About United States of America The United States of America—commonly referred to as the United States, the U.S., the USA, or America—is a constitutional federal republic comprising fifty states and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its forty-eight contiguous states and Washington, D.C., the capitaldistrict, lie between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, bordered by Canada to the north and Mexico to thesouth. Capital cities New York Chicago Washington D.C. Los Angeles San Francisco Boston Area Land and water: 9,629,091 Km2 Population The USA – approximately 308,245,538. (New York: 8,250,567; Chicago: 2,833,321; Washington DC: 5,306,565; Los Angeles: 3,849,378; San Francisco: 4,203,898; Boston: 4,482,857). Languages The United States does not have an official language; however, the majority of the population speaks English as a native language (about 82%.) The Spanish language is the second-most common language in the country, spoken by almost 30 million people. Both Spanish and English have the status of official language. Religion Most people are Christian (71%), although all other religions including Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam and Sikhism are freely practiced. Economic profile The United States has a capitalist mixed economy, which is fueled by abundant natural resources, a well-developed infrastructure, and high productivity. The United States is the largest importer of goods and third largest exporter. The United States is the third largest producer of oil in the world, as well as its largest importer. It is the world's number one producer of electrical and nuclear energy, as well as liquid natural gas, sulfur, phosphates, and salt. Currency The United States dollar (sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of currency of the United States. The U.S. dollar is normally abbreviated as the dollar sign, $, or as USD or US$. Time Diff Washington 9 hrs 30 min behind IST Climate mostly temperate, but tropical in Hawaii and Florida, arctic in Alaska, semiarid in the great plains west of the Mississippi River, and arid in the Great Basin of the southwest; low winter temperatures in the northwest are ameliorated occasionally in January and February by warm chi nook winds from the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. Why Study in USA? For any international student, the U.S.A. has a lot to offer: the most prestigious, top ranked education anywhere in the world, eclectic cities and beautiful natural parks, artistic, cultural, political and athletic events, and a very multicultural population. Diversity The land and people of the U.S.A. are incredibly varied. Wherever you choose to study, you will encounter a regional culture rich in history, local traditions and customs. The U.S.A. is a multi-racial society that is still absorbing new immigrants, which makes it a very dynamic and exciting place to experience. While students must exercise caution in a few locations, in much of the U.S.A., streets and university campuses are clean and safe. Differences You may be surprised at your professors’ willingness to challenge authority. Academic freedom is one of the hallmarks of a U.S. university. You will notice different perspectives on instruction. In the U.S.A., students are trained to observe and analyze a problem, then solve it. You will be expected to listen to your classmates and challenge their points of view. The goal is pragmatic, so that you will gain confidence and the ability to organize and present an argument. Most U.S. university students live on or near the school campus. When you are studying in the U.S.A., you will have many opportunities to join planned and informal activities with other students, such as hiking, skiing, museum visits, excursions to new cities, and U.S.A. tourist attractions. Imagine visiting New York and taking a ferry to the Statue of Liberty! The Leading Edge While studying in the U.S.A., you will be exposed to some of the most up-to-date developments in technology. The U.S.A. is the leader in many areas of technology. Visa Procedure The first process in the student visa application is obtaining the form I-20. We have an extensive database of schools located throughout the United States, including English as a Second Language schools, vocational schools, colleges and universities. Select where in the Unites States of America you would like to live and study. Choose the type of school you would like to attend, such as: University, College, Graduate School, ESL (English as Second Language) or Vocational School. Contact the school and start the admission process. Upon acceptance by school, the school will issue you an I-20 form (the required document you need to apply for F-1 student visa). With the I-20 form you can apply for a student visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate. You may be legally authorized to work in the United States while on a F-1 student visa. F-1 Student Visa Eligibility Requirements: An applicant for a US student visa must come to the United States to pursue an academic program in an institution recognized by the United States government. The foreign citizen must have a valid educational purpose for coming to the United States and be a full time student. It is not possible to be a part-time student on an F-1 Visa. The student can stay in the United States for as long as he/she is enrolled in university. The F-1 student visa is normally issued at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the student’s home country. Foreign students may enter the United States multiple times if they hold a valid F-1 Student Visa. It is important that the F-1 Student Visa holders have all the necessary documents and signed authorizations to avoid any problems at the U.S. port of entry. The passport must also be valid for a certain amount of time in order to be granted entry. F-1 Visa holders can also travel freely within the within the United States. Working on F-1 Student Visa: Students may work on campus as long as they are enrolled in university/ school. Students may take advantage of Optional Practical Training (OPT) once the degree is completed as a full time employee. |
