College admission
Apply to a SEVP-approved school and meet its academic and financial requirements.
F-1 STUDENT JOURNEY
A clear path.
One step at a time.
Understand the process, keep your documents organized and follow official instructions at every stage.
Form I-20
The school creates your SEVIS record and issues your I-20 after the necessary checks. Review and sign it.
I-901 SEVIS fee
Use your SEVIS information to pay the required fee and keep the receipt.
DS-160
Complete the online visa application and retain the confirmation page.
Visa appointment
Follow the instructions of your U.S. embassy or consulate for payment and scheduling.
Visa interview
Bring the required documents. A consular officer decides whether you qualify for a visa.
Travel to the USA
After visa issuance, plan arrival within the permitted window. CBP decides admission at the border.
Know who decides what.
The college decides admission and issues the I-20. The U.S. government decides visa applications, and CBP decides admission at the port of entry. No adviser or college can guarantee those decisions.
Plan your arrival carefully.
New F-1 students generally cannot enter earlier than 30 days before the program start date. Follow your embassy or consulate’s current instructions; application steps and interview arrangements can vary.
Do not make final travel plans or buy tickets until your visa is issued.
Go straight to the official source.
U.S. Department of State — Student Visa ↗
DHS — SEVP School Search ↗
YOUR NEXT CHAPTER STARTS WITH ONE STEP
Big dreams.
A place to begin.
Tell us what matters to you. Explore a path that fits.
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YOUR NEXT STEP, MADE PERSONAL
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- Explore programs that interest you
- Understand what to check before applying
- Keep your university goal in view
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