F-1 Student Visa Guide: Steps, Fees, Work Rules and Scholarships
What an Arab student and their family need to know about the F-1, from admission to working after graduation, with official figures.
In short: To study at a US college you need an F-1 student visa. The order is: admission to an SEVP-certified school, then Form I-20, then the I-901 SEVIS fee ($350 as of September 2026), then the DS-160 and the $185 visa fee, then an interview in your country of nationality or residence. Work is allowed within limits: up to 20 hours a week on campus during the term, plus CPT and OPT. Nationals of Yemen, Sudan, Syria, Libya, Somalia and Mauritania, and holders of Palestinian Authority travel documents, are currently covered by visa restrictions.
Who needs an F-1 visa?
The State Department says F visas cover study at a university, college, high school or language program; M visas cover vocational study. You can't study on a B visitor visa unless you've formally changed status.
If you already live in the US with a green card, you don't need a student visa at all. You apply as a permanent resident and may qualify for financial support international students can't get; ask the school's admissions and financial aid office. This guide is for children or relatives coming from abroad, or for anyone planning to come themselves.
Step by step
- Get admitted to an SEVP-certified school. Use the school search on Study in the States to confirm the school can enroll international students.
- Show the school you can pay. Before issuing an I-20, the school must see evidence that you or a sponsor can cover tuition and living costs for your intended period of study.
- Receive and sign the I-20. The school enters you in SEVIS and issues the form; you and the school official both sign it.
- Pay the I-901 SEVIS fee. $350 for F students as of September 2026, and it must be paid before the visa is issued. F-2 dependents don't pay it.
- Complete the DS-160. The online application, where you upload your photo and print the confirmation page.
- Pay the visa fee and book the interview. The student visa application fee is $185 as of September 2026. Some nationalities also pay an issuance fee after approval.
- Attend the interview. Bring your passport, DS-160 confirmation, fee receipt, I-20, transcripts and financial documents.
Where to interview, and what about social media?
The State Department now instructs nonimmigrant visa applicants to book their interview at the embassy or consulate in their country of nationality or residence, and to be able to prove residence if that's the basis. Nationals of countries without routine US visa operations apply at a designated post the Department publishes.
F-1 and F-2 applications are also subject to an expanded online presence review. In practice, set your social media profiles to public as the Department instructs, and make sure what's there is consistent with your DS-160.
Proof of funds: what counts?
There's no single federal dollar figure. The amount you need is the estimated cost of tuition and living expenses your school prints on the I-20. Study in the States lists examples of acceptable evidence:
| Evidence | Practical tip |
|---|---|
| Family bank statements | Include an official bank letter; months of normal activity look better than one sudden deposit |
| Sponsor documents | A signed support letter plus proof of the sponsor's income and relationship to you |
| Scholarship or financial aid letters | Make sure the school reflected the award on your I-20 |
| Employer letter confirming annual salary | Useful when a parent sponsor has a steady salary |
You'll need these documents three times: for the school before the I-20, for the consular officer at the interview, and for CBP at the port of entry if asked.
When can an F-1 student work?
| Type | Key conditions | Who authorizes |
|---|---|---|
| On-campus job | Up to 20 hours a week while school is in session | Your DSO (international student office) |
| CPT | After one full academic year (some graduate programs excepted); must be integral to the curriculum and related to your major | DSO, for one employer and set dates |
| OPT | Up to 12 months per education level, before and/or after graduation | USCIS, via Form I-765 and an EAD |
| STEM OPT extension | 24 more months for eligible STEM degrees with an E-Verify employer | USCIS |
Details that matter: post-completion OPT can be requested up to 90 days before program completion and no later than 60 days after, and you can't start working until the EAD arrives. Twelve months of full-time CPT eliminates OPT eligibility. Unauthorized work gets your SEVIS record terminated, and you may have to leave and be barred from returning.
Scholarships and EducationUSA for Arab students
The best free starting point is EducationUSA, the State Department's network of more than 400 advising centers, based in embassies or partners such as AMIDEAST and Fulbright commissions. They run group and individual advising and pre-departure orientation. Its center search includes Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Tunisia, Morocco and other Arab countries.
Look for funding in three places: each university's international financial aid page, research and teaching assistantships in graduate programs, and Fulbright programs in your country. Never pay anyone who promises a "guaranteed scholarship."
Travel restrictions: which Arab nationals are affected?
Since January 1, 2026, under Presidential Proclamation 10998, the State Department has fully suspended visa issuance, with limited exceptions, to nationals of 19 countries including Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, and to people traveling on Palestinian Authority documents. It has partially suspended visitor and student (F, M, J) visas for nationals of 19 more countries, including Mauritania.
Exceptions are narrow, such as dual nationals applying on a non-restricted passport and people who held a valid visa before January 1, 2026. This is changing, so check the State Department page and our travel ban 2026 guide before you act.
Common mistakes
- Entering on a tourist visa planning to "switch later."
- Flying in more than 30 days before the program start date.
- Working off campus without authorization, even a few hours at a friend's restaurant.
- A large, unexplained deposit right before the interview.
- Overstaying: you have 60 days after your program or authorized training ends.
- Inconsistencies between your DS-160 and your social media.
What next?
If the school wants an evaluation of prior degrees, start early with our credential evaluation guide. Compare other routes in US visa types, and once you land, see opening a bank account in the US.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an F-1 visa cost?
As of September 2026: the I-901 SEVIS fee is $350 for F students and the visa application fee is $185. Some nationalities also pay an issuance fee, so check the State Department fee page and your embassy.
How early can I enter the US on a student visa?
A new student's visa can be issued up to 365 days before the program start date, but you can't enter more than 30 days before the start date on your I-20.
Can F-1 students work?
Yes, within limits: on campus up to 20 hours a week during the term, CPT after one academic year if it's integral to the curriculum, and up to 12 months of OPT per education level, with a 24-month extension for eligible STEM degrees.
How much money do I need in the bank?
There's no fixed federal amount. Your or your sponsor's funds must cover the estimated tuition and living costs the school lists on your I-20.
Can Yemeni, Syrian or Sudanese students get an F-1 now?
Since January 1, 2026, the State Department has suspended visa issuance, with limited exceptions, to nationals of Yemen, Syria, Sudan, Libya and Somalia and to Palestinian Authority document holders, and partially suspended student visas for Mauritanian nationals. Check the Department's page for updates.
Is EducationUSA advising free?
EducationUSA centers, part of a State Department network, offer group advising and basic information free of charge; some advanced services vary by center level. Find the nearest center on the EducationUSA site.
Official sources we reviewed
- U.S. Department of State — Student Visa ↗
- U.S. Department of State — Fees for Visa Services ↗
- U.S. Department of State — Suspension of Visa Issuance (Proclamation 10998) ↗
- ICE — I-901 SEVIS Fee ↗
- Study in the States — Financial Ability ↗
- Study in the States — F-1 Curricular Practical Training (CPT) ↗
- USCIS — Optional Practical Training (OPT) for F-1 Students ↗
- EducationUSA — Advising Centers ↗