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.
Optional Practical Training is the work authorisation that allows an F-1 student to take a paid job in the United States in their field of study, for up to 12 months after finishing a degree. For most international graduates, it is the first, and often
Optional Practical Training (OPT) in the US: 2026 Rules and What Changed Continue Reading »
The number of international students in the US is falling, and the data from 2025 and 2026 make that drop hard to read as a temporary dip. For decades, the United States was the default first choice for students from India, China, South Korea, Nigeria,
International Students in the US: Why Numbers Are Falling Continue Reading »
The F-1 visa is the primary student visa for studying in the United States. It is issued to international students enrolled full-time in an academic program at a college, university, seminary, or language school certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). If you
F-1 Visa 2026: Eligibility, Rules, Work & How to Apply Continue Reading »
If you plan to study in America, the USA student visa is the document that makes it possible. It is the official permission that lets an international student enter the United States and enrol in an approved school, college or university. This guide is a
USA Student Visa 2026: Types, Fees & How to Apply Continue Reading »
