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    Student visa guide

    United States student visa 2026: cost, requirements and how to apply

    The F-1 Student Visa costs $535 in fees nobody can skip, up to $575 if every situational extra applies.

    By Global Admissions Editorial · Checked against 5 official sources

    How much does a United States student visa cost in 2026?

    Applying for a student visa in the United States on the F-1 Student Visa costs $535 in fees you cannot skip: SEVIS I-901 fee ($350) and DS-160 / MRV visa application fee ($185). Situational extras (reciprocity / issuance fee, photographs and document courier / postage) add up to $40 more. Tuition, living costs and proof-of-funds sit outside this total. All amounts are US dollars, last checked January 2026.

    F-1 Student Visa cost breakdown

    Every line the United States application puts on your card, in US dollars, as of January 2026.

    SEVIS I-901 fee$350
    Required before scheduling visa interview
    DS-160 / MRV visa application fee$185
    Mandatory for every applicant.
    Biometrics (most consulates)$0
    Bundled in MRV at most posts
    Mandatory total$535
    What the F-1 Student Visa costs before any optional service.
    Situational extras, only if they apply to you
    Reciprocity / issuance fee$0
    Varies by nationality (most countries: $0)
    Photographs$15
    Only some applicants are charged this.
    Document courier / postage$25
    Only some applicants are charged this.
    If every extra applied$575
    Worst case. Most applicants pay none or one of these.

    Amounts are US dollars. United States bills in its own currency, so the exact charge moves with the exchange rate. The native figures are in the notes column where the fee schedule publishes them.

    Things to watch

    • F-2 (dependents) pay no SEVIS fee but pay the same $185 MRV per applicant.
    • M-1 (vocational) students follow the same fee structure.
    • A $250 Visa Integrity Fee was enacted in 2025 (H.R.1); collection is still being implemented, so budget for it even though fee pages do not list it yet.

    United States student visa requirements and documents checklist

    9 documents every applicant provides.

    DocumentWho needs itWhat it involves
    Form I-20 from a SEVP-certified schooleveryoneYour school issues the Form I-20 once it has entered your details in SEVIS. You and a school official must both sign it, and you must present it to the consular officer at your interview and again to border officers on arrival. source
    Paid I-901 SEVIS feeeveryoneF and M visa applicants pay a $350 I-901 SEVIS fee. It is separate from the visa application fee and from any school SEVIS administration charge, and you print the payment confirmation from FMJfee.com rather than waiting for a mailed receipt. source
    Passport valid six months beyond your stayeveryoneYour passport must stay valid for at least six months past the period you intend to remain in the United States, unless a country-specific agreement exempts you. Every family member who needs a visa files a separate application. source
    DS-160 confirmation pageeveryoneComplete the online DS-160 nonimmigrant visa application and print the confirmation page to bring to your interview. source
    Digital photograph meeting State Department specificationseveryoneYou upload the photo inside the DS-160. If the upload fails, bring one printed photo in the required format to the interview. source
    Visa application fee receipteveryoneThe nonimmigrant visa application fee is $185 and is non-refundable. Most posts require you to pay it before the interview; check the instructions of the embassy or consulate where you apply. source
    Academic recordseveryoneConsular officers commonly ask for transcripts, diplomas, degrees or certificates from schools you attended, plus any standardized test scores your U.S. school required. source
    Evidence of how you will pay for study and living costseveryoneThere is no fixed national figure. The consular officer decides whether you have shown you can cover all educational, living and travel costs, so bank statements, sponsor letters and scholarship or loan awards should add up to the cost of attendance on your Form I-20. source
    Evidence of intent to depart after your studieseveryoneThe F-1 is a temporary visa, and you must satisfy the officer that you will leave the United States when your course of study ends. Refusals under section 214(b) turn on this point. source

    How to apply for a United States student visa

    1. Get accepted by a SEVP-approved school

      Apply to a school approved by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program. Once it accepts you, the school registers you in SEVIS and issues your Form I-20.

      source
    2. Pay the $350 I-901 SEVIS fee

      Pay before you schedule the visa interview, using your SEVIS ID from the Form I-20. Print the confirmation from FMJfee.com and keep it with your application documents.

      source
    3. Complete the DS-160 online application

      Fill in the DS-160 on the Consular Electronic Application Center, upload your photo, and print the confirmation page.

      source
    4. Pay the visa fee and book your interview

      Pay the $185 application fee and schedule an interview at the embassy or consulate in the country where you live. Wait times vary by post and season, so book early; a new student's visa can be issued up to 365 days before the course start date.

      source
    5. Attend the interview and give fingerprints

      Bring your passport, DS-160 confirmation, fee receipt, Form I-20 and supporting documents. Ink-free digital fingerprints are usually taken at the interview. Some applications then go into additional administrative processing.

      source
    6. Travel and seek admission at the port of entry

      You may not enter more than 30 days before your program start date. A Customs and Border Protection officer inspects your passport, visa and Form I-20 and decides whether to admit you; the visa alone does not guarantee entry.

      source

    United States student visa processing time

    A visa for a new student can be issued up to 365 days before the course start date, but you cannot enter the United States more than 30 days before it. Interview wait times vary by post and season, so apply early.

    U.S. Department of State: Student Visa (F and M) · checked August 2026

    United States student visa work rights, dependants and what comes after

    Work rights

    F-1 students may work on campus up to 20 hours a week while school is in session. Off-campus employment only becomes possible after one academic year, and always needs authorization first.

    sourcecompare all countries

    Dependants

    A spouse and unmarried minor children may apply for F-2 visas. Each needs their own Form I-20 from your school and pays the visa application fee, but they do not pay the SEVIS fee. F-2 children may attend school in the United States.

    source

    After graduation

    Optional Practical Training gives 12 months of work authorization per educational level, and graduates of eligible STEM programs can apply for a 24-month extension. You may not accumulate more than 90 days of unemployment during OPT.

    sourcecompare all countries

    Language requirement

    There is no federal English-test score for the F-1 visa itself. Your school sets the language standard, and the consular officer may ask for the standardized test scores that school required.

    source

    United States student visa requirements for Nigerian students

    The full United States visa guide for Nigerian students, with the fee in your currency.

    Your F-1 is issued for a single entry, valid three months

    Under the reciprocity schedule for Nigeria, F-1 and F-2 visas are issued for one entry with three months' validity. Students from most other markets receive multiple-entry visas valid for several years, so once you enter the United States you cannot leave and come back on the same visa.

    source

    Any trip home means applying for a new visa

    Because the visa is spent on first entry, a visit home during your degree requires a fresh DS-160, a new $185 application fee and another interview appointment in Nigeria before you can return. The I-901 SEVIS fee is not charged again while your SEVIS record stays active.

    source

    No visa issuance fee applies

    The reciprocity schedule lists no issuance fee for Nigerian F-1 and F-2 applicants, so your government costs are the $350 SEVIS fee and the $185 application fee only.

    source

    United States student visa requirements for Ghanaian students

    The full United States visa guide for Ghanaian students, with the fee in your currency.

    F-1 issued multiple-entry for 48 months

    Ghana's reciprocity schedule sets F-1 and F-2 validity at 48 months with multiple entries, shorter than the 60 months granted to applicants from India, China, Kenya, Bangladesh and Nepal. A long doctoral program can outlast the visa, which then has to be renewed abroad.

    source

    No visa issuance fee applies

    No reciprocity or issuance fee is charged to Ghanaian F-1 and F-2 applicants; the $350 SEVIS fee and the $185 application fee are the whole government cost.

    source
    United Kingdom
    From $1,760 all-in
    Canada
    From $175 all-in
    Australia
    From $2,250 all-in
    Germany
    From $190 all-in
    France
    From $183 all-in
    New Zealand
    From $501 all-in

    FAQ

    Frequently asked questions

    How much is the United States student visa fee?
    The F-1 Student Visa application charge is $185 (DS-160 / MRV visa application fee). Add the other mandatory items (SEVIS I-901 fee $350 and Biometrics (most consulates) $0) and the all-in mandatory total is $535. Optional extras add up to $40 on top.
    How much is the SEVIS I-901 fee?
    $350 for the F-1 Student Visa, and it is mandatory. Required before scheduling visa interview. It is already counted in the $535 all-in total.
    How much is the biometrics fee?
    $0 for the F-1 Student Visa, and it is mandatory. Bundled in MRV at most posts. It is already counted in the $535 all-in total.
    Can you work on a United States student visa?
    F-1 students may work on campus up to 20 hours a week while school is in session. Off-campus employment only becomes possible after one academic year, and always needs authorization first. Source: DHS Study in the States: Working in the United States (August 2026).
    How long does a United States student visa take?
    A visa for a new student can be issued up to 365 days before the course start date, but you cannot enter the United States more than 30 days before it. Interview wait times vary by post and season, so apply early. Source: U.S. Department of State: Student Visa (F and M) (August 2026).
    Can you bring your family on a United States student visa?
    A spouse and unmarried minor children may apply for F-2 visas. Each needs their own Form I-20 from your school and pays the visa application fee, but they do not pay the SEVIS fee. F-2 children may attend school in the United States. Source: U.S. Department of State: Student Visa (F and M) (August 2026).
    What's not included in the F-1 Student Visa fee?
    Tuition, living costs and the money you have to show in your account are separate from the fees on this page. Use our cost-of-study calculator at /tools/cost-calculator for a complete budget.
    When are these fees due?
    Application and biometric fees are paid before submission. Health surcharges (UK IHS, Australian OSHC) are paid as part of the visa application. Some fees (Anmeldung in Germany, OFII in France) are paid after arrival.

    Official sources

    Last verified August 2026.