NonimmigrantStudentForm I-20SEVIS feeNo annual capPractical training

F-1 Academic Student

For full-time academic study at a U.S. college, university, high school, seminary, conservatory or language program certified by SEVP.

Last reviewed Oct 1, 2026Sources: ICE / SEVP · Department of State · eCFR · Federal RegisterReport an error

At a glance

Key document: Form I-20 from an SEVP-certified school
Period of stay: Duration of status (a fixed-period rule is postponed by court order)
SEVIS I-901 fee: $350
Visa application (MRV) fee: $185
Work: On campus up to 20 hrs/week in session; CPT and OPT with authorization
Grace period after completion: 60 days

Duration of status: final rule postponed by a court. DHS published a final rule on July 17, 2026 that would admit F-1 students only until their program end date (maximum 4 years), cut the post-completion departure period to 30 days and restrict transfers and changes of major. It was set to take effect Sept. 15, 2026, but on Sept. 14, 2026 the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts postponed its effective date nationwide under 5 U.S.C. § 705. Duration of status remains in place while litigation continues; the government may appeal, so check Study in the States for updates. Note that the eCFR’s “current” text of 8 CFR 214.2 already shows the postponed rule; the rules in force are in the version dated Sept. 14, 2026.

Overview

The F-1 classification is for foreign nationals coming to the United States to pursue a full course of academic study — or English language training — at a school certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). The school issues Form I-20 after admitting the student and confirming finances, and the student pays the SEVIS I-901 fee before applying for a visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate.

F-1 students are currently admitted for “duration of status” (D/S): the time they are pursuing a full course of study or authorized practical training, plus a 60-day period to depart, transfer or change status. Students at public high schools are limited to an aggregate of 12 months. A DHS rule that would replace D/S with a fixed admission period was published in July 2026 but has been postponed by a federal court.

Employment is limited. Students may work on campus, and may be authorized for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) during their program and Optional Practical Training (OPT) related to their field — including a 24-month STEM extension for eligible graduates. F-1 is not a dual-intent classification: applicants must show a foreign residence they do not intend to abandon.

Who qualifies

To qualify, the student must

Be accepted for a full course of study by an SEVP-certified school and receive a Form I-20
Show documented financial support in the amount listed on the Form I-20
Have a residence abroad they do not intend to abandon, and intend to depart after completing studies
Pay the SEVIS I-901 fee and, at a public secondary school, reimburse the full unsubsidized per-capita cost of attendance

F-3 border commuter students

Nationals of Canada or Mexico who keep their actual residence in their home country and enter at a land border port of entry
Enroll part time in a certified school within 75 miles of a U.S. land border; admitted as border commuter students under 8 CFR 214.2(f)(18) and listed by SEVP as F-3

Duration & extensions

Visa issuance	Up to 365 days before the program start date for new students
Earliest entry	30 days before the program start date (continuing students may enter any time)
Period of admission	Duration of status: while pursuing a full course of study or authorized practical training
After completion	60 days to depart, transfer or change status (15 days if a DSO authorizes withdrawal)
Public high school	Aggregate of 12 months maximum
Postponed rule (not in effect)	Program length up to 4 years, 30-day departure period, extensions through USCIS

Fees

Government fees an F-1 applicant typically pays. Schools may charge their own application fees.

Fee	Amount	Who pays	Notes
SEVIS I-901 fee	$350	Student	Paid before the visa interview; F-2 dependents do not pay
Visa application (MRV) fee	$185	Student	Non-petition-based nonimmigrant visa; some nationalities also pay a reciprocity issuance fee
Visa Integrity Fee	$250 (statutory minimum)	Student	Created by Pub. L. 119-21, sec. 100007 (8 U.S.C. 1806): at least $250, required by statute at visa issuance, not waivable, possibly reimbursable after the visa expires if all conditions are met. The State Department’s fee page did not list it as of Oct. 1, 2026; follow the embassy’s payment instructions.
Form I-539 (change to F-1 inside the U.S., or reinstatement)	$420 online / $470 paper	Student	Only if changing status or seeking reinstatement in the United States
Premium processing for I-539 (change to F-1/F-2)	$2,075	Student	Optional; 30 business days
Form I-765 (OPT / STEM OPT)	$470 online / $520 paper	Student	See the OPT page

Fees are those in the USCIS fee schedule (Form G-1055, edition 10/01/26), the SEVP I-901 page and the State Department fee page as of Oct. 1, 2026.

Processing time

Visa issuance window: 365 days; Before the program start date (new students)
Earliest entry: 30 days; Before the program start date
Premium processing (I-539 to F-1): 30 business days; USCIS action or the fee is refunded

Consular appointment wait times vary by post. USCIS times for change-of-status and OPT applications vary; check USCIS processing times.

Application steps

1
Get admitted and receive Form I-20
Apply to an SEVP-certified school. After admission and proof of funds, the school’s designated school official (DSO) issues Form I-20 and creates the SEVIS record.
2
Pay the SEVIS I-901 fee
Pay the $350 fee online at fmjfee.com using the SEVIS ID on the Form I-20, and keep the receipt.
3
Complete Form DS-160 and pay the visa fee
Submit the online nonimmigrant visa application and the $185 MRV fee, then schedule an interview — generally at the embassy or consulate in the country of nationality or residence.
4
Prepare for vetting and interview
F, M and J applicants are subject to online-presence vetting and are instructed to set social-media profiles to public. Most applicants must interview in person.
5
Travel and enter
Enter no more than 30 days before the program start date. CBP admits the student for duration of status and creates the Form I-94 record.
6
Maintain status
Enroll full time, keep the I-20 current, report address changes to the DSO, and work only as authorized.

Required documents

For the visa interview

Valid passport
Form DS-160 confirmation page
Form I-20 signed by the DSO
SEVIS I-901 fee receipt
MRV fee receipt
Evidence of funding (bank statements, scholarships, sponsor letters)
Academic transcripts, diplomas and test scores the school required

Dependents & family

The spouse and unmarried children under 21 of an F-1 student may receive F-2 status. Each needs their own Form I-20; they do not pay the SEVIS fee. F-2 dependents may not work. F-2 children may attend elementary or secondary school; an F-2 spouse or child may study part time at an SEVP-certified post-secondary school, but full-time post-secondary study requires changing to F-1, M-1 or J-1 status.

Path to a green card

F-1 is not a dual-intent status, so there is no direct path from student status to a green card. Many students move through work authorization and an employer- or family-based petition.

Step 1

Optional Practical Training

Up to 12 months of OPT per degree level, plus a 24-month STEM extension for eligible graduates.

Step 2

Change to a work visa

An employer may file an H-1B or another petition; cap-gap rules can extend F-1 status and OPT to April 1 while a cap-subject H-1B change of status is pending.

Step 3

Immigrant petition

An employer (PERM/I-140), qualifying family member or self-petition (e.g., EB-1A, EB-2 NIW) can lead to adjustment of status.

Showing immigrant intent while seeking or extending F-1 status can lead to refusal; timing should be planned carefully.

OPT

Optional Practical Training

Work authorization for F-1 students, including the STEM extension.

M-1

Vocational Student

For vocational or non-academic training programs.

J-1

Exchange Visitor

Sponsor-based exchange programs, including students and scholars.

H-1B

Specialty Occupation Worker

Common next step for graduates with a job offer.

B-2

Visitor for Pleasure

Short recreational courses only — not degree study.

Common questions

Did the 2026 rule ending duration of status take effect?

No. DHS published it on July 17, 2026 with a Sept. 15, 2026 effective date, but a federal court in Massachusetts postponed its effective date nationwide on Sept. 14, 2026. F-1 students continue to be admitted for duration of status unless that order changes.

Can F-1 students work?

On campus up to 20 hours a week while school is in session and full time during breaks. Off-campus work requires CPT (authorized by the DSO and, per SEVP guidance of Aug. 24, 2026, only when it is a required part of the curriculum), OPT, or USCIS approval for severe economic hardship.

How early can a new student enter the United States?

No earlier than 30 days before the program start date on the Form I-20. The visa itself can be issued up to 365 days in advance.

Do I need to make my social media public?

The State Department instructs F, M and J visa applicants to set social-media privacy settings to public as part of online-presence vetting.

Are F-1 visas affected by the travel proclamations?

Yes. Under Proclamation 10998, effective Jan. 1, 2026, F visas are suspended for nationals of the 19 fully restricted and 19 partially restricted countries, subject to listed exceptions and waivers.

Official sources

Recent changes

Sep 18, 2026
Online-presence vetting expanded. The State Department added I, TN and TD applicants (effective Oct. 1, 2026) to its online-presence vetting, which already covered F, M and J (and F-2, M-2, J-2) applicants. Applicants in covered classes are instructed to set social-media profiles to “public.” Source ↗
Sep 14, 2026
Fixed-admission rule postponed nationwide. In Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration v. DHS (No. 1:26-cv-13799), the court granted relief under 5 U.S.C. § 705 postponing the effective date of DHS’s final rule ending duration of status for F, J and I nonimmigrants, one day before it was due to take effect. Duration of status remains in place while the case continues. Source ↗
Aug 24, 2026
SEVP guidance tightens CPT. Broadcast Message 2608-02 (following 2608-01 of Aug. 12, 2026) states that Curricular Practical Training may be authorized only where training is an integral, required part of an established curriculum for all students in that program, not an optional elective. Source ↗
Jul 17, 2026
Final rule replaces duration of status with fixed admission periods. Published final rule (RIN 1653-AA95) admitting F and J nonimmigrants for their program length up to 4 years, shortening the F-1 post-completion departure period from 60 to 30 days, and requiring extensions of stay through USCIS. Announced effective date: Sept. 15, 2026 (since postponed by court order). Source ↗
Jul 15, 2026
Apply in country of nationality or residence. Nonimmigrant visa applicants should schedule interviews at the U.S. embassy or consulate in their country of nationality or residence; fees paid for applications made elsewhere are not refunded or transferred. Source ↗
Mar 1, 2026
Premium processing fees adjusted for inflation. DHS final rule (published Jan. 12, 2026) raised premium processing fees effective March 1, 2026, including $1,780 for OPT/STEM OPT Form I-765 requests and $2,075 for Form I-539 requests to change to F, J or M status. Source ↗
Jan 1, 2026
Expanded travel restrictions take effect. Proclamation 10998 fully suspends entry for nationals of 19 countries and holders of Palestinian Authority travel documents, and suspends B-1/B-2, F, M and J visas (plus immigrant visas) for nationals of 19 more countries. Visas issued before Jan. 1, 2026 were not revoked. Source ↗
Oct 1, 2025
Interview waivers narrowed. Nearly all nonimmigrant visa applicants, including those under 14 and over 79, now require an in-person interview. Waivers remain mainly for diplomatic/official classes and certain B-1/B-2, BCC and H-2A renewals within 12 months of a prior full-validity visa’s expiration. Source ↗
Aug 28, 2025
Proposed rule to end duration of status. DHS proposed replacing duration-of-status admission for F, J and I nonimmigrants with fixed admission periods. Source ↗
Jun 9, 2025
Travel restrictions on 19 countries take effect. Proclamation 10949 suspended entry for nationals of 12 countries and suspended B, F, M and J visas (plus immigrant visas) for nationals of 7 more, effective 12:01 a.m. EDT June 9, 2025. Source ↗
Jan 17, 2025
Cap-gap extended to April 1. The H-1B modernization final rule (published Dec. 18, 2024) extends cap-gap status and work authorization for eligible F-1 students to April 1 of the H-1B fiscal year, or the petition start date if earlier. Source ↗

This page is general reference material compiled from the official sources above and is not legal advice. Eligibility depends on individual facts; rules and fees change, so confirm with the agency before you file. VisaTypes.com is not affiliated with USCIS, the Department of State or any government agency. Spotted an error? Tell us.