US visas for international students 

Yes, most international students need a visa to study in the US. If you are from Canada or Bermuda, you usually do not need to apply for an F-1 student visa before you travel. However, you must still have a valid Form I-20 from your US school. You’ll need to present this when you enter the US.

That depends on your university and program. Specific information regarding proof of funds can be found in your acceptance letter.

The I-901 SEVIS fee is $350 and you should pay it at least three business days before your interview date. The payment is valid for one year.

You’ll need your valid passport and your Form I-20. You'll also be expected to provide your academic history, work history and travel history (if applicable) for the last five years, as well as all social media handles used in the last five years. You should adjust the privacy settings to "public" on your social media accounts

Remember to complete all sections of the DS-160 application truthfully. 

To apply for an F-1 student visa, you'll pay the $350 I-901 SEVIS fee and the $185 Machine Readable Visa (MRV) application fee, totaling $535.

Wait times for visa interview appointments vary by location and can take months, so it's best to start the process early. You can check global visa wait times here.

If the US government is not conducting visa operations in your country, please check the US Embassy website to read the update on designated interview posts for nationals from your country.  

It’s completely normal to feel nervous or anxious during your F-1 visa interview. To feel more confident, practice answering common questions about your program, university choice and future goals. Review your documents carefully, arrive early, and speak honestly and clearly.  

To prepare for your visa interview, consider booking a mock interview with PASS.

Visa officers are quickly trying to determine if you’re a genuine student, have a reliable source of funding to pay for your studies and have strong ties to your home country.

Remember that the visa interview is not a document review session. While you are invited to carry whatever documents you feel will help you, the consular officer is not required to check any of your documents.  

These documents are required:  

• Form I-20 

• DS-160 confirmation 

• Visa appointment confirmation 

• I-901 SEVIS fee payment confirmation 

• Passport 

• Two US visa-sized photos

We also recommend that you bring the following: 

• Acceptance letter 

• Financial documents of your sponsor  

• Any entrance or language test scores  

• Academic transcripts/degree certificate  

You must be in active status in SEVIS to be eligible to work. During the academic school year, you may be eligible to work up to 20 hours per week. During academic breaks in the school year, you may be eligible to work up to 40 hours per week. You must communicate with your designated school official (DSO) about work eligibility.

The Pre-Arrival Success Services (PASS) team is here to help you for free! PASS offers a series of webinars and general information sessions to support you throughout the application process. PASS also holds mock interviews to help you gain confidence when talking about your academic and career goals.   

To learn more, contact PASS@intoglobal.com 

Click these links to schedule a 1:1 mock interview or to register for US visa-related webinars.