? Thanks in advance.

Don’t think it’ll be a problem to acquire visa if you are only in and Amsterdam for the entire trip duration. Just make sure you have accommodation booked for all the days and mention what all have you planned to see over the 7 days.

Hi, Thanks for the article,it is really helpful I have some doubts 1)I can give just reserved tickets(Not paid)? Many airlines provide free reserved ticket which block the ticket for 3 days. I have this question because on the main page of VFS website,they clearly mention that do not confirm your travel plans till visa is approved.So can i give reserved ticket(not paid) instead of a confirmed ticket(paid for)

2)The cover letter can be written on an A4 size paper write?

Thanks in Advance

Answering pointwise:

1. Will do but during the time of verification of your application by Embassy people, your ticket should be valid and should not be cancelled as they will verify it.

2. Should be printed on A4 size paper

Hello Ashwni

I find this post really informative, ad would like to clarify a few things w.r.t our trip Me and my husband are planning for a trip to Swiss-Belgium (and make day trips to France and Amsterdam while staying in Belgium). Our point of entry will be Swiss (will stay there for 3 nights) and then travel to Belgium( where we will stay for 5 nights). But while we stay in Belgium we intend to do a day trip to Paris and another day trip to Amsterdam. Our p.o.e will be Belgium. Q1 – Which country should we apply the Schengen Visa for? – Swiss or Belgium? Q2 – Also, both of us are working, but the way our budgeting works is I have more bank balance, and his is more like a current account, rather savings account. Keeping this in mind, what will give better chances of approval – applying together and showing both the bank statements or applying mentioning am sponsoring the trip? Please suggest 🙂

Answer 1: Belgium Answer 2: Both bank statements will be a good idea i guess. Please clarify with local VFS office

I am planning to travel to Europe (Italy, Austria & Switzerland in that order) for a month in mid April with Italy being port of entry & main destination as I am spending 15 days there. I am travelling solo to Italy and then being joined by friends in Austria & Switzerland. Post that, I am heading to the US for 4 months where I am staying with my sister. I have a valid US visa. I also have previously traveled to the Schengen region 4 times in the last 8 years.

The tricky part is I am obviously travelling for this long as I have quit my job of 8 years and planning on taking a break for some time and find something once I am back.

My queries, hence, are:

1) Should I mention that I have quit my job in the cover letter itself hence declaring I wont have a Leave letter from my organisation. 2) Will I require any other document from my current employer (serving notice here) to support my claim? Shall i include one just to be sure? 3) I’m sponsoring my own trip, travelling solo & quitting my job for that- Will these 3 things pose to be possible reasons why my Visa could get rejected. If yes, what additional documents shall I submit to cover all bases.

Thanks in advance.

Thanks for writing in Rupal. Yes, your case is tricky. But tel me one thing, is your flight to US from India, after you come back from Italy or the flight is directly from Italy? Whatever is the case, please mention it in the cover letter. Yes, supporting documents to prove that you are leaving the job might work.

Again, convincing them that you are traveling to US later is essential. So flight tickets to US if available and shown, will make the job easy.

Hello, I am Bangalore.. planning to travel to Ireland in the month of June. Since I didn’t get any post related to Ireland, I am posting few questions here 🙂 . 1. My daughter will be travelling with me, so we need her father’s consent letter since he is not coming with us. Do I need to get the letter Notarized? 2. I will be travelling with my friend , do I need to give proof of relationship with her? 2. My application letter should address to whom? Should it be The Honorable Consulate Embassy of Ireland c/o Biocon Limited 20th K M Hosur Road Electronics City PO Bangalore 560100 (as found under Emabassy of Ireland, Honorary Consuls- India, Bangalore) 3. If you can help me with writing a detailed itinerary plan. Thanks in advance! 🙂

1. My daughter will be travelling with me, so we need her father’s consent letter since he is not coming with us. Do I need to get the letter Notarized? Father’s consent letter and permission letter from school. Notary sign not required.

2. I will be travelling with my friend , do I need to give proof of relationship with her? Haha. No. You can’t prove if someone is your friend. There is no such formal document that exists to prove it.

2. My application letter should address to whom? Should it be The Honorable Consulate Embassy of Ireland c/o Biocon Limited 20th K M Hosur Road Electronics City PO Bangalore 560100 (as found under Emabassy of Ireland, Honorary Consuls- India, Bangalore) Yes.

3. If you can help me with writing a detailed itinerary plan. Please check the post, I have mentioned the format. Follow the same with your plans and itinerary.

Thanks for reply 🙂 . One more question, Do i need to submit flight tickets/confirmation for visa application, though it’s not mentioned anywhere under required documents for visa.

I’m surprised that it isn’t mentioned. Return flight tickets are mandatory for any Visa 🙂

Hi … Me and my wife are travelling to Austria and Czeh Republic for 16 days with 9 days in Austria and hence applying from the Austrian Embassy. I am also doing two day trips to Neuschwanstein Castle and Berchtesgaden Salt mines both being in Germany with our stay being in Innsbruck and Salzburg respectively on the day of the day trips.

In light of the above in the application form in Point 22 it mentions Member State (s) to visit should I mention only Austria OR Austria and Czeh Republic OR Austria Germany and CzehRepublic

Mention all the member states you are traveling to. Also check the multiple entry option in the application form

Hello I am applying for a schengen short term tourist visa. I am applying through the Netherlands embassy as I will be staying there for the longest. I have some queries.

1) This is a solo trip. I am male,single and in mid 20s. I have been to singapore last month as a tourist. Should I mention it in the cover letter indicating that I have traveled solo before and attach visa and stamp copies? Or should I avoid mentioning it?

2) I work For an IT company with a monthly salary of about 35k. I have been working there for about 2 years. and will show about 2 lakhs in my salary account with salary slips and ITR for 14 days trip. I still feel that this might not be enough to convince the authority. I am thinking of attaching my mother’s bank statements and ITR along with a letter. The thing is, I don’t want authorities to think that my mother is the sole sponsorer of this trip as I earn a descent amount of money .I am more inclined towards a middle path by writing something like this in the cover letter-‘The trip will be sponsored by myself. I will also carry my Mother’s international debit card linked to her salary account to deal with any unforeseen circumstances. Her Bank statements,ITR and letter of consent are attached”.

Is this recommended? Or should I change some words like “unforeseen circumstances”Please Reply

1. No need to mention Singapore trip. If you have been to Schengen countries earlier, then the application form asks for Visa number.

2. I feel 2L for a single person for 14 days should suffice. Attach your credit card statement to show that you have a credit card too.

Hi Ashwini, I am applying for Schengen through the Belgium consulate. I intend to travel to Brussels, Amsterdam and Paris and I will be flying in and out of Amsterdam. Here are my questions –

1. I am travelling solo, for the first time to Europe or anywhere. I am quitting work at my current organization and have a 3 week break until I join the new company. Would be using this break to travel. Would this by any chance be a problem and lead to rejection? I have clearly stated in my cover letter about this and would be attaching the resignation confirmation and new job offer letter, and as well as confirmed return ticket and accomodation details (booking.com no pre payment reservations). 2. Is it okay to apply through Belgium consulate and not Netherlands (as my country of entry and exit is this)? 3. How long does it usually take to receive the visa? I am getting my tickets for 5th May.

Thanks in advance

1. Should not be a problem 2. If you are staying max number of days in Belgium, this is fine. 3. 15 working days is what they say.

Thank you so much. This is very helpful. I was hoping you could help me with some questions. I am travelling to italy for a month with my boyfriend. During my stay in Italy i will be staying with my BF family for 18 days. During my stay there i will be attending a wedding and also seeing the amalafi coast. After the 18 days period we will be visiting Rome, Venice and Florence. I will be applying a visa for myself only since my BF is a Canadian Citizen. I hold a Permenant Residence here in Canada. I was told if i am applying for a private visa to not mention Tourism. I am currently working full time as an Account Manager but i will be resigning before my trip. This is because i will be going to College full time when i come back.

1) Do i have to let the embassy know that i will be going other places in italy? ( i was going to say i am staying with my BF family for all the 30 days) 2) Is proof of school letter station start date enough to show them that i will be returning( including my return flight) 3)If i am applying for a private visa do i have to tell them i will also be visiting Amalafi while at my sponsers? 4) I do not want to ask my sponser to get statements of their bank. Can i mention that i will be supporting myself as well and show my own bank account and sufficient funds. ( how much $ is needed to show for about 28 days) While i will be staying with my sponser?

Thank you so much!!

1. If you are traveling within Italy and not going out of the country, then its not needed to mention. 2. Yes. Should suffice. Mention that in cover letter 3. No need. Just mention in cover letter that you will be staying with your Bf’s family. Ask them for an invitation letter stating that they are inviting you to stay with them. Attach it with your docs 4. Showing your bank details will be enough. The amount depends on the country you stay. Ask your local VFS office or check their website for these details.

Hey, I wish to apply for Shengen visa next week from France Embassy. I have already drafted a cover letter, would you be able to check it and let me know of any improvements? really appreciate.

Please mail me to [email protected]

I have WP120 visa for Switzerland and wish to get Tourist visa for my wife and son (3yr old) to stay with me for a period of 75 days. Can you please help me with covering letter and/or invitation letter that my wife should submit along with her visa application form. Trip would be sponsored by me but my wife also has sufficienct balance in her bank account. Please do let me know if you have any other suggestions for visa application.

Thank you in advance.

I’ve already mentioned the cover letter format in this article. Please go through it thoroughly. Showing her bank statement is fine if she has good balance.

Hi, Thanks for such an informative post….. great job My query is that i am getting married on july 15th and leaving on morning of july 18th morning for a 7 day trip covering amsterdam, antwerpen & paris. the issue is i wont be having a marriage certificate while i apply for me and my to-be wife’s visa. I will be taking care of all the expenses for travel. i am not sure about which documents should i place for my wife’s visa application

Try attaching the wedding invitation card and mention the same in your cover letter.

Hi, Did you attach invitation while submitting application ? Any other document that would require particularly to apply visa along with my fiancee ?

Hi I have a query. I am a practicing as a advocate. as I only few months back started my practice so that’s why I never filled tax,itr etc. I want to visit Belgium(20 days) to visit my sister she is staying there with her husband. can my father sponser me for the same and please share format for sponser letter and cover letter

Cover letter is already in the post. In addition to Sponsor Letter, you will need an invitation letter from your sister inviting you to their home and they need to mention that you shall be staying with them. The format will be a usual formal letter format with your details, purpose and intent of travel.

hi, I Am applying for a Shengen visa in germany, but will also be visiting hungary, austria, czech republic and poland, is the hostel reservation through booking.com valid, as in their email they show free cancellation date and also no prepayment required , so will those hostel booking will be valid. Also is it ok if i book a return flight from another country and city. Also One of my school friend works in berlin, and will be staying with him for couple of days, so is it ok to mention that in the letter to the embassy and do i have to get a letter from mentioning that i will be staying with him for couple of days and the whole trip will be self sponsored. Also would like to know i have resigned from my current job , and will be look for a new job after my return from my vacation , so will that be ok.

1. Hostel bookings are valid. Make sure you have your name on those. 2. Flight- Not an issue. Make sure you apply visa to the country which you will be staying the max number of days 3. Stay with friend – Yes, an invitation letter from him is needed. If you want to avoid the hassle, do bookings with free cancellation and then cancel those when your visa is stamped. 4. Job – Will not be a problem. Mention the same in cover letter. Also add a line that your family and work commitments are deep rooted here and you will have to return to your home country to fulfil those and you are visiting Europe just for tourism purpose.

hello, I have got an LOI from a reputed airline in India,and they wants me to do a short term ( 75 days )course from Madrid. once i get it done i will be employed by them.i have also received the invitation letter from the training centre from Madrid. My dad is sponsoring my course fee and all other expenses for the trip.He is getting a loan from a private firm for the same.

Now to apply for the visa (business) they wants the IT returns or form 16 which my dad doesnt have. He is retired and used to be an NRI. so my query is this, what other supporting documents can i produce ? (apart from my own personal bank statement and my dads )

Please call the VFS Helpline to get clarification on this.

Hello, thanks for the informative blogpost. I’m traveling with my friend who is applying as well for a short stay tourist visa at the French embassy, however we live in different states and plan on applying at the embassy in our respective states in Nigeria rather than as a group. Is it okay if I indicate that I will be traveling with my friend in my cover letter. (Note that all hotel reservations were made in both our names)

I think this should be fine. Can you please call VFS helpline and confirm with them?

Sorry but spelling mistake – The Honourable Consulate not Honorable.

Thanks for your concern 🙂 Please have a look at this: https://wikidiff.com/honourable/honorable

Hi, i have couple of questions. 1. I would be visiting 3 Schengen countries in one trip, should i be applying for a single entry or multiple entry visa? I plan to reach France then Switzerland then Iceland which are all Schengen members. 2. I would be applying the visa at France consulate (because it is the only consulate closer to me) by showing trip to 1 country only but i plan to visit 3 later on. Once the visa is issued, can i still travel as per my plan or is it a problem? I have read that once the visa is issued, you can travel to any Schengen country.

1. Multiple Entry Visa 2. You can but if you show one country in your itinerary and tick the multiple entry option, there are high chances that they will approve it as a single entry visa. So make your move carefully.

Hi Ashwini Actually i researched on it meanwhile and found that single entry visa means entry to Schengen members while staying in Schengen members. It doesn’t mean single country. So as long as you are staying inside the Schengen region (it can be one country or more) without going out of this region, single visit is sufficient. Multiple visit means for example, India to France then to UK (which is outside Schengen) then to Italy.

I agree. Thats what we had been told when we went to Sweden last year where, though we had applied for ‘Multiple entry’ visa, we were granted only a ‘Single entry’ visa. So we too went by this defination and thought we can explore Paris for a few hours in our long layover at France, but the immigration folks didn’t allow us to step out of the airport a this was a ‘Single Entry’ visa.

For the same reason, we were scared if we would be allowed inside Iceland or not. But,in Iceland, we had no problems as we had flown in from Sweden which is a Schengen country. So, I cannot guarantee that the statement holds good, as I have been a personal victim to prove that definition wrong!

Hi, I would be travelling to three countries France, Belgium and Netherlands in September. I’m applying at the Netherlands embassy. Onward flight is from India to Paris(transfer at Doha) and return is from Amsterdam(transfer at Moscow). Can you tell me if I should take a single or multiple entry Visa? Thanks in advance

Mulitple Entry Visa

Hi Ashwini, I’m a first time traveller to Europe, it would really help if you could tell me the reason why I would need a multiple entry visa if all the member states I intend to visit are in the Schengen area. Also, what reason should I mention about this in the cover letter Thanks

Please check the above comment

Sir, I am Sudip Panday from Nepal Will you please give your email address so that I can ask some of the personal information regarding visa application ?

Please write to us at [email protected]

Hi my mom went her son home Italy two time with my father ,now she is trying to go alone , so she is housewife. is she can show enough money into bank for her expenses ?

Yes. She can show money in her account and can self sponsor.

Hi Ashwini! My wife is resident of Finland and she is inviting me and my mother for a visit visa.I am currently working as Assistant Manager Mechanical engineer in a private firm and also have last 05 years ITR and all other official working documents,.I am applying through Netherlands embassy.I have some queries. 1. I book an appointment with my mother but she is paying for her whole trip she have strong bank statement,Pension slips and agricultural as well as residential property so is it fine to put my application with her? or should we apply separate as our insurance and applications are separate too. 2. Finnish embassy is not in my country and Netherlands embassy is accepting applications on behalf of Finland. So whom should i address in my cover letter? Finland embassy or Netherlands embassy? 3. About travel Itinerary,I am travelling to Finland and then we have plan to visit Sweden and i also have booked a hotel in Sweden through Agoda.com, so should we just write our visit to finland and sweden? and do we need to mention places in finland and sweden we intend to visit? Ps. I will stay in Finland for almost 1 month and my mother will stay for 2 months.Please answer according to that In Itinerary question Thanks, Need your suggestions soon as i have appointment on this tuesday

Answering your question pointwise:

1. Mention in cover letter that you both are travelling together but have different sources of income which are stable and strong, hence applying separately with different set of documents but will be staying and travelling together. 2. In a similar situation, My sister applied Iceland visa last year through Denmark embassy as it is one which processes Iceland visa in our country. Her cover letter started like this. FYI, she got her visa approved in time.

July 20, 2017 The Honorable Consulate Embassy of Denmark 11, Golf Links, New Delhi Delhi 110003 India

Dear Sir/Madam, I would like to apply for Schengen Visa to spend a holiday in two European countries – Iceland and Sweden, this August 20 to September 2, 2017. I am applying through your Honorable Consulate Denmark as Iceland is my main destination and will be staying here maximum number of days and will be flying in and out of Reykjavik. Myself and my wife are travelling together on this trip. Tourism is the main purpose of our visit, to see the beautiful landscapes and experience the rich culture and heritage offered by both the countries

Arrival date | Departure date | Days | City(Country) 20 August 2017 | 21 August 2017 | 1 | Stockholm(Sweden) 21 August 2017 | 31 September 2017 11 | Reykjavik – Bruarfoss – Vik – Hof – Detifoss – Husavik – Latrabjarg -Reykjavik (Iceland) 1 September 2017 | 1 September 2017 | 1 | Reykjavik (Iceland) – Stockholm(Sweden)

……(continues)

P.S: Above itinerary was in table format. Couldn’t paste it in the same format. Please make a table.

3. I hope the above snapshot of my sister’s cover letter would have given you an idea about the answer for this question.

P.S: An invitation letter from your wife with her proof of residence must be attached with both of your documents and don’t forget to mention in the cover letter that you both are being invited by her and that the invitation doc is attached.

hello, i applied to france embassy and i got rejected today. me and my husband planning to travel France ( Paris) and Netherland (AMsterdam) from 4th Nov to 11th Nov. i am working and i have all documents from ITR papers to work leave letter and enough funds in account. Problem is my Husband only got 1 year ITR paper that is 2018 and he is working as share trader and handle clients but as freelancer. so how to show sponsor and what to mentioned on cover letter. who can be sponsor??? we both have funds in accounts but as he is freelancer is it going to hamper our visa decision?? can you please guide me how to make changes in our profile and get visa for france second time?? what all documents we show as to show ties to come back to home country??? i have my all bookings done. Flights and hotels all booked. i want visa to go.. please guide me

Try mentioning that you have strong family ties back here in India. Have a home and job to join back(for you) and projects to finish(for him). Otherwise, I guess, you have all req documents in place.

Hi, I’m from Mumbai & intend to travel to the Czech Republic for a few days. I am a confused as to whom the cover letter should be addressed, should it be addressed to the Embassy in Delhi or to their Honorary Consulate in Mumbai?

Don’t think that would matter as much as the content inside the cover letter. Either one would do

Me and my husband are planning to Go to Prague and Italy in Jan.We are applying to Prague as we are staying there for max. no of days as well as it being the country of entry.

The issue is I have been working for only 1.5 yrs and have 1 yr IT return document. Also my account shows liquid cash of 1.5 lakhs (FD of 1 lakh is there too but not liquid) Husband only got 3 year ITR paper and also approx 3 lakh cash in account. I am mentioning that I am working also submitting all docs(statements, NOC etc)

So whom to show as sponsor on my cover letter ?? Should I show self/joint/ husband as the sponsor on my letter? Please let me know.

You can say that you are sponsoring yourself.

Hi. Great Post. I have dropped you an email for further queries on my solo trip to Europe coming Feb. Hope to see a response. Thanks.

Hi , Thanks for your valuable post. I just wanted to know one thing , do I need to download the application form from the VFS Italy and then fill it out with a Pen. Otherwise there seems no other option, because attached is a PDF file on the website. The only option seems to be download the file and then fill it up with Pen. Can you please guide me to the correct way,

Yes, download it and take a print and fill it by hand.

Hi, Thank you for bringing up such a wonderful post. I have question before proceeding further for Schengen visa. I stay in Bangalore and my parents stay in Odisha. Their passports are issued recently in Odisha. Can we all apply together in Bangalore Vfs? If yes, do I need to mention that parents stays with me in Bangalore? P:S, I have to show their bank statement as well in support to show sufficient finances.

They can apply with you I guess. Please call VFS helpline and confirm

Hi Ashwini…I read all your comments respective of all questions you gave useful tips. So helpful. Thanks. Here is my Question…… I planning to travel with my minor kids to Malta…If i will get the Malta visa, can i book the ticket to France to visit the places in france and return from France.

If you plan so, please mention the same in cover letter and do all the bookings. Last time, we had a 6 hour layover in Paris and officials there did not allow us to go out though France was in Schengen and said that we did nit have a multiple entry visa. So mention that in cover letter and ask for a multiple entry access.

Hi, can you please help me with ‘covering letter for long term student visa’? I am from India and would be traveling to Italy for masters. Can you share if any examples?

The format is the same except the itinerary in the table form. Convince them that you are going there to study with all the related documents.

Hi Ashwini, i want to apply for a Schenegen Visa from French embassy. I am travelling with a group of 9 friends. Do i need to mention their names or passport numbers in the cover letter or attach their passport copies in the documents?

Well, 9 friends. Hmm.. Don’t think its required. It’ll be too much information and can confuse the embassy officer!

Hi. I am visiting germany for a conference (business visa) and i have hotel bookings for all the days in Berlin. But if time permits i might visit france and amsterdam.Now my doubt is..do i need to mention about the probable countries i might visit in the visa application form question no.22 where the column asks for ‘Member state (s) of destination’ ?

If you are going by road to France and Amsterdam, Then I dont think you need to mention that as there will rarely be checks on the road inside Schengen area. Otherwise, I guess, you must have to.

Hi ashwini,

i’m kranthi and Am applying for Student Visa( D-Visa) to Spain. I almost Completed with my Documents part . Preparing for Cover letter and this blog really helped me . Do you have any suggestion format for Student Visa as such a Sample Cover letter. Because the program Duration will be 18 months . i dont have any Accommodation proof because i have to go and find it out. But college gave me confirmation letter saying they will provide Accommodation but they didn’t mention address in specific .Should i mention this in my Cover letter

Yes. Please mention this in the cover letter.

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H1B Visa Stamping: Complete Guide to Getting Your Passport Stamp

The h1b visa stamping process is key for skilled professionals aiming to work in the u.s. it includes document preparation, an interview at a u.s. embassy, and ultimately obtaining a visa stamp. both first-time applicants and renewals require this step. proper preparation and understanding of the process ensure a smooth application journey..

Key Takeaways:

• H1B Visa stamping verifies eligibility to work in the U.S., with an interview and document check.
• All H1B applicants must schedule a stamping appointment, complete DS-160, pay fees, and gather required documents.
• Interview details and essential documents are vital; renewing, traveling, and visa stamp FAQs are addressed comprehensively.

Navigating the H1B Visa Stamping Process: A Comprehensive Guide

The H1B Visa is a significant pathway for skilled professionals around the world to live and work in the United States. The process involves several steps, and a crucial one among them is obtaining an H1B Visa stamp in your passport. This blog post aims to demystify the H1B Visa stamping process, addressing common queries and providing a step-by-step guide to ensure your application proceeds as smoothly as possible.

What is H1B Visa Stamping?

H1B Visa stamping is an essential part of the H1B visa application process. It’s essentially the verification process where the U.S. embassy or consulate in your home country validates your H1B visa, thereby stamping your passport as approval to work in the U.S. under this specific visa category. It involves ensuring all your documents are in order, participating in an interview, and ultimately having the visa stamped into your passport.

Who Needs H1B Visa Stamping?

As of 2023, whether you are a first-time applicant, looking to renew, or transferring your H1B visa, you are required to undergo the visa stamping process. Appointments for H1B Visa stamping can be scheduled through the official website of the U.S. Department of State, aligning with the latest regulations to streamline the application and ensure efficient service.

How to Get an H1B Visa Stamp?

Before delving into appointments, it’s essential to gather all necessary documents, which include: – A valid passport – DS-160 Form confirmation – Visa approval notice (Form I-797) – Employment verification letters – Bank statements – Educational documents – Pay stubs

Also of Interest:

List of canada public holidays 2024, understanding the june 2024 visa bulletin: a guide to u.s. immigration policies.

Canadian citizens, however, have a slightly altered pathway. They do not need a visa to enter the U.S. but must present the H-1B Approval Notice and a copy of the H-1B petition at the border to receive an I-94 indicating H-1B status.

Setting Up an H1B Visa Stamping Appointment

The initial step towards setting up an appointment for your H1B Visa stamping involves completing the online visa application (Form DS-160). It’s a non-negotiable component for your visa interview, accessible via the Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application platform. After filling out the DS-160 form, print out the confirmation page as you’ll need it later in the process.

Once the DS-160 form is completed, proceed to pay the non-refundable visa application fee. The receipt of this payment, along with your DS-160 confirmation number, paves the way for you to schedule your visa stamping interview through the profile you create in the U.S. Visa Appointment System.

For detailed instructions on scheduling an appointment and a list of required documents, applicants are advised to visit the following official U.S. Department of State website .

What Happens at the H1B Visa Stamping Interview?

Your H1B visa stamping interview is a pivotal step in the process. Here, your documents will be reviewed, and you’ll undergo biometric verification. The consular officer will ask you questions about your work, educational background, and your employer — be prepared to discuss your role, responsibilities, and even your post-visa plans.

If your visa is approved, the officer will inform you about the collection process for your passport with the newly stamped visa. Remember, being well-prepared and understanding your job role and the H-1B visa program is key to navigating the interview successfully.

Document Checklist for H1B Visa Stamping

Ensuring you have all necessary documents is pivotal. Here’s a quick checklist: – Passport – DS-160 Form confirmation page – Visa application fee receipt – A photograph as per U.S. visa specifications – Approval notice (Form I-797) – Employment verification letter

Visa Stamping for H4 Dependents

If you have a spouse and children who wish to join you in the U.S. under H-4 status, additional documentation during the visa consulate appointment will be necessary.

FAQs on H1B Visa Stamping

What is an h1b visa stamp.

It’s an endorsement in your passport showing you’re approved to enter the U.S. under the H1B visa program.

How can I renew my H1B visa stamp?

Renewal involves gathering essential documents, just like the initial application, and scheduling an appointment at a U.S. embassy or consulate.

How long does an H1B visa stamp last?

An H1B visa stamp is typically valid for three years, subject to your employment contract and your country of origin.

Can I travel without a valid H1B visa stamp?

As per the 2023 regulations, under certain conditions, H1B visa holders with an approved petition can enter the U.S. using an Electronic Travel Authorization instead of a visa stamp.

Where can I get my H1B visa stamp in the US?

H1B visa stamping cannot be done within the U.S. You must visit a U.S. consulate or embassy in your home country or a designated processing center.

Navigating the H1B Visa stamping process can be intricate, but with proper preparation and an understanding of the required steps, you can ensure a smoother journey towards securing your position to work in the U.S. Always check official resources and updates from the U.S. Department of State, as regulations and procedures may evolve.

This Article In A Nutshell:

The H1B Visa stamping process is essential for working in the U.S. Document checklist includes passport, DS-160, fee receipt, photos & I-797. Set up the interview, prepare for questions on work and employer. Visa valid for three years. Renew by gathering docs and scheduling. Stay updated with U.S. Department of State. — By VisaVerge.com

Understanding H1B Visa Stamping: Experiences and Expectations

Exploring H1B Visa Stamping Options for Applicants in the USA

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EAD for H4 Filing Experience – Check List, Covering Letter, How to Guide

Recently, one of my very good friend’s family filed for EAD with USCIS, under the recently passed EAD for H4 Rule . They were kind enough to share their EAD filing experience. Thanks to Siva and his family for sharing their short and sweet experience. You can share your experience by emailing us at [email protected] or using this form

Background:

We qualify for EAD for H4 under the I-140 approved category.  The applicant is on H-4 Visa and currently residing in USA.   The application was filed using the below set of documents.

EAD for H4 Documents Checklist :

• EAD Application Fee check for $410 payable to “U.S. Department of Homeland Security”.  ( Check USCIS website for most recent fee)
• Completed form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization
• Copy of my passport ( Front, Back and my VISA page )
• I-797A Approved form – H4 Approval Notice from USCIS
• I-797A My Spouse approved form (H1B Holder’s)
• I-797 My Spouse approved I 140
• Copy of I-94 of H4 holder
• Copy of I-94 of H1B Holder
• Copy of my husband’s passport ( H1B Holder’)
• Copy of my Marriage Certificate
• Copy of my ITIN number ( Individual Taxpayer Identification Number)
• 2 color passport photos ( 2×2 inches passport photos )
• Completed Form G1145 (optional document, if you want to get e-notification as SMS or email alert from USCIS).

Instructions for Filing I-765 EAD form for H-4 Visa Holders

• All the instructions to fill form are available at USCIS site

The EAD application for H4 visa holders is pretty straight forward. The answer for question 16 needs a bit of reading. Here are the suggestions.

• Question 16 Eligibility Category: For H4 person who want to apply of EAD need to fill in like (C)(26)() . Do not worry about the blank parenthesis.
• Question 18 Receipt Number : Answer to question 18 is the latest approved H1B approval receipt number of the H1B holder.
• Also, The application fee check for $410 USD ( Check USCIS website for most recent fee)
• ITIN number copy is not required.

Covering Letter for H4 EAD Application Sample

We have included a covering letter just to make sure, it lists all the documents as a general good practice.  You may download the Sample H4 EAD Covering Letter.

Is there any other H4 EAD filing tip that you want to share?  Add your thoughts as comments….

If you filed EAD for H4, please add your case to H4 EAD Case Tracker to share and track your case.

Other Articles

47 comments.

Do we need get attestation in i765 or it’s supporting documents ? This is for initial filling .

I am going to apply H4 EAD soon. Just like to know my husband I 797 approved from Texas center. So my new H4 ead will also get filed from same service center.

Kindly confirm

Regards sri

I am planning to apply h4 ead. But i dont have birth certificate. is it mandatory document? Or can i submit 10th/Adhar/ Any other evidence. Please let me know

I have all the documents and how should I submit the documents? which address should I mail it and which processing center is preferred.

H1B is visa extension is approved H4 Extension is still pending H4-EAD renewal needs to be applied.

Read Step3 of How to apply for h4 EAD

Can I apply for H4 EAD extension, while H4 extension is still in processing? it is been 3 months for H4 extension and it has not come yet, can I send the H4 EAD application to renewal (it is expiring next month).

Anything specific I need to do while doing this ?

You can do that, the only issue is that, if they look at H4 EAD first, then they will ask for H4 approval and may give RFE..if you do not send it, then it may get denied…

Good morning,can I know the fee I should submit for standalone h4 ead?

I see $410 but on few sites I see $495 which includes $85 biometric fee,my spouses h4 extension is approved recently but the h4 was submitted in Feb 2019 before the biometrics came into effect for h4

It is $410, if you only file H4 EAD. If you filed along with H4 Extension after Biometrics process, then that additional fee comes in. It does not apply to you as it was Feb.

Recently we got H1/h4 for 3 years but the passport of H4 is expiring 2020.

Does H4 EAD approval is based on the passport or H4 approved copy tenure?

Kindly revert

Usually, your I-94 is based on the expiry date on the passport. Nothing to worry, you can get it fixed. Check How to update I-94 after Passport Renewal

Thank you for quick reply.

My dependent passport is expiring in Sept 2020 but she got H4 ext until Jan 2022. Now if we apply for H4 EAD does they go by H4 apprved copy or passport Expiry date?

Usually, they try to give it until your I-94 valid date, which would be your passport expiry date. The logic is, you cannot work without having valid I-94 and status, hence that…

Hi Sandeep,

What was the outcome . Did your dependent got EAD based on passport date or H4 ext date until Jan 2022 ? I am in same category as well .

I am planning to change my status from OPT to H4 and applying for H4 EAD concurrently can you please mention the document checklist

Need help….

First name: Riya & Surname: Gupta

My Surname on passport is blank and Given name is ” Riya Gupta”. and on H4 Visa stamping/I-I-94 its “FNU Riya Gupta. On I-797/ US Driving license its ‘Riya Gupta’.

So now on I-765 EAD Form what name (First name? Family name?) should I use?

As you do not have your surname and it is blank on passport, you should follow this : First Name : FNU and your Last Name : Riya Gupta It is recommended to get it fixed to avoid future issues. You can read Surname Blank in Passport Issues – How to fix

USCIS website doesn’t mention anywhere that we need to submit H1B holder’s passport details.

I am applying for my wife EAD as she was on H4. And my question is that my Perm and I140 has been filed with my old address. I moved to new address recently, so what address should I mentioned in I-765 for my wife? I already filed AR-11 form (change of address)

I am planning to apply for EAD for my wife. She is on H4 visa but she does not have her own H4 version of I-797. Can I just submit my H1’s I-797 for her EAD? Please reply ASAP.

I am applying for H4 EAD for my wife but there is a possibility we might have to relocate while the application is being processed. Will updating USCIS with AR-11 form be enough or can I give my friend’s address instead so that he can receive it and mail me the document to us instead?

Thanks for your help in advance 🙂

Can someone answer this questions please?

Who should be signing the document under the ‘Certification’ section? Is the primary H1 holder or the spouse who is on H4 visa?

I had the same question too but if you thing about it, the first checkbox that you are checking says “I am applying for…..” . Hence I concluded it should be my wife (H4 holder) . Someone can correct me if I am wrong.

Hi I am applying for H4 EAD , my spouse H1 Transfer to new employer was approved and have a copy of the same where as my H4 case also approved with out any update on approval copy.

Can you suggest what can be done to get H4 approval copy ? Can i submit my EAD application with spouse H1B extension copy alone?

Just one page of approved I 140 copy (I-797) with priority date is sufficient for H4 EAD. My employer just provided that one page.

Thanks, Deepak

Is ITIN number for my wife compulsory when filing for her h4 ead.

It is not mandatory to submit ITIN when applying for H-4 EAD.

Do we need to submit the entire copy of H1b holder’s passport or just the bio and visa pages?

Just bio and visa pages.

Thanks Saurabh. I also have related questions.

Both I and my wife (h4) got our visas stamped during last India trip and we happened to renew our passports during the same trip. So the old cancelled passport has stamping for both of us. The old passport also has expired stamping of my previous employer. So do we need to submit all of the following:

1) New passport bio pages of both of us 2) Old passport bio (with cancelled stamp) and visa pages

So for point 2, do we need to submit visa stamping of old company as well as new company ?

Also they have listed the following identity documents that need to be submitted in the uscis site.

Birth certificate with photo, passport bio pages, visa stamping and national identity document. In this my wife doesn’t have birth certificate with photo and we are not sure about the national identity document (aadhar?). Is it enough if the passport bio page and visa page alone are submitted for this?

Yes, submit bio pages from both passports and all visa stamps (valid and canceled) from old passport. I don’t think the old company’s visa stamping is required, but better to share more than less.

You need to submit at least one of the docs from the list to establish the identity. Submitting bio page of the passport should be enough. Also, its Birth Certificate with Photo Id – it means you need to submit birth certificate and another document (like DL) having the photo. If the birth certificate has a photo, then that would be a baby photo 🙂

Hy I have received my approved I-140 , I applied H4 EAD for my spouse is it mandatory for my wife to stay in the country while the H4 EAD in process? please reply with your experience, as we have some immediate travel plans. Hope you are still monitoring this thread.

Did you get answer of this question?

Do we need I-94 copy of both ?

Shrikant patil,

Yes, submit I-94 copy of both H-1 and H-4 visa holder. If you don’t have one, you can generate it yourself online through CBP site.

My H1B is still under processing and I would like to apply for H4 EAD extension. Should I send the documents to USCIS Dallas or USCIS Vermont (as my H1 and spouse H4 is still under processing).

Hello, Do we need to send the original copy of spouse’s I797 form for H1-B and I797 for I140? Or just the photocopy is enough? Should we notarize all these photocopies? Thanks.

VIVEK CHANDRASEKARAN,

When submitting the EAD application, you need to submit copies of I-140 and 797. No need to notarize.

Thanks Saurabh for the quick response!

Hi, For a H4 EAD application have the following questions. Any help is greatly appreciated. 1) From the sample cover letter, is it safe to assume the order of stacking the documents is the order listed on the cover letter? 2) Is it ok to staple the documents or should we not? 3) Can we file it ourselves or should we go with a attorney ?

Kumar, 1. Just mention on the cover letter that “find following documents enclosed in this order” … 2. Don’t staple. Use the paper clip and bound them together. 3. You can do it yourself but if you are not comfortable then get an attorney. At times, H-1 holder’s attorney will do it for free (bill to H-1 employer)

Hi, I just wanted to know that can h4 visa holder will be eligable to work in usa,nd if its so then what would be the formality,

Why on earth there is no provision to extend L1 visa’s pending GC processing? With the stupid H1B lottery system, people that are on L1 visas for 5 years are forced to go through the lottery & leave the country. When H visa holders have the option of extending based on pending GC processing, why not L1?

Can you please suggest me on below situation..

My husband’s I-140 got approved last week but his H1B is going to expire on July 2nd 2015. Our I-94 is valid till March of 2016 though. He applied for H1B extension but employer did it on regular process, they are going to convert it into premium only after July 27th. Now my question is, if i want to apply for H4 EAD, how can i apply and when can i apply? And also can i apply for H4 EAD with only approved I-140? Please suggest me.

Thanks, Radhika

I am on h4 visa. How to apply and get h1b .

Well, this year’s quota is over. You can apply for next year quota that starts from April 1st of 2016. First, you need to find a job and then ask the employer to file H1B on your behalf.

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H-1B Cover Letter

Main navigation.

Every employment-based petition must be accompanied by a cover letter that describes the terms and conditions of employment, the nature of the job to be done by the employee, and the employee’s education and experience that make her/him qualified for the job.

The purpose of the cover letter is to demonstrate to USCIS that

• the position requires theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge
• the beneficiary has a bachelor’s or higher degree in the specific specialty or its equivalent as a minimum for the job.

The following information should be used as a guide to writing this letter:

• Language within brackets [  ] is for guidance, not to be used verbatim.
• Paragraphs two and six are intended for use verbatim.
• Don't number the paragraphs in the final letter.
• Please print the letter on the Department, Lab or PI’s letterhead, and include it with the documentation.
• The letter should be no longer than 2 pages.
• The highest degree earned by the beneficiary, as well as the field in which it was earned, must always be noted in the letter.

If you need any help developing the cover letter or have other questions, please send an email to [email protected] .

Director Regional Service Center Citizenship and Immigration Services Department of Homeland Security

re: H-1B petition for (Please pick one of the following):

• initial employment, consular processing
• initial employment, change of status within the US
• sequential employment (used for transfer of H)
• extension of petition and employment within the US
• extension of petition and employment, consular processing
• amendment of existing petition

sub: [name of H-1B beneficiary] employer: Stanford University

Dear Director:

• For consular processing only, add: The beneficiary is currently outside the United States and will apply for a visa at the consulate identified in the petition. Upon approval of the attached petition, the beneficiary will obtain a visa and/or seek admission at a port of entry and promptly begin employment at Stanford according to the terms and conditions described in the petition.
• If consular processing is not requested—if the change of status will occur in the US, the statement should be:
 Upon approval of the attached petition, the beneficiary will begin employment at Stanford according to the terms and conditions described in the petition.
• For extensions, the word "begin" should be replaced by "continue."
• For sequential employment  (transfer of H-1B sponsorship): The beneficiary is currently employed in H-1B status at (name of company) and the purpose of this petition is for Stanford to take over the visa sponsorship.
• For amendment of existing petition: The purpose of this petition is to amend the current valid H-1B status of the beneficiary based on (note whatever change is triggering the amendment - change of job title, responsibilities, worksite location, etc)
• Stanford University is a private research and teaching institution located south of San Francisco, California. The university is organized into seven schools, in addition to numerous research centers, institutions and laboratories. Stanford enrolls approximately 8,000 undergraduate and 9,000 graduate students annually. Stanford is a founding member of the Association of American Universities and managed $1.25 billion in research funding and $37.8 billion in endowment support.
• [Describe the department, lab or venue where the work will take place, giving general information about the kind of work performed, research carried out and the purpose, i.e., what is the objective of the work.]
• [Describe the specific job the employee will carry out. Be sure to use the same title that was submitted via the workflow Employment Visa Request form. Be sure to describe the job in terms of a body of specialized knowledge, explaining methodologies used to do the work, research or teaching, skills required, tools used and so on. State the term of appointment or hire and the salary; again, this information must be consistent with that provided earlier.]
• [Describe how the employee is qualified to fill the position, giving education level, field of study in which the degree was earned, where the education was gained, any training or skills the employee has that are used in performing the job, and other evidence that the employee is specifically qualified to do the work. This may include mention of publications or other professional accomplishments]
• Stanford affirms that it will comply with the terms of the labor condition application for the duration of the authorized period of stay. Stanford will be liable for the reasonable costs of return transportation of the beneficiary abroad, if the beneficiary is dismissed from employment before the end of the period of authorized stay.

[Name and title of supervisor]

For visitors, travel, student and other international travel medical insurance.

Home » Visas » Sample H4 Visa EAD Cover Letter

Sample H4 Visa EAD Cover Letter

Manisha Gupta 123 Park St, Apt 45 Edison, NJ 08830

Phone: (973) 555-0123 Email: [email protected]

October 6, 2020

To: USCIS Attn: H4 P.O. Box 660921 Dallas, TX 75266

(Exact address differs based on the applicant’s state of residence and delivery method: USPS vs private courier)

Re:  H4 – Employment Authorization Document Application

        Mrs. Manisha Gupta

        (Optional)  A-Number: A12345678 ( If allocated in past)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I currently hold a valid H4 visa based on the valid H-1B visa of my husband, Mr. Rahul Gupta.

I am herewith seeking an H4 Visa EAD based on the approval of the I-140 immigrant petition for my husband.

Please find the following documents enclosed herewith:

• Fee payment: Check payable to “United State Department of Homeland Security” in the amount of $495, which includes: $410 = Filing Fee $85 = Biometric Services Fee Alternatively, you can pay with a credit card. Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions in the amount of $495, which includes: $410 = Filing Fee $85 = Biometric Services Fee
• Completed and signed Form I-765
• Copy of Form I-94 (front and back, if applicable)
• Copy of my last EAD (if applicable)
• Copy of my passport showing picture, name, and date of birth
• Two photographs
• Form G-1145, E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance
• Copy of my marriage certificate
• Copy of my husband’s approved I-140 petition

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at my contact information mentioned above.  Otherwise, kindly issue me an H4 EAD at the earliest convenience.

Manisha Gupta

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