The United States continues to rank first among all countries when it comes to attracting international students who wish to obtain an education and pursue professions. The aspect of searching for scholarships in the USA for non U.S. citizens, especially where there is a visa sponsorship, is appealing for those who wish to lessen the financial burden and travel abroad. This article aims to be a practical source on how to get scholarship opportunities in the USA at no cost, how visa sponsorship opportunities work, how the application is done and how the international students can be assisted financially.

What makes the USA the first option for many students when going abroad for further education?

Before exploring the specifics of scholarships and sponsorship visas, it was necessary to know what makes so many learners move to the USA, their foremost study country.

Top Level Universities: The top universities are located in the USA where Harvard, MIT, Stanford are just a few of the top institutions of higher learning. Such institutions have their degrees accepted in any country.

Resources for Innovative Research: The concern for research in the USA is very much pronounced. Because of this, students are given further access to more labs and research grants. A plethora of students majoring in STEM are further exposed to cutting edge research opportunities.

Broadening Cultural Aspects In Terms of the Country’s Mix: A diaspora of international pupils makes it practical for the students to meet other students from various nations and cultures, clement with their studies hardly transforming it.

Career Prospects: Almost every global corporation has its headquarters in America. This means that while still in the country students get an opportunity for attachments, applications, and even employment possibilities.

Even so, this does not mean that it is cheap to study in the USA since the total cost is enormous. This is the reason scholarships come in helping those who do not have cash especially those sponsoring visas.

List of Scholarships for Foreign Nationals in the USA

A vast number of scholarships are open for international applicants and it includes some that come with visa sponsorship. Below are the major types of scholarships available to foreign students seeking to study in the USA

1. Scholarship for Non Parental Payments which represents the best focus towards education.

This kind of scholarship is awarded to a select group of students who have outstanding academic records. Tuition payment concerns are typically featured in these programs and in some cases, a stipend amount may be provided for accommodation expenses.

Cases in point:

Fulbright Foreign Student Program: The most widely regarded and respected of the scholarships in the world fulbright program grant foreign students a fully funded scholarship inclusive of visa sponsors

Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program: A non-degree program that provides professional and educational activities to Indonesian foreign non degree programs participants.

Applying for merit scholarships is an arduous task as these scholarships are limited to a few number of students and they require a high achievement level in one’s education, positive recommendations and even outstanding investment in other activities in some instances. 2. Need-Based Scholarships. These are scholarships that are occasioned by the student’s inability to meet the educational fees. In USA, there are some colleges which attains national popularity honorary based on the student’s grades and financial assistance particularly to foreign students. Examples: International Student Financial Aid (ISFA): A number of US colleges offer such financial aid on need-based terms as International Student Financial Aid through this program. In order for students to be eligible, they have to budget for their needs and get accepted by the university on certain academic benchmarks.

Clark University Global Scholars Program: These scholarships are available to first-year international students who have shown a financial need within the AY 2010-2011.

3. Program Specific Scholarships There are also grants that are offered in relation to the specific programs like sports, arts, engineering and business related programs. Evaluate all the specific funds available for your program if you are applying for a program.

Examples: Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Program: It sponsors students from developing nations aiming for master’s degrees in American universities. This particularly applies to postgraduate students because the undergraduate students have a different center of interest.

Joint Japan World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program: For students from developing nations undertaking master’s degree programs in certain areas pertaining to women development.

4. University-Specific Financial Aids

Some of the universities in the USA provision some scholarships particularly to international students. They may be based on merit or on needs and visa sponsorship is sometimes included.

Examples:

Stanford Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program: s a grant awarded to students attending Stanford University to cater for their tuition, boarding and visa expenses.

Yale University Scholarships: International students in Yale are incorporated in a nondiscriminatory policy and need based financial aid awarded that may grant living and tuition costs of great many hundred.

5. Country-Specific Scholarships

Some scholarships are intended for students from specific countries such as developing countries or countries which are not really represented This enables them to avail of financial aid options specifically targeting developing nations.

Examples:

USAID Scholarships: This form of scholarship is limited to the developing world countries who are part of USAID’S purpose of expanding education and development.

Mandela Washington Fellowship: This award aims to empower young African leaders and thus is targeted at the youth leaders in Africa.

6. Private and Corporate Scholarships

In the USA many private organizations and corporations award scholarships for students from outside. These scholarships usually have benefits such as pulling certain stints after graduation or volunteer work.

Examples:

Microsoft Scholarships: These apply to foreign students majoring in Union technology areas.

The Google Lime Scholarship: This scholarship is aimed at disabled students pursuing a career in computer science and technology.

Visa Sponsorship Options for Students Who Are Foreign Nationals

Finding a scholarship is only a part of the whole procedure. As an overseas learner, obtaining a visa is imperative if you wish to study in the U.S, thankfully there are scholarships that come fully sponsored with visa sponsorship thus assuring you that you meet the legal conditions. Below are some visa types that go hand in hand with international students:

1. F-1 Visa (Student Visa)

F1 wisa may be the less-complicated type of visa to acquire by foreign students as long as they are registered in college or other forms of an academic program in the United States of America. For you to be able to undergo this procedure, you should be a full-time student in an authorized school within the US, have the ability to take care of your finances and have something that will make you go back to your country of origin after the schooling period is over.

Scholarships which allow individuals to work in the US by enabling them to meet the challenges involved in the application of the visa F-1 such as are present in this case, a large number of universities provide such assistance in the USA.

2. J-1 Visa (Visa for cultural exchange activities or other non-immigrant activities)

Countries participating in the exchange programs issue J-1 visas mainly to the exchange students, scholars or other people involved in the cultural exchange programs. This visa is also common for students participating in sponsored programs, such as Fulbright scholarships.

Fulbright programs are such that not only do they sponsor students, but they also assist in the visa application process especially for the J1 visa as students require J1 visa to finance their studies abroad.

3. M-1 Visa (Non-U.S. citizen student undertaking a vocational course)

This M-1 visa is for students attending vocational non academic programs. Less frequently than the F-1, a small number of international students in technical programs might have access to this type of visa.

4. OPT (Optional Practical Training) and CPT (Curricular Practical Training)

Once you acquire your visa, there are programs such as OPT and CPT which enable you to work in the United States during or even after the course. Such programs are available under the F-1 visa, and there are many scholarships which come with visa sponsorship under which also gives directions on how to apply for opt and CPT.

5. Graduate Assistant visa sponsorship

Graduate students of international background who take up studies in America may acquire visa sponsorship through the assistantship scheme. These posts usually come along with subsidizing of fees and allowances for research and or teaching services rendered.

It usually happens that graduate assistants do not handle so many stresses due to the F-1 visa acquired sponsorship done mainly by the university.

How to Receive Scholarships in the USA

The procedure for applying for scholarships is not universal because it may differ between Unity Center Hawaii University scholarships or Lohr University Park City. Nevertheless, some steps below in more general terms may be followed:

1. Explore Different Scholarship Programs

Start off by exploring scholarship programs that best coincide with your area of study as well as the amount of money in your pocket. Particularly consider those scholarships that have one of the provisions that they are able to grant sponsorship for visa, so that the process of coming to study in America gets easier.

2. Fulfill the Basic Requirements

There are specific areas in which every scholarship will have restrictions based on such considerations as the applicants’ academic ability, area of study, nationality of the applicants, and even possible sponsorships. Make sure you will be able to prove these particulars before applying.

3. Gather the Required Documents

Almost all scholarship applications will require you to include the following:

Transcripts

Recommending letters

An essay or personal statement

Need assessment (for need based scholarship)

Standardized tests outcomes (TOEFL, IELTS, SAT, GRE)

4. Submit the Application As Soon As Possible

Deadlines for scholarship applications can be different but such applications usually are available a few months ahead of the academic year. It increases your chances of being considered for the scholarship as most have limited availability.

5. Get Ready for Interviews

Particular scholarships (especially those which have a visa sponsorship) may also be obtained through a telephonic interview. You may be asked your educational background, your work experience and your reasons for studying in the USA.

6. Make Confirmations

After applying for the scholarship, be sure to look for the results as well. Some scholarships will require other documents or a call, and thus the scholarship agency must be kept informed.

Conclusion

Obtaining a visa sponsored scholarship in America is a goal that a good number of students studying abroad strives to accomplish. If you are careful and do good research in the process of making your application, it is possible to hunt scholarships that will enable you pursue your studies without the very damaging effects of finances. Never neglect to satisfy the application requirements and explain why you are the one who has to be selected.

With the help of the resources offered in this article, international students can utilize the attractive opportunities of US scholarships and visa sponsorship successfully.