US Student Visa for Master's Degree Students

The F-1 Visa Opens the Door to a US Master's

The F-1 visa is the main visa for international students who want to study full time in the United States. It lets you enroll in a master's degree program at an approved US school. You keep F-1 status for as long as you stay enrolled and follow your program rules. This single visa covers your entire master's degree, from your first class to your final exam. Many students later use the same status for a period of work in their field after graduation.

Your Acceptance Letter Starts Everything

You must be accepted into a master's program at a school approved to host international students before you can apply. Your school then issues Form I-20, a document that proves you are a genuine student. You need the original Form I-20 at your visa interview and when you enter the country. Nothing else in this process can begin until your school issues this form. Short courses or non-approved schools do not qualify for this visa.

Four Steps From Acceptance to Visa

Step 1: Accept your offer and receive Form I-20 from your school. Step 2: Pay the student record fee that keeps your information in the government's tracking system. Step 3: Complete the online visa form, called Form DS-160, and print its confirmation page. Step 4: Pay the visa application fee and attend your interview with your documents. You can start this process up to a year before your program begins, so apply early. Interviews usually require proof you plan to return home after your studies.