F-1 Student Visa Complete Guide 2026 | F-1学生签证完全指南

Last reviewed: July 4, 2026

F-1签证概述

The F-1 visa is the most common nonimmigrant visa for international students in the United States. It allows foreign nationals to enter the US and study full-time at a Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-certified institution. The visa is managed jointly by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the Department of State.

F-1 students can pursue degrees at accredited colleges, universities, seminaries, conservatories, academic high schools, language training programs, and other academic institutions. The program must culminate in a degree, diploma, or certificate, and the school must be authorized by SEVP to issue Form I-20.

Official information is available through the ICE SEVP Students page and the Study in the States portal maintained by the Department of Homeland Security.

申请条件

To qualify for an F-1 visa, you must meet several requirements:

• Admission to an SEVP-certified school — the institution must be approved by ICE to enroll international students
• Form I-20 — issued by the school after admission and proof of financial support
• Sufficient financial resources — you must show enough funds to cover tuition, living expenses, and other costs for the first academic year
• Non-immigrant intent — you must demonstrate strong ties to your home country and an intent to return after completing your studies
• English proficiency — most schools require TOEFL or IELTS scores for admission, which also satisfies the visa requirement
• Residence abroad — you must maintain a permanent residence outside the US that you have no intention of abandoning

申请流程

The F-1 application process involves multiple steps across several months. Here is the sequence:

1. Apply to and get accepted by an SEVP-certified school. The school's international student office will register you in the SEVIS system after admission.
2. Receive Form I-20. The school issues this document, which you must sign. It includes your program details, estimated costs, and the start date of your studies.
3. Pay the SEVIS I-901 fee. The fee is $350 and must be paid online at fmjfee.com before your visa interview. Keep the receipt.
4. Complete Form DS-160. This is the online nonimmigrant visa application. Upload a passport-style photo that meets Department of State requirements.
5. Pay the visa application fee. The MRV fee is $185, payable through the embassy's payment portal.
6. Schedule your visa interview at the US embassy or consulate in your country. Wait times vary — check current estimates at travel.state.gov.
7. Attend the interview. The consular officer will ask about your study plans, financial resources, and ties to your home country. If approved, the visa is typically placed in your passport within 5-10 business days.
8. Enter the United States. You can enter up to 30 days before your program start date on the I-20.

面签材料

Bring the following to your visa interview. Missing documents can result in a denial or a request to return:

• Valid passport (must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended stay)
• DS-160 confirmation page with barcode
• Signed Form I-20 from your school
• SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
• One 2x2 inch passport-style photo meeting State Department photo requirements
• MRV fee payment receipt
• Letter of admission from the school
• Financial evidence — bank statements, scholarship letters, sponsorship affidavits, or assistantship offers
• Academic transcripts and diplomas from prior institutions
• Standardized test scores (TOEFL, IELTS, GRE, GMAT, SAT, or ACT as applicable)
• Evidence of ties to your home country — property deeds, family relationships, job offers upon return

工作许可

On-Campus Employment

F-1 students may work on-campus during their first academic year, up to 20 hours per week while school is in session and full-time during breaks. No special work permit is needed. On-campus jobs include library assistants, research assistants, teaching assistants, and cafeteria workers. The work must be performed on the school's premises or at an off-campus location that is educationally affiliated with the school.

CPT（Curricular Practical Training）

CPT allows off-campus employment that is an integral part of your established curriculum. It must be required by your degree program or offered as a credit-bearing course.

• Eligible after one full academic year (two semesters) of study — graduate students may be eligible immediately if the program requires it
• Can be part-time (20 hours or fewer per week) or full-time
• Authorized by your DSO on Form I-20 before you start working — no USCIS application needed
• If you accumulate 12 months or more of full-time CPT, you become ineligible for OPT
• Part-time CPT does not affect OPT eligibility

OPT（Optional Practical Training）

OPT provides work authorization in your field of study after graduation. It is the most common way F-1 students gain US work experience.

• Duration: 12 months for non-STEM fields; 36 months for STEM fields (12 + 24-month extension)
• Application window: file Form I-765 with USCIS up to 90 days before your program end date, and no later than 60 days after
• USCIS processing time: 3-5 months — apply early
• Unemployment limits: 90 days total during the 12-month OPT; 150 days total during the 36-month STEM OPT
• Job must be related to your field of study — working in an unrelated field violates your status
• STEM extension requirements: employer must participate in E-Verify; you must submit Form I-983 (Training Plan) and work with your DSO

Official guidance on OPT is available at ICE's Practical Training page.

STEM OPT延期

The 24-month STEM OPT extension is available to graduates with degrees in designated Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics fields. The DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List is updated periodically and includes fields like computer science, engineering, mathematics, biology, chemistry, and many others.

Key requirements:

• Your degree must be on the STEM list (check the current list on the ICE STEM list)
• Employer must be enrolled in E-Verify
• You and your employer must complete Form I-983 (Training Plan for STEM OPT Students)
• Report to your DSO every 6 months, including validation of employment
• The employer must pay a wage commensurate with similarly situated US workers

费用总结

维持F-1身份要求

Maintaining valid F-1 status is your responsibility. Failing to do so can result in termination of your SEVIS record, which means you must leave the US immediately or face removal proceedings.

• Full-time enrollment: undergraduates must register for at least 12 credit hours per semester; graduate students must meet their program's full-time requirement
• Academic progress: maintain the minimum GPA required by your program and make normal progress toward degree completion
• Valid I-20: keep your I-20 updated with current program information, financial information, and any extensions
• Passport validity: keep your passport valid at all times — renew it at least 6 months before expiration through your embassy
• Report address changes: update your DSO within 10 days of any move
• Do not work without authorization: unauthorized employment is a status violation that can lead to a 5-year ban
• Program extension: if you need more time to complete your program, request an extension before your I-20 end date

转学规定

F-1 students may transfer between SEVP-certified schools. The transfer process works through the SEVIS system:

1. Notify your current DSO of your intent to transfer and provide the name of the receiving school
2. Apply to and be accepted by the receiving school
3. The receiving school issues a new I-20 with a transfer notation
4. Your current DSO releases your SEVIS record to the new school — this must happen within 60 days of your program end date or OPT end date
5. Report to the new school's DSO within 15 days of the program start date on the new I-20

The transfer must be completed before the "transfer release date" set by your current DSO. Once the SEVIS record is released, you cannot change back to the original school without a new SEVIS record.

H-1B转换

Many F-1 students use OPT as a bridge to H-1B work visa sponsorship. Here is how the transition works:

• Employer sponsorship required: an H-1B petition must be filed by a US employer
• Annual cap: 65,000 regular cap + 20,000 advanced degree (master's or higher from a US institution) exemption
• Registration period: USCIS opens registration in March each year; selected registrants can file H-1B petitions starting April 1
• Cap-gap extension: if your OPT expires between April 1 and October 1, and an H-1B petition is filed on your behalf, your F-1 status and work authorization are automatically extended through September 30
• STEM advantage: 36 months of OPT gives STEM graduates up to three chances at the H-1B lottery
• October 1 start date: approved H-1B status begins on October 1 of the fiscal year selected

常见违规后果

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work in the US on an F-1 visa?

Yes, but with restrictions. During your first academic year, you can work on-campus up to 20 hours per week. After the first year, off-campus work becomes available through CPT (if the internship is part of your curriculum) or OPT (after graduation). All off-campus employment requires prior authorization from your DSO or USCIS.

What is the difference between CPT and OPT?

CPT is for internships that are part of your academic program and must be completed before graduation. OPT is post-graduation work authorization for 12 months. STEM graduates can extend OPT for 24 additional months. If you use 12 or more months of full-time CPT, you lose eligibility for OPT.

How do I maintain F-1 status?

Register full-time each semester, keep your I-20 current, maintain a valid passport, report address changes to your DSO within 10 days, do not exceed allowed unemployment days during OPT, and never work without authorization. Your DSO is your primary resource for status questions.

Can I transfer schools on an F-1 visa?

Yes. Notify your current DSO, get accepted by the new school, obtain a new I-20, and complete the SEVIS transfer within 60 days of your program end date. Your SEVIS record transfers electronically between schools — you do not need a new visa stamp.

What happens if my F-1 visa stamp expires while I am in the US?

Your visa stamp is only for entry. It can expire while you remain in the US legally, as long as your I-20 is valid and you maintain full-time enrollment. You need a valid visa stamp only when traveling abroad and re-entering the US.

What is the cap-gap extension?

If your OPT expires before October 1 and an H-1B petition is filed on your behalf, your F-1 status and employment authorization are automatically extended through September 30. No separate application is required, but you should obtain a cap-gap I-20 from your DSO for travel purposes.

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