The F-1 visa is for full-time study at a SEVP-certified school. You need the Form I-20 from the school, the USD 350 SEVIS fee, the USD 185 visa fee and an in-person interview, and since June 2025 your social media accounts must be set to public for the vetting. Interview slots for the autumn intake open in batches from late spring and ran two weeks to three and a half months out in 2026.
Who qualifies for an F-1 visa? An applicant admitted to a full-time program at a SEVP-certified school that has issued a Form I-20, who can show funds for the first year's tuition and living costs as listed on the I-20, intends to return to India after study, and has English good enough for the course. The visa can be issued up to 365 days before the program start date, and you may enter the US up to 30 days before it.
What does it cost? USD 185 for the visa application plus USD 350 for the SEVIS I-901 fee paid to the Department of Homeland Security before the interview. Dependants on F-2 pay USD 185 each but no SEVIS fee. There is no reciprocity fee for Indian citizens. Fees are not refunded if the visa is refused.
How long does it take from India? Slots are released in waves for each intake. In 2026 the next available F-1 interview ranged from about two weeks to three and a half months depending on the city and the week; Hyderabad and Chennai have often had the shortest waits. After approval the passport is returned within about a week unless administrative processing applies.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Visa type | F-1 academic student; F-2 for spouse and children |
| Government fee | USD 185 visa fee plus USD 350 SEVIS I-901 fee |
| Core document | Form I-20 issued by the school after the deposit and financial proof |
| Funds | First-year tuition and living costs on the I-20, with liquid funds or an education loan sanction |
| Social media | All accounts public for vetting (policy of June 2025) |
| Interview wait (2026) | About 2 weeks to 3.5 months, released in batches |
| Work | On campus up to 20 hours a week; CPT and OPT after a year |
| Post-study | OPT 12 months, plus 24 months for STEM degrees |
The consular officer applies section 214(b): you must show that you are a genuine student with the academic background and English for the program, that you can pay for it without unauthorised work, and that you intend to leave the US after your studies. Officers ask why this university, why this course, who pays and what you plan to do afterwards. A clear, specific answer that fits your record matters more than any document.
The Form I-20 is issued by the school's designated school official once you have accepted the offer, paid the deposit and shown funds. It records the program dates, the first-year cost and the SEVIS ID you need to pay the I-901 fee. Students changing schools or levels get a new I-20 but keep the SEVIS record; transfers inside the US do not need a new visa until the next trip abroad.
Since June 2025 F, M and J applicants are asked to set social media accounts to public so consular staff can review them, and the DS-160 lists every identifier used in the last five years. Posts that contradict the stated plans or the application, or that suggest an intention to stay, are a documented ground for refusal or revocation. DHS proposed in 2025 to replace duration of status with fixed admission periods of up to four years; check the rule's status before travelling.
| Item | USD | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| F-1 visa application (MRV) fee | 185 | Per person, including F-2 dependants |
| SEVIS I-901 fee | 350 | Paid online at fmjfee.com at least 3 business days before the interview; F-2 dependants pay none |
| Visa integrity fee | 250 | Enacted in 2025; not on the fee schedule and not collected as of October 2026 |
| Optional Practical Training (I-765) after study | 470 online / 520 paper | Filed with USCIS up to 90 days before graduation |
| Change of status or extension inside the US (I-539) | 420 online / 470 paper | Only where you stay in the US and change category |
The school's own costs, the TOEFL or IELTS, and the education loan processing fee are separate. Vistolane charges the USD 185 fee at the official rate and shows it separately; the SEVIS fee is paid directly to DHS in your name.
| Stage | Typical time | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| Offer to I-20 | 2 to 6 weeks | Deposit and financial documents to the school |
| SEVIS fee and DS-160 | 1 week | Pay I-901 at least 3 business days before the interview |
| Interview slot | 2 weeks to 3.5 months | Batches open from May; watch all five posts |
| Interview to passport | About 1 week | Longer under 221(g) administrative processing |
| Earliest entry | 30 days before the start date | The I-20 start date governs |
Start the I-20 process by April for a September start, pay SEVIS as soon as the I-20 arrives and book the first slot you see; you can reschedule a limited number of times. A refused student can reapply for the same intake if a slot exists.
F-1 students may work on campus up to 20 hours a week in term and full time in breaks. Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is authorised by the school for internships that are part of the course after the first year; Optional Practical Training (OPT) gives 12 months of work after graduation, filed with USCIS on Form I-765, and STEM graduates can extend by 24 months with an E-Verify employer. Unauthorised work, dropping below full time or failing to report changes terminates the SEVIS record.
F-2 spouses cannot work and can study only part time; F-2 children attend school. Most Indian graduates move to H-1B through the registration lottery while on OPT; the cap-gap extension keeps OPT alive until 1 October if the petition is selected and filed. The H-1B route page covers the 2026 registration rules.
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Passport valid six months beyond the stay | Previous passports with visas help |
| Form I-20, signed | Issued by the school; check the program dates and cost figures |
| SEVIS I-901 receipt | Paid against the SEVIS ID on the I-20 |
| DS-160 confirmation and appointment letter | Photo uploaded and meeting the specifications |
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Admission letter and transcripts | Degree certificates, mark sheets, GRE, GMAT, TOEFL or IELTS as applicable |
| Study plan | Be ready to explain why this course and university, and the career outcome in India or beyond |
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Evidence of first-year funds on the I-20 | Bank statements, fixed deposits, education loan sanction letter, scholarship or assistantship letter |
| Sponsor's income evidence | Parents' ITRs or Form 16 for three years, salary slips, property documents |
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Social media set to public | Every identifier listed on the DS-160; remove nothing, but check that posts match your application |
Vague answers about the course, a program that does not follow from your record, relatives in the US, or a plan that sounded like permanent migration.
The fix. Prepare a specific study plan tied to your background and a career path; reapply when you can explain the change or with a better-fitting program.
Funds appeared suddenly, the sponsor's income did not support the cost on the I-20, or a loan was only 'in principle'.
The fix. Show seasoned savings and the sponsor's income history, and obtain a sanction letter that confirms the amount and disbursal.
Public posts contradicted the application, or identifiers were omitted from the DS-160.
The fix. List every account, make them public before the interview and ensure the record is consistent with your stated plans.
Additional security checks, often for sensitive STEM fields, or a document request.
The fix. Respond to any request promptly; processing can take weeks to months, so apply early.
An earlier overstay, unauthorised work or a false document brings long bars.
The fix. Obtain the full record, take advice on waivers, and disclose everything on the DS-160.
The visa can be issued up to 365 days before the program start date on the I-20, but you cannot enter the US more than 30 days before it. Apply as soon as you have the I-20 and a slot.
The visa requires funds for the first year as listed on the I-20, with a credible plan for later years. Education loan sanction letters from Indian banks and NBFCs are accepted if they confirm the amount and disbursal.
No. F-2 spouses cannot work and may study only part time; children can attend school. Spouses who want to work need their own status, such as H-1B or F-1.
USD 350 paid by the student to DHS at fmjfee.com against the SEVIS ID on the I-20, at least three business days before the interview. It is separate from the USD 185 visa fee and is not refunded on refusal.
Yes. Vistolane completes the DS-160, pays the fee at the official rate, monitors slot releases across the five Indian posts and prepares you for the interview; study-abroad consultants file whole intakes through the same workspace.