About

The F-1 Student Visa is a non-immigrant visa for people who want to study full-time in the United States. It is one of the most common visas for international students. With it, you can attend universities, colleges, high schools, seminaries, conservatories, or language training programs, as long as the school is certified by SEVP (Student and Exchange Visitor Program). This visa is given for the duration of your study program, plus some extra time at the end to prepare for departure.

Who can apply

To qualify for the F-1 Student Visa, you need to:

• Be accepted by a SEVP-approved school and receive a Form I-20 from them.
  
  
• Enroll full-time in your program (exceptions are rare and need approval).
  
  
• Show proof of financial support so you can pay for tuition and living expenses during your studies.
  
  
• Have a valid passport that remains valid throughout your stay.
  
  
• Prove that you plan to return home after your studies, since this is a temporary visa.
  
  
• Meet English language requirements, unless you are coming to the U.S. specifically for an English language program.
  
  

There are no strict age limits, but students must usually meet the academic level of the program they are applying for.

Benefits

• Wide access to education: You can study at thousands of U.S. institutions, from short language programs to PhD degrees.
  
  
• Stay for the whole program: Your stay is marked as “D/S” (duration of status), meaning you can remain in the U.S. as long as you are studying full-time.
  
  
• 60-day grace period after graduation: You can use this time to prepare to leave the U.S. or change to another visa.
  
  
• Work opportunities:
  
  
• On-campus part-time jobs.
  
  
• Curricular Practical Training (CPT) if it is part of your studies.
  
  
• Optional Practical Training (OPT) after you finish, which allows up to 12 months of work experience in your field.
  
  

Bring your family: Spouses and children under 21 can join you under the F-2 visa. Spouses cannot work, but children can go to school.

Real-Life Example

Noura, a 19-year-old from Morocco, was accepted into a U.S. university in California. Her school issued a Form I-20, and she applied for the F-1 visa. While studying business full-time, she works 15 hours a week at the university library (on-campus work allowed). After graduation, she plans to use OPT to get one year of work experience with a U.S. company before returning home.

Frequently Asked Questions