Student visa · F-1
Tick items as you finish them. Your progress is saved on this device only.
A useful plan, not a government rule. Money deadlines can be earlier than admission deadlines.
Decide what to study, at which level, and when to start.
| Degree you want | Education usually needed first |
|---|---|
| Associate or bachelor's | Finished secondary school, such as Grade 12 |
| Master's | A qualifying bachelor's degree |
| Ph.D. | A bachelor's or master's, depending on the program |
Get your English test, transcripts, essays and letters ready.
TOEFL, IELTS Academic, Duolingo English Test or another approved test. Some schools accept a waiver.
Some undergraduate programs ask for one.
Some graduate and business programs ask for one.
| Document | What it is |
|---|---|
| Transcript | Official record of your courses and grades |
| Degree certificate or diploma | Proof that you finished your qualification |
| Provisional certificate | A temporary completion paper, if the school accepts it |
| English test result | Your score report |
| CV or résumé | Education, work, research, skills, achievements |
| Statement of purpose | Why you want this program and how it fits your goals |
| Recommendation letters | References from professors or supervisors |
| Passport copy | Your identity details |
| Research proposal or writing sample | Needed by some graduate programs |
| Credential evaluation | Only if the school asks for one |
Choose schools carefully, apply, and chase every scholarship.
| Funding | What it may give you |
|---|---|
| Merit scholarship | An award for grades or other strengths |
| Need-based aid | Help based on money need, where offered |
| Fellowship | Support for graduate study or research |
| Research assistantship | Pay, and sometimes tuition help, for research work |
| Teaching assistantship | Pay, and sometimes tuition help, for teaching |
| External scholarship | Money from an outside organization |
Pick the best offer, show your funds, and receive the I-20.
| Item | Example |
|---|---|
| School's estimated cost for one year | $40,000 |
| Funding already promised by the university | $25,000 |
| Amount left for you to show | $15,000 |
Go to your university's official website and open the international student office (also called international student services or ISSS). That office has your DSO, the Designated School Official who handles your I-20 and status.
Use the office's official email address. Put your full name, student ID, program and start term at the top, and ask one clear question. Use your university email once you have it.
After admission your department or graduate program coordinator will name your adviser. For research degrees, the supervisor you were matched with is your first contact. Ask about courses, registration and arrival dates.
Orientation date, check-in steps, housing and meal options, health insurance, and whether you can arrive early.
Pay the SEVIS fee, fill in the DS-160, pay the visa fee and book your interview.
Pay on the official I-901 payment website. The listed F-1 fee is $350. Type the SEVIS ID from your I-20 exactly and save the receipt. It is separate from the visa fee.
Fill it in on the official CEAC website. Save your application ID, review every answer, and print the confirmation page with the barcode.
Follow the booking steps on your U.S. embassy's official page. The student visa fee is currently listed at $185; some nationalities pay an extra issuance fee.
| Document | What it is for |
|---|---|
| Admission or offer letter | Shows the school accepted you |
| Funding letter | Shows your scholarship or assistantship |
| Transcript | Your academic history |
| I-20 | School-issued paper that makes you eligible to apply |
| SEVIS fee receipt | Proof you paid the I-901 fee |
| DS-160 confirmation | Proof you submitted the visa application |
| F-1 visa | Lets you travel to the U.S. and ask to be admitted as a student |
| I-94 | Record of your admission to the U.S. |
Arrive organized, answer honestly, and know what each result means.
| Question | What to prepare |
|---|---|
| Why this university? | Real features of the program, courses, teachers or research |
| Why this degree? | How it connects to your studies and career goals |
| Why study in the U.S.? | Academic reasons for choosing this program |
| Which schools did you apply to? | Your true list and results |
| Who will pay? | Sponsor, scholarship, assistantship and what is left to pay |
| What does your sponsor do? | Job, source of income, relationship to you |
| What will you do after you graduate? | Your genuine plans |
| Why is there a gap in your education? | A truthful explanation |
| Do you have relatives in the U.S.? | Accurate information |
| Why are you changing subject? | A clear study or career reason |
Follow the passport-return instructions.
Called administrative processing, or you may be asked for more documents. Follow the written instructions.
Read the stated reason and work out what would need to change before applying again.
Catch any mistake now, while it is easy to fix.
Sort a safe place to live, a realistic budget and a smooth journey.
Use the roommate matching on your university's own housing website, or ask the housing office and the international student office. They know the safe options.
Video call first. Ask about rent split, guests, cleaning, noise and quiet hours. Agree in writing who is on the lease.
| One-time costs | Monthly costs |
|---|---|
| Flight and baggage | Rent |
| Temporary lodging | Utilities and internet |
| Housing deposit | Food |
| First month's rent | Phone |
| Utility setup | Transport |
| Bedding and household basics | Personal spending |
| First insurance or university charges | Insurance, where it applies |
Ask the international student office whether the university runs an admitted-student group or arrival list, and use only groups linked from the university's own website. Share your plans, never passport photos or money.
Find the international student office, your department and student associations on the university's official website, and follow the groups it links to.
Add the university city's time zone to your phone and plan your first sleep for local time to beat jet lag.
Save the airport, the city and your campus in an offline map app so you are never lost without data.
Many universities run airport pickups. Otherwise install Uber or Lyft, add a payment card, and save the pickup point. Check your address works before landing.
The U.S. uses 120 V and flat two-pin or three-pin plugs. Pack a U.S. plug adapter and check that your chargers accept 120 V. Keep a power bank in carry-on, never in checked bags.
Unlock it for a U.S. SIM or eSIM, and download your bank, airline, maps and messaging apps. Save the school's contacts offline.
Carry a card that works abroad and a little cash. You must report more than $10,000 in cash or equivalents to customs.
Use your visa, the latest arrival date and the orientation date from your school. You cannot enter earlier than 30 days before the I-20 start date.
Compare prices on each airline's own website, and book there or with the airline's own ticket office. Be careful with unknown sellers and social media offers.
Check what you may carry on the TSA security screening page and the arrival steps on the CBP international visitors page.
| Bring from home | Easier to buy there |
|---|---|
| Essential documents | Bulky bedding |
| Prescription medicine with papers | Large cookware |
| Glasses and a spare pair | Cleaning supplies |
| Laptop, phone, chargers | Furniture |
| U.S. plug adapter | Large appliances |
| Clothes for the first weeks | Extra winter clothing, after checking the local climate |
| Comfortable shoes | Heavy household supplies |
| Small toiletries | Groceries |
| A few personal or cultural items | Most daily needs |
Pass the border check calmly with your papers to hand.
Check your I-94, finish check-in, and stay in status.
Getting one of them does not automatically give you the others.
Visa Status is an unofficial site. This is a general guide in plain words, not legal advice. Fees, forms and rules change, so check the official websites and your school's international office. Written October 2026.