Travel
Study in the States - US Government Student Visa Guidance
US Department of Homeland Security
Overview
The US Department of Homeland Security's official guide to the F and M student visa process: choosing an SEVP-certified school, paying the SEVIS fee, maintaining status, and the rules on working on and off campus.
Key details
- Location
- Washington, D.C., United States
- Country
- United States
- Intake
- Year-round
Eligibility
For prospective and current F and M visa students; SEVP-certified school acceptance required first
Guides for this route
Our own guides for students heading to or from United States — worth reading before you contact the provider.
Step 1 of 4Planning Your Route and Arrival WindowHow to pick your arrival date around your intake, orientation and housing move-ins — the decision that schedules every other part of your move.Step 2 of 4Booking Student Flights and InsuranceHow student fares work, when to book, what travel and health insurance your destination actually requires, and the gaps most policies leave open.Step 3 of 4Arranging Your First Weeks of HousingWhy short-term first beats perfect-later, how deposits and guarantors really work for students, and the documents immigration may ask you to show on arrival.India → United StatesStudying in the USA from India: F-1 Interview, OPT and LoansFor Indian students heading to a US college: the I-20 and F-1 interview, SEVIS and MRV fees, proof of funds, OPT and STEM OPT, and INR budgets.Bangladesh → United StatesStudying in the USA from Bangladesh: F-1 Visa, I-20 and OPTA US plan for Bangladeshi students: SEVP-certified schools, the I-20 and F-1 interview, funds a savings-based family must show, and OPT after graduation.Nepal → United StatesStudying in the USA from Nepal: I-20, F-1 Interview and OPTA Nepali student's route to a US campus: SEVP-certified schools, the I-20, SEVIS and visa fees, the F-1 interview in Kathmandu, on-campus work and OPT.