What is F1 Visa: Requirements and New Rules

Quick Summary

Everything an Indian student needs to know about the F-1 visa, distilled into one section.

What is an F-1 visa? The US nonimmigrant visa for full-time academic students at SEVP-certified schools. It is the most common visa category for Indian students heading to US universities.
Who issues it? The US Department of State, through a US Embassy or Consulate, after your school issues you a Form I-20.
SEVIS I-901 fee (2026): $350 for F-1 and M-1 students. Pay at fmjfee.com before your visa interview.
Visa application (MRV) fee: $185, separate from the SEVIS fee, paid after DS-160 submission.
How far ahead can you get the visa? Up to 365 days before your program start date (changed from 120 days in February 2023).
How early can you enter the US? No earlier than 30 days before your I-20 program start date.
2026 critical update 1: All F-1 applicants must attend an in-person interview. Interview waivers were sharply curtailed starting September 2, 2025.
2026 critical update 2: Social media vetting is now mandatory. You must set your profiles to the public and disclose all usernames from the past 5 years.
2026 critical update 3: DHS has proposed ending Duration of Status (D/S) for F-1 students, replacing it with a fixed admission period capped at 4 years. The final rule cleared White House review in June 2026 but has not yet taken effect.
Post-study work options: OPT (12 months) and STEM OPT extension (24 additional months for STEM degree holders) remain available, subject to USCIS rules.

What is an F-1 Visa and Who Needs One?

The F-1 visa is the primary non-immigrant visa category for international students pursuing full-time academic study at a school certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), a division of the US Department of Homeland Security. If you are an Indian student admitted to a US university, college, or approved language training program, you will almost certainly need an F-1 visa unless your program is non-credit and recreational.

It is important to understand that students cannot study in the US on a Visa Waiver Program entry or a standard visitor (B) visa. Per official guidance, a visitor visa permits only short recreational, non-credit study; any study leading to a US-conferred degree or certificate requires an F or M student visa, obtained before entering the country.

Visa Type	Who It Is For	Key Difference
F-1	Academic students, degree programs, most universities and colleges	Most common for Indian students; allows on-campus work and CPT/OPT
M-1	Vocational or non-academic training programs	Different work authorisation rules; no OPT in the same form as F-1
J-1	Exchange visitor programs, including some research scholars	Sponsored by an exchange program, not directly by the university

Step-by-Step: How the F-1 Visa Process Actually Works

Get admitted to an SEVP-certified school. Verify certification using the official DHS school search tool before paying any deposit.
Receive your Form I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status) from your school's Designated School Official (DSO). This contains your SEVIS ID number.
Pay the I-901 SEVIS fee ($350) at fmjfee.com. You need your SEVIS ID from the I-20 to complete this. Pay at least 3 business days before your visa interview.
Complete the DS-160 online nonimmigrant visa application at ceac.state.gov. Print the confirmation barcode page.
Pay the MRV visa application fee ($185) and schedule your visa interview at the US Embassy or Consulate nearest you.
Attend your in-person visa interview with your original I-20, passport, SEVIS fee receipt, DS-160 confirmation, and financial documents.
If approved, your passport will be returned with the visa stamp within 3 to 7 working days. Enter the US no earlier than 30 days before your program start date.

F-1 Visa Eligibility Requirements

Acceptance at an SEVP-certified school for a full course of study
Sufficient funds documented to cover at least 1 academic year of tuition and living expenses
English proficiency as required by your specific program (TOEFL/IELTS, waived for some applicants)
Strong ties to your home country to demonstrate nonimmigrant intent (the most common reason for visa denial under INA Section 214(b) is failing to demonstrate this)
A valid passport with at least 6 months validity beyond your intended stay

The 2026 Rule Changes Every Applicant Must Know

1. In-Person Interviews Are Now Mandatory

Effective September 2, 2025, the expanded interview waiver program ended for most categories, including F-1 applicants. Nearly all first-time and renewal F-1 applicants must now attend an in-person interview at a US Embassy or Consulate.

The US Department of State now requires social media screening for F, M, J, and several other visa categories. Per official guidance, applicants for F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas are instructed to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media profiles to public or open.

Set all social media accounts to the public before your interview.
Disclose every platform username you have used in the past 5 years on the DS-160.
If you have no social media accounts, enter None - you will not be penalised for this.

3. Proposed End of Duration of Status (D/S)

For more than three decades, F-1 students have been admitted for Duration of Status (D/S), an open-ended period tied to enrollment rather than a fixed date. DHS published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on August 28, 2025 to replace this with a fixed admission period.

Aspect	Current Rule (D/S)	Proposed New Rule
Authorised stay	Open-ended, tied to enrollment status	Fixed end date on I-94, capped at 4 years
Programs longer than 4 years	Covered automatically under D/S	Must file Form I-539 for an Extension of Stay
Post-completion grace period	60 days for F-1 students	Proposed reduction to 30 days
Status as of June 2026	Still in effect	Not yet published or in effect

SEVIS Fee and Visa Costs: The Complete 2026 Breakdown

Fee	Amount	Source
I-901 SEVIS fee	$350 for F-1/M-1 students	ice.gov/sevis/i901
MRV visa application fee	$185	travel.state.gov
Visa issuance (reciprocity) fee	Varies by nationality; check current rate	travel.state.gov Visa Reciprocity

Note: the MRV fee for student visas increased from $160 to $185 effective May 30, 2023, and remains at $185 in 2026.

Maintaining Your F-1 Status After You Arrive

Your visa stamp only gets you into the country. Maintaining legal status afterward is governed by your I-20 and your enrollment. Per official DHS guidance, maintaining status means fulfilling the purpose for which the Department of State issued your visa and following the associated regulations. Talk to your DSO before making any of these changes:

Changing your major, program, or degree level
Transferring to a different SEVP-certified school
Taking a reduced course load
Applying for CPT or OPT work authorisation
Travelling internationally (you need a valid travel signature on your I-20)

Common Mistakes Indian F-1 Applicants Make

Paying the SEVIS fee with an incorrect SEVIS ID: always copy the ID character by character from your I-20.
Entering the US more than 30 days before the program start date: CBP may refuse entry. This rule is strict.
Not disclosing social media accounts: omitting a platform can be treated as misrepresentation under the new 2026 vetting rules.
Assuming visa stamp validity equals authorised stay: a 5-year visa lets you re-enter over 5 years, but your I-20 end date (or new fixed admission date) governs how long you can actually stay.
Travelling without a valid travel signature: your DSO's signature on the I-20 is valid for only 1 year.

Financial Documentation: What Consular Officers Want to See

Beyond the I-20's financial section, be ready to clearly explain your funding source at the interview:

Bank statements (last 6 months) showing liquid funds for at least 1 academic year
Education loan sanction letter, if applicable
Scholarship or assistantship award letters
Sponsor income proof (salary slips, ITR, Form 16) if a parent or relative is funding your studies

For a full walkthrough of how much you need in the bank and how to present it, see: F1 Student Visa: How Much Should Be in the Bank

What Happens After You Land?

Once you arrive, several practical steps follow quickly:

Open a US bank account: Zolve allows F-1 students to apply with just a passport, visa, and I-20, no SSN required. See: Open a US Bank Account as a Non-Resident
Start building US credit: A US credit history takes time to establish. See: Building a US Credit Score as an International Student
Plan your finances: Budgeting for tuition, rent, and daily expenses is easier with the right tools. See: Managing Finances in the USA

FAQs

What is the current SEVIS fee for F-1 students in 2026?

$350, unchanged since June 24, 2019.

How far in advance can I get my F-1 visa?

Up to 365 days before your program start date, per the February 21, 2023 State Department update.

Do I need to attend an in-person interview?

Almost certainly yes. Since September 2, 2025, expanded interview waivers no longer cover most F-1 applicants. Apply for your interview slot as soon as you have your I-20, since wait times at Indian consulates can run several weeks during peak season.

What if my visa application is denied?

The most common reason is INA Section 214(b), failure to demonstrate sufficient ties to your home country and nonimmigrant intent. You can reapply with stronger documentation of ties to India such as property, family, or a planned career path.

Is the Duration of Status rule already in effect?

No. As of June 2026, the proposed rule ending D/S has cleared White House review but has not been published as a final rule in the Federal Register. The current open-ended D/S framework remains in effect for now. Monitor official DHS channels for updates.

Can I work on an F-1 visa?

Yes, with restrictions. On-campus employment is generally permitted. Off-campus work requires CPT or OPT authorisation through your DSO and, for OPT, USCIS approval.