Get ready to study abroad in America with our step-by-step guide to F-1 visa rules.
Learn about the F-1 student visa application process if you want to study in the United States. You can join the more than one million international students who are currently studying abroad in the United States with a little planning and direction. We have created this comprehensive guide on US visas to assist you in getting started, so you can learn about F-1 visa criteria, regulations, and definitions.
What Is a F-1 Visa?
International students can study in the US at establishments approved by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) using the F-1 student visa, a non-immigrant visa. The most common kind of student visa for those wishing to attend a US college or university, the F-1 visa can only be applied for if your application has been approved by a recognized US university.
The length of your stay as an F-1 student will change depending on the course you choose. Your program's expiration date will be listed on the I-20 form that the university you want to attend will give. The completion of your degree prior to the specified expiration date will determine how long you are permitted to stay in the United States.
You might be qualified to apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) after graduating. This will allow you to work in a field related to your studies for a maximum of 12 months while you are in the US. Graduates in STEM fields may apply for two further years of work experience in a related field. Within 60 days following your graduation, you must return home if you are not granted any extensions or additional training. Shorelight can assist you in determining what to do with your F-1 visa following graduation if you would want further information.
F-1 Visa Requirements
If you intend to apply for an F-1 student visa, there are a few rules you should be aware of. These conditions must be fulfilled in order for your application to be approved:
How to Apply for a F-1 Visa
Before you begin your F-1 visa application, you must take the following steps:
The F-1 visa for Indian students information on Shorelight is helpful if you are applying for an F-1 visa from India.
You will be prepared to finish and submit your application for an F-1 student visa after you have finished these stages.
F-1 Visa Application Process
1. Get Accepted and Get Your I-20
When you are accepted to a US university with SEVP certification, the F-1 student visa application procedure begins. The US government uses SEVP accreditation as evidence that your university is both recognized and adequately resourced to offer you an education.
Your university will provide your I-20 form after you are accepted. This form records your study schedule and offers corroborating details about your visit.
When your I-20 is issued, the following details are entered into the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS):
Based on the information you submit with your university application files, your university gives this information.
Make sure that the information on your I-20 is correct as soon as you receive it, and then sign the bottom of the first page. Correcting an error on your I-20 can take a while, and if it is not done correctly, you can not be allowed entry into the nation. When visiting the US, keep your form I-20 with you. It is required for entry into the US, employment, and other purposes (such as obtaining a US driver's license).
US VISAS TIP
Throughout the entire visa process, stay in contact with your Shorelight enrollment counselor. This includes arranging your visa interview, submitting your application, and, of course, waiting for your application to be accepted.
2. Pay Your SEVIS Fee
Your F-1 student visa will cost you about $510 in total, which includes maintenance and processing costs for SEVIS as well as the cost of the visa itself.
Make sure to save the I-901 SEVIS fee receipt. You will need it for your visa interview.
3. Complete Your DS-160 Visa Application
Your application for a visa is your DS-160. To obtain an F-1 visa, all aspiring international students need to fill out a DS-160 form.
Following the successful submission of your DS-160, a printed confirmation with a barcode will be sent to you. You will need this form for your visa interview, so save it.
4. Schedule Your Visa Interview
Make an appointment for your visa interview at the closest US embassy or consulate. Keep in mind that wait times might take months and vary by nation, so make sure to schedule your appointments as soon as possible!
Ask your enrollment counselor about recommendations for student visa interviews or how to organize a practice interview if you are enrolling through Shorelight at a US university. By rehearsing your visa interview beforehand, you will feel more at ease during the proceedings.
5. Attend Your Visa Interview
In the interview phase of your F-1 visa application, the US consulate or embassy verifies that you are a bona fide, serious student traveling to study. You must also demonstrate at your visa interview that you have the money to pay for your studies in the US and that you want to return home after your studies are done. Though there are a few very unusual exceptions (such as if you are younger than 14 or older than 80, or if you meet certain requirements for visa renewal), it is mandatory that you attend your visa interview in person.
You will receive your F-1 visa and obtain F-1 status once your visa interview is approved. It is officially approved for you to study in the USA!
Visit Travel.state.gov to find out more. For overseas students, Shorelight offers application support if you need it with preparing or submitting your application.
F-1 Visa Admission Requirements
Before you attend your visa interview, make sure to have the following documents ready for evaluation by the consular officer:
During your interview, the consular officer may request additional documents. To prepare, consider bringing the following documents:
F-1 Visa Interview
You may be nervous about your impending interview as an international student. Although having anxiety is natural, do not forget to breathe deeply and keep in mind that you are well-prepared! Although it is an essential interview, it should not be a stressful one.
F-1 Visa Denials
It is possible that your application for an F-1 visa will be rejected. In the event that this occurs, you will receive a written explanation that includes the specific legal provision that prompted the application's denial.
It is crucial that you thoroughly read and adhere to all instructions in order to prevent having your F-1 student visa application refused. Make sure all of your documents are correct before submitting your application. To make this procedure easier for you, Shorelight advisers can help with visas. They are delighted to help you arrange all the necessary paperwork in the right formats and on time.
Recall that you must adequately prove in your F-1 student visa interview that you are coming to the US for academic purposes and that you want to return home after your program is over. Remember this when responding to interview questions.
Maintaining F-1 Visa Status
To continue studying in the US as an international student, you must actively preserve your F-1 status. You have to abide by the rules and regulations of the university as well as the terms and conditions outlined in your F-1 visa requirements in order to accomplish this.
When entering the US:
While studying in the US:
Remember to finish at least one full academic year at your university before taking a sabbatical or going on vacation. You also need to sign up for classes for the following academic term after your vacation.
Can F-1 International Students Work in the US?
Yes, you will be able to work in the US on a F-1 student visa. However, you will have to follow certain F-1 visa rules and restrictions:
If your university permits it, you will be able to work full-time during the breaks in classes. Visit USCIS.gov to find out more about working as an F-1 international student.
When searching for work while you study, make sure to seek approval from your DSO first.
Remember that you will have 60 days to leave the US after your program is through. You can discuss your alternatives with a Shorelight counselor if you would like to stay longer, including moving to a different school or pursuing additional education. To review your options, you can also consult Shorelight's F-1 extension guide.
Now that you understand how foreign students might obtain US non-immigrant visas, make a list of the things you need to do next and get going. Your chances of being accepted into an American university will increase the earlier you start meeting the requirements for a study visa to the United States.