F-1 Visa Application process: what you should know in 2025

Once you’re accepted by a U.S. school and have your Form I-20, you must apply for the F-1 student visa to enter the U.S. (Note: if you’re on a J-1 exchange program, you follow the J-1 procedures instead.) As the State Department explains, high school students need an “F” visa category to study in U.S. schools. Here are the steps to get that F-1 visa (with updated details for 2025).

1. Get your I-20 from the school. After you’ve paid any enrollment deposits, the school’s Designated School Official (DSO) will send you Form I-20. This is your Certificate of Eligibility; it shows your name, program, and SEVIS ID (the ID # starts with “N”). Check that all info is correct, and sign your copy where it says “Student Attestation.” The I-20 is crucial for every step that follows.

   
   

2. Pay the SEVIS I-901 fee. Using the SEVIS ID on your I-20, submit Form I-901 online at FMJFee.com and pay the fee (currently $350 for F-1 students) Print the SEVIS fee receipt – you will need this at your visa interview and when you enter the U.S. (Note: the SEVIS fee is separate from any visa application fee.)

   
   

3. Complete the DS-160 online form. Fill out the DS-160 Nonimmigrant Visa Application at the U.S. Visa website. This is the online form for all non-immigrant visas. Upload a passport-style photo when prompted (make sure it meets the requirements), and submit the form. After submitting, print the DS-160 confirmation page (it has a barcode) to bring to your interview.

   
   

4. Pay the visa application fee. The non-refundable F-1 visa application fee must be paid, usually before or on the day you schedule your interview. As of august 2025, the base F-1 visa application fee is $185, plus the $350 SEVIS fee, totaling $535. However, starting October 1, 2025, the additional $250 visa integrity fee will be implemented.

   (Keep your receipt! it will be used on the interview)

   
   

5. Schedule your visa interview. Go to the website of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your country to schedule an appointment. Most applicants aged 14–79 require an interview. Children 13 and under usually do not interview; but nearly all high school applicants will be 14+ and need one.) Interview wait times can vary by location and season, so book early. Make sure you schedule your interview well before your program starts.

   
   

6. Gather required documents. Prepare and organize all paperwork for the interview. At a minimum, you will need :

   • Passport: valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned

   • DS-160 confirmation

   • Visa fee payment receipt (from step 4), if the embassy requires it

   • Photograph: if the online upload failed, bring a printed photo in the required

   • Form I-20: the original signed by your DSO and you

   • SEVIS fee receipt: the paper I-901 payment

   • Supporting documents: evidence of your academic preparation (transcripts, diplomas, test scores), and proof you can pay for your studies and living expenses (bank statements, scholarship letters)

   • Ties to home: anything that shows you will return home after school, such as family proof or property (this is usually addressed during the interview)

     
     

7. Attend the visa interview. Go to your appointment with all documents. The consular officer will ask about your study plans, school choice, funding, and intentions. Answer honestly and confidently. You may be asked why you chose that school, what you plan to study, and how you will pay for it. The officer will look at your documentation and decide if you qualify for the F-1 Visa. They may scan fingerprints as well.) If approved, you may need to pay a visa issuance fee (if applicable to your nationality) before the visa is stamped. The officer will keep your passport while issuing the visa, and you will be told how/when it will be returned to you.

   
   

8. After approval – travel to the U.S. Once you have the visa stamp in your passport, you can make travel plans. You may enter the United States up to 30 days before your program’s start date listed on the I-20. At the U.S. port of entry (airport/land border), present your passport with F-1 visa and your I-20 to the Customs & Border Protection (CBP) office. The visa lets you travel to the U.S., but final admission is up to the CBP officer – a visa does not guarantee entry. If admitted, the officer will give you an I-94 “Arrival/Departure Record” indicating your F-1 status and authorized stay. Keep these papers safe; they are proof of your legal status.

   
   

9. Maintain your F-1 status. Once in the U.S., you must follow all F-1 rules. This generally means attending your chosen school full-time and making normal progress in your studies. Don’t work off-campus without permission, and check in regularly with your school’s DSO if anything changes (like program dates). Remember, overstaying or not following rules can put your status at risk, so you always have to stay informed. (the DSO and official resources can help).

   
   

Many are anxious more than ever for this process, due to recent policy changes and social monitoring procedures, but and it is an arduous process involving a lot of paperwork. In summary: get your I-20, pay required fees (SEVIS and visa), complete the DS-160, prepare documents, and do your interview well before school starts. Good luck with your application and studies in the U.S.!

Sources & websites for further reading:

• U.S. Student Visa Overview (F-1): https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/study/student-visa.html

• Visa Appointment Wait Times: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/wait-times.html

• U.S. Embassy/Consulate Finder: https://www.usembassy.gov

• I-901 SEVIS Fee Payment Portal: https://fmjfee.com

• Study in the States (I-20 & Visa Guidance): https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov