Do you know that there are more than 4,000 institutes in the USA and over 1 million international students studying in the United States? But to apply for the F1 Study Visa, you need an acceptance from a SEVP-approved School. But which institutes are SEVP-approved? How to keep yourself away from Fraud? In this post, I will share the step-by-step application process and the details about the US F1 Study Visa. Approximately 698,773 applications were received worldwide for the F1 Visa, out of which 445,418 visas were issued.

The US F1 Study Visa is a Non-immigrant Visa that allows foreign nationals to enter the United States to attend a University or college, High School, Private elementary school, Seminary, or Conservatory. Most of the students apply for this Visa to complete a degree program in the United States. Foreign students are also allowed to do Part-time work on an F1 Visa. More details about the Visa requirements and the process are given below.

US F1 Study Visa Application Process

The process for obtaining a US F1 visa to become an international student involves several steps:

1) Get Accepted to a SEVP Approved School

Before applying for the Visa, you’ll need an acceptance from a school/university approved by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). You can check if your school or university is SEVP-approved or not from here.

2) Get Form I-20

If you have secured admission, your institute will issue you a Form I-20, which is a key document for your visa application.

3) Pay the SEVIS Fee

SEVIS fee, also known as the I-901 SEVIS Fee, is a mandatory fee for international students and exchange visitors coming to the United States. It stands for Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. Your institute will guide you on how to pay the SEVIS fee. Read more about the SEVIS Fee.

4) DS-160 Visa Application

The DS-160 is the online non-immigrant visa application form. You will need to fill out the complete application. You can apply for this visa online from the US Embassy consulate of your country. Read more about DS-160.

5) Visa Interview

Once you submit the Visa application, you will be asked to schedule the appointment at the embassy. Bring all the documents on the day of the interview. The interview will be at the U.S. Embassy.

6) Decision on Visa

A consular officer will interview you to assess your eligibility for the F-1 visa. Once your visa is issued, you can travel to the United States.

Helpful Resources

Official Website of the US Student Visa

Remember, this is a general overview. It’s advisable to visit the official website for up-to-date information and processing time.