VisaPalF-1 student visa
Students admitted to a U.S. college, university, high school or language program that is certified by SEVP.
Last verified: 2026-09-25
Requirements
- Form I-20 from an SEVP-certified school
- Proof of funds for the amount on your I-20
- Pay the $350 SEVIS I-901 fee
- Keep a full course of study and make normal progress
- State Dept vets online presence and asks F, M and J applicants to set social media to public
How long you can stay
Right now F-1 students are admitted for 'duration of status' (D/S). You can stay while you study full time or do authorized training after graduation. Then you get 60 days to leave or move on. You can enter up to 30 days before your I-20 start date. A rule to switch to a fixed date (max 4 years, 30-day grace) was postponed by a court on Sep 14, 2026.
Timeline
After your school issues the I-20, you pay the SEVIS fee, file the DS-160 and interview. Seoul's F/M/J interview wait was under half a month (Sep 17, 2026). Changing to F-1 inside the U.S. took up to 8.5 months for 80% of cases. Check current times.
Government fees
| Fee | Amount | Who usually pays |
|---|---|---|
| SEVIS I-901 fee Paid on fmjfee.com. Keep the payment confirmation. | $350 | Applicant |
| Visa application fee (MRV) | $185 | Applicant |
| Change or extension inside the U.S. (Form I-539), only if needed Paper filing $470; online filing $420. | $470 | Applicant |
| Premium processing for I-539 (Form I-907) USCIS offers it for I-539 requests to change to F-1/F-2 and aims to act within 30 business days. | $2,075 | Applicant |
Korean citizens pay no F-1 visa issuance fee. Pub. L. 119-21 also requires a visa integrity fee of at least $250 when a visa is issued. It wasn't listed as collected on Sep 25, 2026.
Typical attorney fees
Public price pages show about $500–$1,700 for an I-539 change or extension. One firm lists $1,850 for an F-1 change of status. Government fees are extra.
Spouse & children
Spouses and children get F-2 and can't work. An F-2 spouse may study part-time; full-time study needs a change to F-1. F-2 children can attend K-12 full-time.
Work
On-campus jobs up to 20 hours a week while school is in session. Off-campus work needs CPT, OPT or a special hardship approval.
Path to a green card
F-1 is a temporary student status. Options people in similar situations often explore: OPT or STEM OPT, then H-1B or O-1, or an employment-based green card. Confirm with a licensed attorney.
Note for Korean applicants
For Korean citizens, an F-1 visa has no issuance fee and can be valid for up to 60 months with multiple entries. Seoul's F/M/J interview wait was under half a month (State Dept, updated Sep 17, 2026).
Key documents
- Passport and F-1 visa
- Form I-20 signed by your DSO (school official)
- SEVIS I-901 payment confirmation
- Financial documents matching your I-20
- I-94 record after arrival
Common pitfalls
- Dropping below full time without DSO approval — you then get no grace period
- Working off campus without CPT or OPT
- Re-entering without a valid visa and a DSO travel signature on your I-20
- Staying outside the U.S. more than 5 months, which may require a new I-20
- Following the postponed rule's 30-day grace or I-539 steps — check current rules with your DSO
Rules in flux
DHS published a final rule on Jul 17, 2026 to end 'duration of status' (D/S) for F and J. Instead, you'd get a fixed stay up to your program length, capped at 4 years. It would also cut the F-1 grace period after study or OPT from 60 to 30 days. It limits school transfers and changes of major or degree level, too. On Sep 14, 2026, a federal court in Massachusetts postponed the rule and barred DHS from implementing it. USCIS says it follows the previous rules for now.
Pub. L. 119-21, signed Jul 4, 2025, requires a fee of at least $250 when a nonimmigrant visa is issued. It can't be waived and rises with inflation each year. The law allows a refund later in some cases if you follow all visa rules. USCIS said in Jul 2025 the fee needs cross-agency setup and would come in a future notice. On Sep 25, 2026, the State Department fee page did not list it.
SEVP sent messages to schools on Aug 12 and Aug 24, 2026. They say CPT is allowed only when the training is required for all students in that program. An elective or optional internship doesn't count. SEVP warned school officials about personal liability and said it is increasing scrutiny. The regulation itself didn't change; SEVP's reading of it did.
DHS's regulatory agenda lists a 'Practical Training' rule (RIN 1653-AA97) at the proposed-rule stage. DHS says it would address fraud and national security concerns, protect U.S. workers from displacement, and increase SEVP oversight. No proposed rule had been published in the Federal Register as of Sep 25, 2026. The current agenda estimates a proposal in February 2027. Today's OPT and STEM OPT rules stay the same until a rule is finalized and takes effect.
The State Department reviews the online presence of applicants in several visa types and tells them to set all social media profiles to "public". This already applies to F, M, J, H-1B, H-4, K, Q, R and some others. From Oct 1, 2026 it also covers I, TN and TD.
Official sources
- 8 CFR 214.2 as in effect on Sep 14, 2026 (rules USCIS applies while the F/J fixed-admission rule is postponed) — eCFR
- 8 CFR 214.13 — SEVIS fee for certain F, J, and M nonimmigrants — eCFR
- 8 CFR 274a.12 — Classes of aliens authorized to accept employment — eCFR
- 22 CFR 22.1 — Schedule of fees for consular services — eCFR
- I-901 SEVIS Fee — ICE SEVP
- Fee Schedule (Form G-1055), edition 09/09/26 — USCIS
- How Do I Request Premium Processing? — USCIS
- I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status — USCIS
- U.S. Visa: Reciprocity and Civil Documents by Country — South Korea — U.S. Department of State
- Global Visa Wait Times (updated 17-SEP-2026) — U.S. Department of State
- Announcement of Expanded Screening and Vetting for Visa Applicants (Jun 18, 2025) — U.S. Department of State
- Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission and an Extension of Stay Procedure for Nonimmigrant Academic Students, Exchange Visitors, and Representatives of Foreign Information Media (final rule, Jul 17, 2026) — Federal Register
- Public Law 119-21 (HR-1), sec. 100007 Visa integrity fee — U.S. Government Publishing Office
- Check Case Processing Times — USCIS
General information, not legal advice. Rules change often. Check the official source and talk to a licensed immigration attorney before you act.