F-1 Student Visa Guide: How to Apply, OPT & Maintaining Status

F-1 Visa Basics

The F-1 visa is the most common visa for international students attending U.S. colleges, universities, seminaries, conservatories, academic high schools, and other academic institutions, as well as language training programs. To be eligible, you must be enrolled in a full-time academic program at a Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-certified school, demonstrate sufficient financial resources to cover your tuition and living expenses without working illegally, and demonstrate intent to return to your home country after completing your studies.

The F-1 visa itself is a nonimmigrant visa, meaning it is intended for temporary stays. However, F-1 students can transition to other immigration statuses — including H-1B work visas and eventually green cards — through various pathways after graduation.

How to Apply for an F-1 Visa

The F-1 application process begins after you have been accepted to a SEVP-certified school and your Designated School Official (DSO) has issued you a Form I-20. The I-20 is your Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status and is the foundational document for your F-1 visa application.

Once you have your I-20, you must pay the SEVIS fee of $350 through the SEVIS I-901 fee payment website. Keep your payment receipt — you will need it for your visa interview. Then complete Form DS-160 online, pay the $185 MRV visa application fee, and schedule your visa interview at the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Maintaining F-1 Status

Maintaining your F-1 status requires full-time enrollment (typically at least 12 credit hours per semester for undergraduates), making normal progress toward your degree, keeping your I-20 current and updated, reporting any changes in your program, school, or address to your DSO, and not working without authorization. Violating any of these conditions can result in termination of your SEVIS record, which effectively ends your legal status in the United States.

Your DSO is your primary point of contact for all matters related to your F-1 status. Build a good relationship with your DSO and consult them before making any changes to your academic program, taking a leave of absence, or traveling internationally.

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

OPT allows F-1 students to work in the United States in a job directly related to their field of study. You are eligible for up to 12 months of OPT, which can be used before graduation (pre-completion OPT) or after graduation (post-completion OPT). Most students use their OPT after graduation to gain work experience while seeking H-1B sponsorship.

To apply for OPT, you must file Form I-765 with USCIS at least 90 days before your desired start date but no more than 90 days before your program end date. Processing times for OPT applications vary — apply as early as possible to ensure your EAD arrives before you need to start work.

STEM OPT Extension

Students who graduate with a degree in a STEM field (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics) from an SEVP-certified school are eligible for a 24-month extension of their OPT, for a total of 36 months of work authorization. To qualify, your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify. The STEM OPT extension has become a critical bridge for many international students waiting for H-1B lottery selection.