How to get an F-1 visa to study in the USA

Are you planning to study in the United States? If yes, then the first thing you need to remember is securing a US study visa.

If you plan to travel alone (with your spouse or dependents), your best US study visa is an F-1 study visa. If you are planning to travel with your spouse or dependents, you will need to obtain an F-1 study visa for your spouse and dependents.

Getting a US study visa of any kind is not a hard task so long as you are qualified and know the process of obtaining one.

This article highlights everything you need about an F-1 visa, including obtaining an I-20 form. Read on to learn more.

Jump to the specific links.

What is an F-1 study visa?

How long are F-1 visas valid?

Before you apply for your F-1 visa

The application process for F-1 visas

•Where can you apply for your F-1 student visa?

•How much does an F-1 visa cost?

•When can you apply for your F-1 visa?

Documentation required for your F-1 visa application

What questions to expect in the F-1 visa interview

After you get your F-1 visa

What is an F-1 study visa?

An F-1 visa, also known as an F-1 study visa, is a non-immigrant visa for anyone who wants to study in the United States. This visa is required for all non-US citizens or permanent residents of the US who intend to pursue undergraduate, graduate, or postgraduate studies in the United States.

If you plan to travel to the US to pursue a short-term, non-degree course, you MAY not be required to obtain an F-1 visa. Usually, this exception applies to those with a visitor visa. If you are already in the US on a tourist or visitor visa and wish to pursue a course that might take you longer than your permitted stay, you should consult your immigration advisor.

You need to remember that all non-immigrant visas, including an F-1 visa, allow the beneficiaries to enter the United States and stay there for a specific period. You will need to leave the country before the permitted period expires. Otherwise, you can apply to the immigration department for your stay to be officially and legally extended.

On the other hand, immigrant visas allow the beneficiaries to enter, remain or re-enter the United States for as long as they wish.

Key points to take note of:

• An f-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa for education.
• Valid for the length of your degree
• Required by all non-US citizens who aren’t in the United States when they’re applying
• Can be extended after expiry if you are accepted for Optional Practical Training (OPT)

How long are F-1 visas valid?

All F-1 visas plus F-2 visas given to spouses and independents are valid for your study period, usually a maximum of 60 months.

For instance, if admitted to a four-year degree program, you will be given an F-1 visa for four years. If it’s a 1-year graduate program, you will be given an F-1 visa valid for 12 months.

There are additional regulations:

Some students from certain countries may only be allowed to stay in the United States for less than the length of their study. For instance, those nationals may be given an F-1 visa valid for 1 year even though they were accepted for a 4-year degree program. This regulation requires students to go to the immigration department or travel back to their countries to renew their F-1 visas. You can find specifics about your country here.

Your F-1 visa validity may be extended if you apply for OPT F-1 visa extension. This is optional practical training for students who want to extend their stay in the US after their studies to pursue work experience.

Note: A study visa, whether issued by the United States or a third-world country like Kenya, is not a right. It is a privilege. Each country can impose preferred additional restrictions or deny the issuance of the study visa even when one meets all the application criteria.

Things you need to do before you apply for your F-1 VISA

You may be wondering about the things you need to do before you can apply for your F-1 visa. Worry no more. Here are the things you need to do:

• You must obtain a valid admission letter from a SEVP-approved institution.
• You have a valid I-20 form from the institution that offered you admission.

An admission letter is not enough proof that you have been admitted. A 1-20 form acts as an official document that shows that you have proved to the institution that you have enough money to finance your education and cover other expenses you might incur while studying in the United States. You can’t apply for an F-1 visa without this coveted form.

TIP: Most institutions include a 1-20 form in the admission letter mailing package. Otherwise, your institution’s international student office will guide you on obtaining the form as soon as you are admitted.

The application process for F-1 visas

How do you apply for an F-1 visa? This is one question most admitted students frequently search for answers to online.

As stated earlier, you must apply for your F-1 visa ONLY when you have a valid 1-2 form. The application process includes the following:

• Completing application form DS-160.
• Paying the required fee.
• Going for an in-person interview at your nearest consulate or embassy.

The application process is not the same for all nationals. A few specifics and exceptions apply to applicants from different countries. To help you understand the application process, let’s explore the above sections to understand what you need to do.

Where can you apply for your F-1 student visa?

You will need to complete the DS-160 form online. Although you will apply for your F-1 student visa online, you are applying for a visa at a specific US consulate or embassy. Once you complete your online application, you must pay the processing fee, which varies depending on your country of residence. 

Once you pay, you must download a copy of DS-160 and the receipt and take them to the consulate or embassy for your visa interview.

How much does an F-1 visa cost?

You must pay $160 to have your F-1 study visa processed. If you have a spouse or dependents accompanying you to the United States, you will pay an additional $160 for each person’s F-2 visa.

The visa application fee is the only official fee you will pay to the US government. Other than the application fee, you may also incur unofficial costs such as printing the required forms or traveling to the embassy for an in-person interview.

Note that nationals of certain countries may be required to pay an additional amount for visa application or processing.

Vit the US State Department’s website for a list of additional or exceptional fees for different nationals.

Regarding the payment of visa application fees, each US consulate or embassy has its instructions for visa fee payment. You must check the instructions your local consulate or embassy provided before you submit your application.

When can you apply for your F-1 visa?

You must apply for your F-1 visa as soon as you receive an admission letter and 1-20 form. You should have all the supporting documents and visa application fees ready before you begin the application process.

There is no specific your visa application will take to get approved. It’s up to the embassy or consulate to decide when to issue a study visa. Usually, all embassies or consulates are required to follow the US government visa approval procedures before allowing entry.

The time it takes to be issued an F-1 visa depends on the following:

• Your nationality
• The consulate or embassy where you apply (some are super busy)
• The number of applications received by a consulate or embassy in a given period
• When immigration officials are available for an in-person interview
• Whether immigration officials have questions or require additional documentation regarding your application.

Wrapping Up

Start the application process early if you intend to apply for an F-1 study visa. Also, ensure you have a 1-20 form, admission forms, all supporting documentation, and visa application fee ready before you begin the application process.