Full-time academic study at a SEVP-certified U.S. school on the f-1 visa, the student visa f 1 route, and after graduation, Optional Practical Training turns the degree into real U.S. work experience. Here’s the whole f-1 student visa journey, in plain English.
Months of OPT: work in your field after graduation, requested on Form I-765.
The STEM extension: 24 more months with a Form I-983 training plan and an E-Verify employer.
Hours a week of on-campus work allowed while school is in session.
admission to a SEVP-certified school, which issues Form I-20 and anchors the f1 visa for usa (M-1 for vocational programs).
enough for tuition and living expenses.
proficiency in English, or enrollment in ESL.
a residence abroad and intent consistent with study.
Every step of the f1 visa process runs the same way.
Receive the I-20, pay the SEVIS I-901 fee, complete DS-160, and interview at the consulate.
Maintain status: full course loads, on-campus work only (20 hours a week in session), and timely SEVIS updates through your DSO.
Use CPT for curricular internships during the program where authorized.
Apply for OPT (Form I-765) around graduation: 12 months of work in your field, then the 24-month STEM extension (Form I-983 training plan, E-Verify employer). The stem opt visa route has its own stem opt requirements.
Transition on time: the H-1B cap-gap bridges selected students to October 1. O-1, country treaty visas, and green card categories are the other exits: plan a year ahead.
issued on admission by the SEVP-certified school (M-1 for vocational programs).
the SEVIS fee, paid before the consular interview.
the online visa application, completed before the interview.
the OPT work permit application, filed around graduation.
the STEM OPT training plan, required for the 24-month extension.
Status violations follow you into every future filing. Full course loads, authorized work only, and timely SEVIS updates through your DSO keep the record clean.
| Item | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| SEVIS fee (I-901) | $350 | Paid once per program before the interview; F-2 dependents pay no SEVIS fee |
| Visa application fee (MRV) | $185 per person | Paid when booking; charged again for each F-2 spouse or child |
| Visa integrity fee | $250 per person | At issuance; phasing in since late 2025; refund process not yet open |
| OPT application (Form I-765) | $470 online / $520 paper | Paid again later for the 24-month STEM extension |
Fee amounts reflect published government figures as of August 2026 and change over time; the live links above are always current. The visa fees apply per person, including F-2 dependents; the SEVIS fee is paid only by the student.
The window opens 90 days before your program end date and closes 60 days after it. File at the early edge: the card takes months, and you cannot work a single day until it is approved, in hand, and your chosen start date arrives.
OPT allows 90 days without qualifying work across the 12 months, and the STEM extension raises the total to 150 across all 36. The days count quietly while you search, so report every job to your DSO and keep proof that each role relates to your degree.
On regular OPT, yes: self-employment can qualify if the business is real, full time, and tied to your degree. STEM OPT is stricter. It requires a bona fide employer-employee relationship with an E-Verify company, a test your own startup rarely survives.
It is allowed and it is risky. Returning after graduation generally takes the EAD card plus proof of a job or job offer, and a pending application can strand you abroad through no fault of your own. We usually advise staying put until the card is in hand.
No. The visa is only an entry key. Inside the U.S. your stay runs on the I-20 and duration of status, so you can study for years on an expired stamp. You need a new visa only to come back after traveling abroad.
Every day; it is the most common F-1 refusal. The cure is a credible plan tying the degree to a future that does not require staying, real home ties, and consistent answers. Hoping to use OPT is fine; presuming a green card is not.
Plan the transition a year ahead. Tell us your story: the evaluation is free, and we’ll tell you exactly which exit fits.
