The F1 Visa is a student visa issued to individuals who want to come to study in the US. International students apply for an F1 visa to have the opportunity of attending a US educational institution – from elementary school to university level.
However, prior application process individuals will need an acceptance letter from a US educational institution. Additionally, citizens who are part of the Visa Waiver Program are not eligible to start their studies without an appropriate F1 Visa.
The aim of the F1 visa is to educate people and increase their skill set so they can return home and use them in their home country.
Eligibility for F1 Visa
To be eligible for an F1 Visa an applicant must meet a few preconditions. Firstly, a candidate needs to obtain an admission offer from a US institution that is accepted by SEVP (Student Exchange Visitor Program).
The SEVP has a list of universities, schools and other institutions that meet the required conditions and accept enrollment of international students. Therefore, before applying for a university course or any other educated-related course, individuals must first check SEVP and see if the institution they want to go to is on the list. If it is, the applicant may start the application process. If the institution is not on the list, an F1 visa will not be applicable.
Secondly, candidates must have strong ties with their homeland. This needs to be supported by some kind of documentation or valid reason to highlight that individuals will return back home when their educational course ends. This needs to be presented in detail during the interview stage. Next, a person is required to confirm their financial stability – so they are able to cover their expenses during their stay.
Sufficient funds can be confirmed with bank statements or sponsor statements. This does not mean that individuals are not eligible for scholarship funds.
When attending a US university or other educational institution, a candidate must have a proficient level in the English Language. This is to confirm that the candidate is able to speak and write in English at a very good level and that their understanding meets proficiency standards. The English Language is an essential factor as all US courses are done in English.
F1 Visa Requirements
Like for any other visa, for an F1 Visa, there are few document requirements that are needed for the application to be complete. A very important requirement is a valid passport that is essential for a visa to be granted (as without a passport, visa cannot be issued). Along with that, a DS-160 form for non-immigrant visa applications needs to be filled out, confirming personal details, as well as passport information and US educational institution details.
Next, the applicant needs to provide two visa photos that need to measure 51×51 mm (2×2 inches) and be in color. Photos must follow specific guidelines in order for an application to be accepted. Besides the size and color, the photo must have a white background, be at least 6 months old, and be printed on a high-quality paper (when applying in paper format).
In contrast, candidates are required to face forward, keep their eyes open and mouth closed, and not smile. Facial expression must be neutral.
Uniforms are not permitted (it is recommended to wear daily clothes), along with head-wear and glasses (unless a person has a medical condition or religious belief).
Then, the applicant is required to provide proof of payment for an F1 visa (a receipt). This is needed for the interview stage. Along with proof of payment for the visa, a form known as I-20 is also required which covers funds for living in the US.
This form will include information about funds needed for living and education in the US, which are matched with individuals’ bank statements to confirm they are able to cover their stay. Documents which are usually submitted are bank statements, tax records, pay stubs, any scholarships, approved loan (if the loan was taken for education purposes) or tuition payments/receipts. For sponsored individuals, an I-134 form has to be supplied.
To be accepted in a US educational institution, applicants will also have to provide previous education qualifications they currently hold. This can be done through original transcripts, standardized test scores, previous degree diplomas or acceptance letters from old educational institutions.
F1 Visa Application Steps
It is advised to start the F1 visa application 120 days prior course start date. It is not possible to apply earlier and it is not advised to apply later (as it can cause delays in processing time). So, the steps of the application are:
- Be accepted at US education institution approved by SEVP
- Fill out a DS-160 form online online
- Pay a visa application fee( $160), keep a record of payment (receipt) and attach it in the supporting documents file
- Pay the SEVIS I-901 fee (registration fee as Student and Exchange Visitor, for F1 visa fee, is $200).
- Schedule a visa interview (appointment letter will be sent to home address – this is required to attend the interview)
- Submit supporting documents
- Attend a Scheduled interview. The interview will ask about the purpose of travel and some personal questions.
Once a visa is accepted, individuals are permitted to leave a maximum of 30 days before the educational program starts.
F1 Visa Processing Time
Processing time for an F1 visa takes usually less time than a standard visa process. The process normally happens just before the interview day. Hence, the interview stage is when the applicant receives a final decision if the visa was accepted or not.
Renewal, Extension and Change of Status of F1 visa
In a situation where an applicant applies for a course that lasts a year, it is very likely that an F1 Visa that will be issued will only be valid for a year. Yet, not all programs last a year, sometimes visas that are issued do not fulfil the entire course program, then the best option is to renew the F1 Visa. Renewal can be done in the following ways:
- by visiting the US Embassy
- or by using Automatic Visa Revalidation service
The same applies to the extension period – for that document proving that studies are not finished is required. Candidates may also change their visa status if circumstances forces them to. For instance, if an individual finds a dream job, then they need to change their status to a work visa.
Working as an F1 Student
It is also possible to work as an F1 student but only for a short period of time, as an F1 visa is purely designed for study purposes only. This can be only done during breaks and weekends. Working outside of campus is also a possibility. To work off-campus individuals have two options:
- Work under CPT – Curricular Practical Training. This is where educational institutions you’re part of require you to work as part of the curriculum – this is known as placement. This must be done in the field of study and is often credited and approved by Designated School Officials (DSO). CPT can begin a minimum of 9 months after studying on the course, and there is no time cap for how long CPT can occur.
- Working under OPT – Optional Practical Training. This was designed to develop the experience of foreign students in the US. OPT may be started before or after graduation for a period of maximum of 12 months. Work must be correlated with the field of study. Individuals who are studying a STEM-related subject can file for an extension of the training (the maximum extension period is 24 months). In some cases, successful individuals get sponsored by their OPT employer for an H-1B visa which can lead to getting a green card.
