The F-1 student visa: steps, fees and the 2026 rule changes

Who the F-1 visa is for

The F-1 is the standard visa for international students enrolled full time in an academic program in the United States. It covers universities and colleges, community colleges, high schools (with limits for public schools), seminaries, conservatories and English language programs. Vocational and technical programs use the separate M-1 visa.

The F-1 is a nonimmigrant visa. You must show that you intend to study, that you can pay for your education and living costs, and that you plan to leave the U.S. when your studies and any authorized training end. Your school's international office, through its designated school official (DSO), manages your record in SEVIS, the government database that tracks students.

F-1 visa requirements

• Admission to an SEVP-certified school. Only certified schools can issue a Form I-20. You can check a school's status with the Study in the States school search.
• Full-time enrollment. You must generally carry a full course load each term, with limited exceptions approved by your DSO.
• Proof of funds. You must document enough money for at least the first year of tuition and living costs, as listed on the I-20, through savings, scholarships, sponsors or loans.
• English proficiency sufficient for the program, or enrollment in courses that build it.
• Nonimmigrant intent. You generally must show ties abroad and a plan to depart after your program.

How to apply for an F-1 visa, step by step

A visa can be issued up to 365 days before your program start date, but that 30-day entry window still applies to new students.

How much does an F-1 visa cost?

Tuition, health insurance required by your school, and living costs are far larger than the government fees. Budget for them realistically, because the visa officer will review the figures on your I-20. Our fee calculator totals the government fees.

The visa integrity fee

The 2025 budget reconciliation law (Public Law 119-21) created a "visa integrity fee" of at least $250, adjusted each year for inflation, on most nonimmigrant visa issuances, including F-1. It is due when the visa is issued, not when you apply, and the law allows DHS to refund it later if you follow the terms of your visa. As of October 2026, the State Department's visa fee page did not list this fee, and no official payment or refund procedure had been published. Ask your embassy or consulate before your appointment and keep proof of any payment.

Duration of status and the 2026 rule

For decades F-1 students have been admitted for "duration of status" (D/S), meaning you may stay as long as you keep studying full time, or doing authorized practical training, plus a 60-day grace period afterward. There is no fixed end date on your I-94.

On July 17, 2026, DHS published a final rule replacing D/S with a fixed admission period tied to your program end date, capped at four years. Students needing more time would have had to file an extension with USCIS. The rule would also have shortened the post-program grace period to 30 days, limited language training to 24 months in total, and restricted program and school changes, especially for graduate students.

The rule was due to take effect on September 15, 2026. On September 14, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts postponed the rule's effective date nationwide while the case continues, in Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration v. DHS (No. 1:26-cv-13799). The government filed an appeal to the First Circuit on September 30, 2026, with briefing set to run into December 2026. The appeal does not by itself put the rule into effect. As of late October 2026, D/S admission and the 60-day grace period remain in place.

Maintaining your status

• Enroll full time every required term and make normal progress toward your degree.
• Keep your passport valid and your I-20 current. Ask your DSO to extend the I-20 before the program end date if you need more time.
• Report a new U.S. address to your DSO within 10 days.
• Get a travel signature on your I-20 before trips abroad, and avoid absences of more than five months, which can end your status.
• Follow your school's process to transfer schools or change programs.
• Do not work without authorization. Unauthorized employment is one of the most serious F-1 violations and is very hard to fix.

Can F-1 students work?

• On-campus employment: generally up to 20 hours a week while school is in session and full time during official breaks.
• Curricular Practical Training (CPT): work that is an integral part of your curriculum, authorized by your DSO, usually after one academic year.
• Optional Practical Training (OPT): generally up to 12 months of work related to your field, with a possible 24-month extension for eligible STEM degrees. Read our full OPT guide.
• Severe economic hardship work authorization may be available through USCIS in limited situations.

On October 8, 2026, DHS proposed new fees on schools for each OPT recommendation: $70,000 for a student's first OPT recommendation and $30,000 for each later one, such as a STEM extension. This is a proposal only; comments are due November 9, 2026, and no new OPT fee is in effect as of October 2026.

Common problems

• Refusal under section 214(b) when an officer is not convinced you will return home or that your plans are genuine. You may reapply with stronger evidence; nothing prevents a new application.
• Administrative processing for security checks, which can delay your start date.
• Travel restrictions. Nationals of countries under full or partial restrictions in Proclamation 10998, in force since January 1, 2026, generally cannot get new F visas unless an exception applies.
• SEVIS termination for failing to enroll, unauthorized work or other violations. Talk to your DSO and an attorney right away if this happens.
• Arrests or criminal charges, even minor ones, can lead to visa revocation. Get immigration advice before resolving any charge.

Alternatives

Exchange students sponsored by a program may use the J-1 visa. Short recreational courses can be taken on a visitor visa. Spouses and children of F-1 students use F-2 status, which does not allow employment and allows only limited study for spouses. Compare all study and visit options.

What to ask an attorney

• I was refused before, or I have a past overstay. How should I address it in my new application?
• My SEVIS record was terminated. Do I have a path to reinstatement or should I leave and re-enter?
• How would the fixed admission period rule affect my program if the court order is lifted?
• Can I change status inside the U.S., or should I apply abroad?

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