USA · CHAPTER 10
The F-1 student visa,step by step.
With your I-20 and SEVIS receipt, complete the DS-160, pay $185 and attend an interview at a US Embassy or consulate in India. Visas can be issued up to 365 days before your programme start, and you can enter up to 30 days before it begins.
Published by Althéa Consulting · Adviser: Harshita Kohli
Source review: · How to use our guides
Documents
- Passport
- Form I-20
- SEVIS I-901 receipt
- DS-160 confirmation
- Visa fee receipt
- Financial documents
- Academic records and test scores
- Admission letter
Interview tips
- Explain your programme and why this university in plain words
- Know your funding and who pays
- Show ties and plans after your degree
- Answer briefly and honestly
- List your social-media identifiers on the DS-160 as required
2026 rule changes to follow
A DHS final rule published in July 2026 replaces open-ended "duration of status" with a fixed admission date tied to your I-20 end date (up to four years), with extensions through USCIS and a 30-day grace period. Its effective date has been subject to litigation; your international student office will tell you which rule applies when you enter.
IN DEPTH · TAP A TOPIC TO OPEN
The F-1 interview
- Know your programme, university and why you chose it
- Explain your funding clearly with the documents in hand
- Show your plans after studies and ties to India
- Keep answers short, honest and consistent with your DS-160
- Carry the I-20, SEVIS receipt, DS-160 confirmation, admission letter, transcripts, test scores and funding documents
If you are refused under 214(b)
- 01
Understand the reason
214(b) means the officer was not convinced of your intent or ties; it is not a permanent ban.
- 02
Change something
Strengthen funding evidence, clarify your study plan, or choose a better-fitting programme.
- 03
Reapply
Pay the fee again and book a new interview; mention what has changed.
Consulates in India
| Post | Jurisdiction (main states) |
|---|---|
| New Delhi | Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and the north |
| Mumbai | Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Madhya Pradesh |
| Chennai | Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala |
| Hyderabad | Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha |
| Kolkata | West Bengal and the north-east |
QUICK ANSWERS
Your questions, answered.
$185 for the visa application plus the $350 SEVIS I-901 fee. A $250 visa integrity fee was legislated in 2025; check whether it is being collected when you apply.
Up to 30 days before the programme start date on your I-20.
Up to 20 hours a week on campus during term, full time in breaks. Off-campus work needs CPT or OPT authorisation.
WHERE TO GO NEXT
Keep going: the pages that help next.
Each card says what you will find there. Looking for something else? See every page on the site.
USA GUIDE
Proof of funds & loans
Financial documents for the I-20 and F-1 interview, liquid funds, sponsor affidavits, education loans from India and TCS rules.
USA GUIDE
Pre-departure checklist
What to finish before flying to the USA: I-20, visa, documents, money, health insurance, housing and port-of-entry questions.
FROM INDIA
Documents & attestation
Indian documents for study abroad: transcripts, degree certificates, MOI letters, gap explanations, MEA apostille, notarisation, WES/ECA and sworn translations.
FROM INDIA
Scams & emergencies abroad
Study abroad fraud warnings for Indian students: fake agents, offer letters and visas, forex and job scams, plus lost passports and emergencies abroad.
TOOL
Compare countries
Compare countries on fees, living costs, visa rules and post-study work, in one table.
FRANCE
Study in France
The full France guide: degrees, fees, Campus France, visa, housing and work, chapter by chapter.
COMING SOON
Support for the USA
opens soon.
Althéa’s personal support for the USA is coming soon. Today we help students coming to study in France, and everyone already living in France.
Coming soonExplore France while you wait