Updated November 6, 2026

F-1 visa requirements: Form I-20, SEVIS fee, proof of funds and the interview

To get an F-1 student visa, you must be accepted to a Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-certified school and receive a signed Form I-20 from your designated school official (DSO). You must also show financial proof that covers tuition, books, living costs and travel, pay the $350 I-901 SEVIS fee, and apply at a U.S. embassy or consulate.

The Department of State allows consular officers to issue an F-1 visa up to 365 days before the program start date on your Form I-20, while U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) allows you to enter the country up to 30 days before that start date. Want to rehearse your answers out loud before your appointment? Try our F-1 visa interview practice with AI.

F-1 visa requirements checklist (from acceptance to arrival)

Every prospective F-1 student goes through the same required steps before studying in the United States. Below are the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ICE requirements into one checklist in the exact order you complete them.

Not sure how your tuition, living costs and sponsor documents stack up against what your school and consular officer check? Read our guide to F-1 visa proof of funds, which includes our free F-1 proof of funds calculator.

• Get accepted to an SEVP-certified academic or accredited English language training program.
• Submit financial evidence to your school's DSO covering tuition, books, living expenses and travel.
• Receive and sign your Form I-20 (and separate Forms I-20 for any accompanying F-2 dependents).
• Pay the $350 I-901 SEVIS fee on FMJfee.com and print your payment confirmation receipt.
• Pay the separate non-refundable visa fee and apply at a U.S. embassy or consulate.
• Attend your consular interview with your signed Form I-20, I-901 receipt, financial proof and embassy-required records.
• Check your issued visa immediately to confirm the classification, school name, your name and date of birth.
• Enter the United States no more than 30 days before the Program Start Date on your Form I-20.

Step 1: Acceptance to an SEVP-certified school (and which schools qualify)

Your first requirement is acceptance into a school certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). Under federal regulations at 8 CFR 214.3(a)(2), DHS delegates school certification to ICE and SEVP so that approved institutions can issue Form I-20 and enroll nonimmigrant students.

F-1 status is for nonimmigrant students enrolling in academic programs or accredited English language training programs, and your school evaluates your academic records and qualifications (including whether you are enrolling in an academic program or English language training) before admitting you. M-1 status is for technical or vocational programs other than language training. The program noted on your Form I-20 dictates which visa classification you apply for, and you can verify a school's certification using the School Search tool on Study in the States.

Step 2: Getting and signing Form I-20

Once an SEVP-certified school accepts you, a designated school official (DSO) enters your record into the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and issues your Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status. Federal regulations allow only a DSO at an SEVP-certified school to issue a Form I-20 to a student or an accompanying dependent. Third parties, such as recruiting agents, are not permitted to issue a Form I-20 or have one issued directly to them.

If multiple SEVP-certified schools accept you, each school will send you its own Form I-20 with a unique SEVIS ID number (which always starts with the letter N). Choose the one school you plan to attend and use that specific Form I-20 to pay your SEVIS fee and apply for your visa. If your spouse or unmarried minor children will come with you on F-2 dependent visas, you must obtain a separate Form I-20 for each dependent.

Your Form I-20 requires signatures from both sides before you use it to travel:

• DSO signature: Your DSO signs the School Attestation section, certifying under penalty of perjury that the school evaluated your application, academic transcripts and proof of financial responsibility, and that you meet all standards for admission.
• Student signature: You must sign the Form I-20 yourself. Signing means you agree to follow F-1 rules, enter and remain in the U.S. for the specific purpose of study, and allow DHS access to your school-maintained student record.
• Parent or guardian signature for minors: Federal regulations require a parent or legal guardian to sign the Form I-20 if the prospective student is 17 years of age or younger (under age 18).
• Redesigned form requirement: Since July 1, 2016, the redesigned Form I-20 is mandatory for all F and M visa applications, U.S. entry and benefit applications. Any older version with a barcode is invalid.
• Original ink signature for travel: You are expected to bring the original Form I-20 to your visa interview (consular officers may accept a copy only in limited circumstances) and you must hand-carry the original Form I-20 with ink signature to present to the CBP officer at the U.S. port of entry.

Step 3: F-1 financial requirements and acceptable proof of funds

Prospective F-1 students must show they have the financial resources to cover tuition, books, living expenses and travel during their period of intended study. Your proof of financial ability is checked at three points: first by your school's DSO before they issue your Form I-20, second by the consular officer at your visa interview, and third at the U.S. port of entry if a CBP officer asks to review it.

Study in the States lists acceptable evidence of financial ability showing that you or a sponsor can cover tuition and living costs:

• Family bank statements
• Documentation from a sponsor
• Financial aid letters
• Scholarship letters
• A letter from an employer showing annual salary

Financial aid rules and keeping your I-20 funding updated

Individual SEVP-certified schools may set specific rules for which financial documents they accept, so check with your school's international student office. International students are not eligible for U.S. government-funded financial aid, though some SEVP-certified schools offer institutional financial aid, academic scholarships or athletic scholarships for F-1 students. You can ask your school's financial aid office and DSO what you qualify for, or check EducationUSA, a Department of State network with advising centers in more than 170 countries.

Under SEVP's visa issuance guidance, you must notify your DSO of any significant changes to your financial information between visa issuance and your arrival in the United States. Your DSO should update your Form I-20 in SEVIS either before you enter the country or at initial registration if your financial situation has changed substantially. For a deeper breakdown of sponsor rules, loans and how officers evaluate your documents, see our F-1 visa proof of funds guide.

Step 4: Paying the $350 I-901 SEVIS fee

Federal regulation requires all prospective F-1 students to pay the I-901 SEVIS fee before the Department of State issues a visa. Since June 24, 2019, the I-901 SEVIS fee for F-1 students is $350, which is separate from the non-refundable Department of State visa application fee and any school SEVIS administration fee.

You must have your Form I-20 in hand before you pay. To complete Form I-901, enter your name, address, date of birth, email address, country of birth, country of citizenship, the School Code listed on your Form I-20, and your SEVIS Identification Number (starting with N) exactly as they appear on your Form I-20.

How to pay the I-901 SEVIS fee, country restrictions and fee transfers

Most F-1 applicants complete Form I-901 online at FMJfee.com and pay with a Visa, MasterCard or American Express credit card, or a debit card carrying the Visa or MasterCard logo. Online card payments let you print your payment confirmation receipt immediately, and the record generally posts to SEVIS and Department of State consular systems within three business days.

You can also pay by international money order or a check drawn on a U.S. bank in U.S. currency (made payable to I-901 Student/Exchange Visitor Processing Fee and mailed with a printed payment coupon or paper Form I-901), or through Western Union Quick Pay after generating a coupon number online. If you mail a check or money order, ICE suggests allowing at least two weeks for delivery. If a check is dishonored by the bank, the DHS Debt Management Center charges a penalty fee ($30 to $35 in ICE guidance).

Country restrictions on credit card payments: Under Study in the States rules, a prospective F or M student whose country of citizenship or country of birth is Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria or Gambia cannot pay the I-901 SEVIS fee by credit card (and third-party payers cannot use a credit card on their behalf either). Applicants from these five countries must pay by money order, Western Union Quick Pay or a certified check drawn from a U.S. bank.

Moving your fee to a different school (SEVIS ID transfer): If you paid the I-901 fee on one Form I-20 and decide to attend a different school before receiving a visa or entering the country, you can request a fee transfer on FMJfee.com or by emailing FMJfee.sevis@ice.dhs.gov with your name, date of birth, original SEVIS ID and new SEVIS ID at least two weeks before your visa interview.

Refunds and chargebacks: SEVP does not refund the I-901 fee if your visa is denied or if you decide not to study in the United States. Refunds are only granted if you mistakenly paid more than once for the same student or paid when exempt, and you must request the refund within 90 days of the payment. Never dispute a legitimate I-901 credit card payment with your bank: ICE warns that a chargeback triggers a Fee Payment Fraud Alert, cancels or terminates your SEVIS record, and flags your name for CBP officers at ports of entry.

Step 5: The 365-day visa issuance rule and the 30-day entry rule

On February 21, 2023, the Department of State updated its visa issuance guidance: consular officers can now issue an F-1 or M-1 student visa up to 365 days in advance of the Program Start Date listed on your Form I-20 (replacing the older 120-day limit). Note that your Form I-20 program start date may be set by your DSO up to 30 days before the day classes actually begin, to allow for orientation or placement exams.

Getting your visa early does not let you enter the United States early. Under SEVP regulations, you may only enter the United States up to 30 days before the Program Start Date listed on your Form I-20. ICE warns that students who attempt to enter the United States more than 30 days before their Program Start Date may be found inadmissible by CBP and have their nonimmigrant visa cancelled at the border.

To see how the 365-day rule, the 12-month I-901 fee validity rule and the 30-day entry window interact, here is a worked example from ICE's Visa Guidance FAQ:

• Example Program Start Date on Form I-20: August 25, 2027.
• Earliest date a consular officer can issue your F-1 visa (365 days before start date): August 25, 2026.
• Window to pay your $350 I-901 SEVIS fee: The I-901 fee is valid for 12 months from payment, must be valid at your visa appointment, and SEVP advises paying within one year of your intended entry to the U.S. (for an August 1, 2027 flight, pay on or after August 2, 2026). CBP officers may stop students whose I-901 fee payment is older than one year and require repayment before admission.
• Earliest date you can land at a U.S. port of entry (30 days before start date): July 26, 2027.
• Switching schools after visa issuance: Per federal regulation in ICE's Visa Guidance FAQ, the school notated on an initial student's visa must match the school on their Form I-20 for initial admission. If you receive a visa for School A and decide before arriving in the U.S. to attend School B, you must apply for and receive an updated student visa from the Department of State showing School B.

Step 6: Applying for the visa, the interview and required documents

After you receive your Form I-20 and pay the I-901 SEVIS fee, you apply for your F-1 student visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate. Review the student visas page on travel.state.gov and your local embassy's website for instructions on applying for your visa and paying the separate non-refundable machine-readable visa application fee. Citizens of Canada or Bermuda and certain residents described in 8 CFR 212.1(a) are visa-exempt and apply for F-1 status directly at the U.S. port of entry after paying the I-901 fee in advance.

To see how the consular process works from start to finish, read our overview of the F-1 student visa, and check our guide to F-1 visa interview questions for the full question bank. At your interview, the consular officer evaluates your nonimmigrant intent and ties to home by checking that you are entering and remaining in the U.S. for the specific purpose of study for the time it takes to fulfill that purpose (after your program or training end date, F-1 students and dependents have a 60-day grace period to depart, transfer or change status). The officer also checks your academic qualifications and English language program or academic placement on your Form I-20, and your financial ability to cover the costs on your Form I-20. DHS and ICE guidance require you to bring:

• Your original signed Form I-20 (plus separate signed Forms I-20 for any accompanying F-2 dependents).
• Your printed I-901 SEVIS fee payment confirmation receipt from FMJfee.com to prove payment and speed verification.
• Your evidence of financial ability to cover tuition, books, living expenses and travel.
• Your passport and any other required documents specified by travel.state.gov and the U.S. embassy or consulate where you apply.

Step 7: What to check when your visa arrives and at the U.S. port of entry

Once your visa is issued, Study in the States advises checking the visa stamp immediately to confirm that you received an F-1 classification matching your Form I-20, that the school name matches your Form I-20, and that your name and date of birth match your passport.

A visa does not guarantee entry to the United States. It permits you to travel to a U.S. port of entry (no more than 30 days before your Form I-20 Program Start Date) and request permission to enter from a CBP officer, who has final authority to admit you. Keep your original ink-signed Form I-20, your evidence of financial ability, and your printed I-901 SEVIS fee receipt with you in your carry-on bag rather than in your checked suitcase. If you cannot arrive by the start date on your Form I-20, contact your DSO immediately so they can update your SEVIS record.

When the CBP officer admits you, they issue your Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record. If you arrive missing a required document or without a verified I-901 fee, CBP may refer you to secondary inspection or issue a Form I-515A, Notice to Student or Exchange Visitor, which gives you 30 days to submit the missing documentation or payment before your SEVIS record is terminated. Ready to practice your consular interview before you book your flight? Start a session with our F-1 visa interview practice with AI.

Visaful is an AI mock interview app for US visa interviews: an AI officer asks your visa's questions out loud and shows what to fix.

This is interview practice, not legal advice. For questions about your own case, talk to an immigration attorney. Visaful is not affiliated with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) or any government agency.