Study in USA | F-1 visa guide
Form I-20, DS-160, SEVIS and MRV fees, the consular interview, work rules, and the new fixed-admission policy - the complete US student visa roadmap in one place.
Every year, Indian students form the largest group of international students in the United States. The F-1 visa is the gateway: it is issued for academic study at a SEVP-certified university and is governed by two separate arms of the US government - the Department of State issues the visa, while the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) governs your status after entry.
This guide walks through the complete journey - counselling, admission, Form I-20, DS-160, fees, interview, and pre-departure - and separates university admission requirements from US immigration requirements, so you always know which rule applies to which step.
F-1 (academic students); F-2 for spouse and unmarried children under 21
US Department of State issues the visa; DHS/ICE (SEVP) governs status after entry
Form I-20 from a SEVP-certified school - no I-20, no visa application
$350 per F-1 applicant (F-2 dependants exempt) - paid at fmjfee.com
$185 per applicant, including each F-2 dependant - non-refundable
$250, enacted July 2025 and being phased in at US consulates - budget for it
In-person interview required for essentially all F-1 applicants, including renewals (since October 1, 2025 policy)
Typically 60 months, multiple entries - your authorized stay inside the US is governed separately
Up to 30 days before the program start date on your I-20 (visas can be issued up to 365 days before)
A structured profile review maps your academics, backlogs, test status, budget, intake, and career goal to realistic US options. This is also where admission-versus-visa planning starts: universities evaluate your academics, while the visa interview later tests your intent, funding clarity, and study plan.
Shortlist 6-10 SEVP-certified universities across ambitious, moderate, and safe categories. Check each program's English test, GRE/GMAT policy, tuition, scholarship options, and STEM designation (CIP code) - STEM eligibility decides your 24-month OPT extension later.
Applications go directly to universities or through portals. Typical requirements: transcripts (10th, 12th, bachelor's), English test score, SOP/LORs, resume, passport copy, and application fees. GRE, SAT, or GMAT are submitted only where required or where they strengthen your profile.
After your offer and deposit/sevis release, the university's DSO issues Form I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status) through SEVIS. The I-20 carries your SEVIS ID (N00...), program dates, and cost breakdown. Check every field - name, passport details, program, dates, funds - and sign it. You need this I-20 for the SEVIS fee, DS-160, visa interview, and travel.
Universities set their own I-20 funding threshold - most ask for liquid funds covering the first year (tuition + living); some ask for the full program. The US government sets no fixed amount for the visa; the consular officer must be satisfied that funds are genuine, readily available, and consistent with your sponsor's income. Typical evidence: education loan sanction letter, 3-6 months of bank statements or solvency certificate, fixed deposits, sponsor affidavit with ITRs (usually 3 years), CA statement, salary slips, and property or agricultural income documents.
Pay the I-901 SEVIS fee at fmjfee.com using the SEVIS ID from your I-20, and print the receipt - you must carry it to the interview. The fee is $350 for F-1 (F-2 dependants pay nothing). If you are refused and reapply within 12 months, the fee does not need to be paid again.
The DS-160 (ceac.state.gov) is the online nonimmigrant visa application. Fill it yourself or with your counsellor, answer every question truthfully, and list all social media identifiers used in the last five years - officers review online presence. Submit, print the confirmation page with barcode, and remember: you must carry the confirmation page of the exact DS-160 used to book your appointment.
The Machine Readable Visa (MRV) fee is $185 per applicant - including each F-2 dependant - and is non-refundable even if the visa is refused. The payment receipt is valid for one year, within which you must schedule your interview. Budget separately for the $250 Visa Integrity Fee, which is being rolled out at consular posts following the July 2025 law.
For India, appointments are booked through usvisascheduling.com. You first attend biometrics (10 fingerprints) at a Visa Application Centre, then the consular interview at your chosen post - New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, or Kolkata. Book the moment your I-20 arrives: peak-season slots (May-August) fill months ahead, and since the October 2025 policy change, in-person interviews are required for essentially all applicants - dropbox/interview-waiver renewals for F-1 have effectively ended.
The interview usually lasts a few minutes. Expect questions on why this university and program, how you will fund your studies, your academic background and gaps, and your plans after graduation. Answer precisely, honestly, and consistently with your I-20, DS-160, and financial documents. Ties to India - family, property, career plan - matter, because F-1 is a nonimmigrant visa.
Approved: the consulate retains your passport for stamping and returns it by courier - F-1 visas for Indian nationals are typically issued for 60 months, multiple entries. 221(g): administrative processing - additional documents or background checks add days to months; respond promptly. Refused under 214(b): the officer was not convinced of nonimmigrant intent or funding; you can reapply with a stronger file (new MRV fee applies; SEVIS fee stays valid for 12 months).
Pay tuition and any GIC-style deposits the university requires, confirm housing and insurance, book flights to arrive no more than 30 days before your program start date, and carry your I-20, admission letter, financial documents, and originals in cabin baggage. At the port of entry, CBP admits you for your program dates (fixed admission from September 15, 2026). Report to your DSO immediately - SEVIS activation is mandatory to keep your status valid.
Critical distinction: there is no IELTS, TOEFL, or GRE score set by US visa rules. A university's IELTS requirement is an admission requirement only - the consular officer instead assesses whether you can genuinely communicate and pursue your stated program.
| Test | Typical university requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.0 - 7.0 overall | Most widely accepted; some programs set section minimums |
| TOEFL iBT | 79 - 100 | Preferred by some engineering and CS programs |
| PTE Academic | 58 - 70 | Fast results; accepted by hundreds of universities |
| Duolingo English Test | 105 - 125 | Cheapest and fastest; accepted widely since 2020 |
Scores are university admission requirements - the US visa process has no English test minimum. Many universities also waive English tests for students with prior English-medium education (MOI). If your English is weak, conditional admission through an ESL pathway is possible, but note the new rule caps English-language training admission periods at 24 months, and weak interview communication itself is a visa risk.
| On-campus work | Up to 20 hours per week while school is in session; full-time during official breaks and annual vacation. Includes jobs for the school or on-site employers providing services to students. |
| CPT (Curricular Practical Training) | Alternative work/internship authorization that must be integral to the curriculum and authorized by your DSO on the I-20 before you start. Available after one full academic year; part-time (20 hrs) during terms, full-time during breaks. 12+ months of full-time CPT cancels your OPT eligibility. |
| OPT (Optional Practical Training) | 12 months of work authorization per degree level, typically used after graduation. Filed on Form I-765 with USCIS ($470 paper / $520 online) after your DSO recommends OPT in SEVIS; apply up to 90 days before program completion. 90 days of cumulative unemployment is the maximum. |
| STEM OPT extension | 24 additional months (36 total) for DHS-designated STEM programs (CIP codes). Requires an E-Verify employer, a Form I-983 training plan, and reporting duties. Combined unemployment cap: 150 days. |
| From September 15, 2026 | Under the fixed-admission rule, students must also obtain an extension of stay (Form I-539 with USCIS) to remain for post-completion OPT or STEM OPT. Transition relief applies for students who timely file OPT/STEM OPT applications by March 18, 2027 - confirm current guidance with your DSO. |
No. The US visa process has no English test requirement. IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, and DET scores are university admission requirements, and each university sets its own minimums (typically IELTS 6.0-7.0 or TOEFL 79-100). At the visa interview, the officer simply assesses whether you can communicate and pursue your program.
The US government sets no fixed amount. Universities require proof of first-year costs (tuition plus living) to issue the I-20 - commonly $40,000-$70,000 depending on the school - and the visa officer checks that your funds are genuine, readily available, and supported by consistent income evidence such as ITRs and a loan sanction letter.
Mandatory government fees are the $350 SEVIS I-901 fee and the $185 MRV application fee per applicant. A $250 Visa Integrity Fee enacted in July 2025 is being phased in at consulates, so budget for it. Add passport photos, travel to the consulate, and courier costs.
Yes. Since the Department of State's 2025 interview-waiver policy changes, in-person interviews are required for essentially all F-1 applicants, including renewals and F-2 dependants. Interviews should be booked in your country of nationality or residence.
DHS is ending 'duration of status'. F-1 students will be admitted for a fixed period equal to their I-20 program length (maximum four years) plus 30 days for arrival and 30 days to depart. Extra time - a new program, longer degree, or OPT/STEM OPT - requires an extension of stay on Form I-539 with USCIS. The departure window after graduation or OPT drops from 60 days to 30 days.
Yes - spouses and unmarried children under 21 can apply for F-2 visas, each paying the $185 MRV fee and attending an interview. F-2 holders cannot work or get an SSN; spouses may only pursue recreational study, while minor children can attend school full time.
Yes, within strict rules: on-campus work up to 20 hours per week during sessions (full-time during breaks), CPT internships authorized on your I-20 after one academic year, and 12 months of OPT after graduation - extended by 24 months for STEM-designated programs with an E-Verify employer.
Indian applicants typically receive a 60-month (five-year), multiple-entry F-1 visa. The visa stamp only controls entry - how long you may stay is governed by your I-20 program dates and, from September 15, 2026, your fixed admission period.
A 214(b) refusal means the officer was not satisfied with your intent or preparation. Review the reason honestly, strengthen your documentation and interview answers - clearer study plan, consistent funding, stronger home ties - and reapply. The SEVIS fee remains valid for 12 months, but a new MRV fee applies.
No. Hundreds of US master's programs are GRE-waived or test-optional, particularly for strong academics or work experience. Competitive programs - top computer science, data science, and MBA courses - may still expect GRE or GMAT. Check each program's current policy before applying.
You may enter the US up to 30 days before the program start date printed on your I-20 - no earlier, even with a valid visa. Your visa itself can be issued up to 365 days before the program begins, so apply as soon as you receive the I-20.
Contact your university immediately - most schools permit deferred arrival or intake deferral with a new I-20. Do not skip the reporting deadline silently: entering more than 30 days before the (new) start date or missing reporting can invalidate your SEVIS record. Your counsellor coordinates the deferral letter and updated I-20.
Get a personalised F-1 roadmap - university shortlisting, financial planning, DS-160 review, and mock visa interviews from experienced US counsellors.