Want to study in the United States on an F-1 visa? See where to start.

Do you want to study English in the United States, but you do not know where to start? You may already have looked up F-1, schools, I-20, the interview, and documents, and still not see how it all connects. The good news is that you do not need to figure out everything at once. The process starts long before the interview — and planning is one of the most important parts.

What is the F-1 visa?

F-1 is a nonimmigrant classification used by students who want to study in the United States at an authorized institution. For academic and language students, the process involves a school certified by SEVP. After the student is accepted, the school issues Form I-20. F-1 is a student status, not a permanent immigrant visa.

Define your goal

Before the forms, think: why do you want to study in the United States? Improve your English, prepare to continue your studies, develop professional skills, or have an academic experience? Your goal helps you choose the right program.

Choose an authorized school

Find an institution authorized to enroll international students in the matching category. The Department of State advises that the first step is to apply to an SEVP-certified school. After acceptance, the school registers the student in SEVIS and issues Form I-20. Confirm authorization, program, admission requirements, and costs.

Choose your program of study

Understand your current level, how many hours a week you need to study, how long you plan to study, and what your goal is after the course.

What is Form I-20?

Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status, is issued by the authorized school after the student is accepted and meets the requirements. It contains information about the student and the program and includes the SEVIS ID, used in later steps.

What is SEVIS?

SEVIS means Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. It is the system the government uses to keep information about students and participating institutions. Anyone who needs F-1 normally must pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee before the next steps.

Next comes the DS-160

The DS-160 is the online form used to apply for a nonimmigrant visa. For F-1 students, information from the I-20, including the SEVIS ID, is required. The information must be true and consistent.

And the visa interview?

After the DS-160 and the other steps, the student follows the instructions of the consulate or embassy. The officer may consider academic preparation, financial resources, the purpose of study, and documentation. There is no guarantee that a visa will be issued; the decision belongs to the U.S. government.

Plan the cost of your experience

Consider tuition, fees, the visa, airfare, housing, food, transportation, phone, insurance/medical expenses, and a financial reserve. The student may need to show evidence of funds for education, living, and travel costs.

When can I travel?

Currently, F and M visas for new students may be issued up to 365 days before the program start. Even with the visa, entry may not occur more than 30 days before the program start date. The visa does not automatically guarantee entry; the admission decision belongs to CBP.

What you should not do

• Choose a school based on price alone
• Assume the visa is guaranteed
• Buy a plane ticket before the visa
• Leave planning until the last minute
• Fill in incorrect information

So where do I start?

Goal → Program → Authorized school → Application → Admission/I-20 → SEVIS → DS-160 → Interview → Visa → Arrival preparation.

And if you still do not know where to start?

You do not need all the answers before taking the first step. Understand who you are, why you want to study, what your goal is, how long you plan to study, and which program makes sense.

Antares^TM offers English programs and guidance to students interested in studying in the United States. The visa decision belongs to U.S. authorities.

Your project of studying in the United States starts long before the interview. It starts with information, planning, and informed choices.

F-1 vocabulary

• F-1 Student — Estudante não imigrante autorizado a estudar nos Estados Unidos sob o status F-1.
• I-20 — Documento emitido por uma escola autorizada para um estudante que atende aos requisitos para estudar com o status F-1.
• SEVIS — Sistema do governo dos Estados Unidos utilizado para manter informações sobre estudantes internacionais e visitantes de intercâmbio.
• SEVIS ID — Número de identificação associado ao registro SEVIS do estudante.
• DS-160 — Formulário online utilizado para solicitar um visto de não imigrante dos Estados Unidos.
• Visa Interview — Entrevista realizada com um oficial consular como parte do processo de solicitação do visto.
• Admission — Aceitação por uma instituição de ensino ou, em outro contexto, autorização para entrar nos Estados Unidos.
• Program Start Date — Data em que o programa de estudos autorizado está previsto para começar.
• Tuition — Valores cobrados pela instituição de ensino pelos estudos.
• Proof of Financial Support — Documentos que demonstram como o estudante pretende pagar pelos estudos e pelas despesas de vida.
• International Student — Estudante que realiza seus estudos em um país diferente daquele de sua cidadania ou residência.

More than a visa

Studying in the United States starts long before you pack your bags. It is a project that involves choosing an institution, finding the right program, organizing documents, understanding the visa process, and preparing for a new experience. Your first step can simply be to start researching.

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