USA Student Visa (F-1) & USCIS/SEVP guide

The process, step by step

• Get admitted to a SEVP-certified US university and receive your Form I-20.
• Pay the SEVIS I-901 fee and keep the receipt.
• Complete the online DS-160 nonimmigrant visa application and upload your photo.
• Pay the visa application fee and schedule your F-1 visa interview at the nearest US Embassy or Consulate.
• Attend the interview with your I-20, DS-160 confirmation, passport and financial evidence.
• Once approved, collect your F-1 visa and travel — you may enter the USA up to 30 days before your program start date.

Documents you’ll typically need

• A passport valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay.
• Form I-20 issued by your university’s international office.
• SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt and DS-160 confirmation page.
• Visa appointment confirmation and a passport-style photo to US specification.
• Proof of funds to cover tuition and living costs (bank statements, sponsor letters, scholarship award).
• Academic transcripts, certificates and standardized test scores (TOEFL/IELTS, SAT/ACT or GRE/GMAT).

Costs & timelines

Budget for the SEVIS I-901 fee and the visa application (MRV) fee — together typically a few hundred US dollars, plus any issuance/reciprocity fee for your country. Interview wait times vary widely by location, so apply as soon as you have your I-20; many students start 2–3 months before their intake.

After you arrive — OPT & staying in status

Maintain full-time enrolment to keep your F-1 status. After graduation you can apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) for up to 12 months of work, and graduates in eligible STEM fields can add a 24-month STEM OPT extension.

This guide is general information, not immigration advice. Always follow the latest official guidance from the US Department of State (travel.state.gov), USCIS/SEVP and your university’s international student office.