F-1 Visa

The F-1 visa is the main student visa for studying in the United States, issued to international students enrolled full-time at an SEVP-certified college, university, seminary or language school. It covers the whole journey — from getting your I-20 and paying the SEVIS fee, to the consular interview, to what you’re allowed to do once you arrive.

Rules around work are where most students get tripped up. On-campus work, CPT, OPT and the STEM OPT extension each come with their own limits, and breaking them can put your status at risk. Recent policy shifts and falling international enrolment numbers have also changed what applicants should expect.

This tag collects our coverage of the F-1 visa: eligibility and application walkthroughs, comparisons with the M and J student visas, work and post-study options, and updates on how US student visa policy is evolving.

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