The complete
F-1 Visa Guide

1. What is the F-1 Visa?

The F-1 Visa is a non-immigrant student visa that allows foreigners to pursue education in the United States.
This includes language training programs and/or academic studies.

• International students who wish to pursue full-time academic or English-language study in the United States generally need F-1 status unless they are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or hold another immigration status that permits study.
• Temporary visitors who wish to participate in a short recreational course that is incidental to their purpose for visiting the United States may do so without an F-1 Visa.

2. Do I need an F-1 Visa to study English in the USA?

Whether you will need an F-1 Visa to study in the United States depends primarily on two factors: your immigration status and the type of program you wish to enroll in.

First, let’s take a look at the immigration status factor.

Permanent residents and individuals in certain other immigration classifications, including some employment-based classifications and their dependents, may be permitted to study full-time or part-time without changing to F-1 status. Eligibility depends on the person’s specific immigration classification and circumstances.

However, those participating in the visa waiver program, also known as ESTA, may only study part-time and only during the period of time they are authorized to remain in the United States as temporary visitors, which is typically no more than 90 days.
If temporary visitors wish to engage in full-time study in an academic or language program, then they must apply for and receive an F-1 Visa.

Next, let’s consider the type of program you want to study in.

If you are interested in a technical or vocational program that leads to a certificate or diploma, then you must apply for and receive an M-1 visa, which is valid for up to one year. Examples of programs that require an M-1 visa are certificate and diploma programs in the allied health fields (such as medical technician programs), at pilot training schools and at culinary institutes.
On the other hand, if you want to study full time in an academic program at a college or university, then you will need an F-1 Visa.
You will also need an F-1 Visa for full-time study in an ESL (English as a Second Language) program.

Full-time study at a college or university means being enrolled for at least 12 credit hours per semester, while full-time study in an ESL program usually requires at least 18 hours of English instruction per week.
In all cases, the program or institution to which you apply must be approved by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, also known as SEVP, which is part of the United States Department of Homeland Security.
Under U.S. immigration law, only SEVP-approved academic and language institutions are authorized to issue the I-20 Form, which is required in order to apply for an F-1 Visa.

Who does not need an F-1 Visa to study in the USA?

First and foremost, an F-1 Visa is only required for certain classes of non-immigrants.
A non-immigrant is a citizen or national of a country other than the United States who wishes to temporarily enter the United States.
In order to qualify as a non-immigrant, an individual must be able to demonstrate the desire to permanently return to his or her country of origin after temporarily staying in the United States.

In technical terminology, the individual must have what is called “non-immigrant intent.”

Under U.S. immigration law there are many classes of non-immigrants who may attend school in the United States either full or part time without the need for an F-1 Visa or any permission from the United States government.
Examples of such individuals are temporary workers, those with an H-1 Visa, Traders and Investors (those with an E visa), and those working for a foreign company’s branch in the United States (known as “intracompany transferees” with an L visa), as well as their dependents.

Also, temporary visitors to the United States such as tourists on B-2 visas or citizens from visa waiver countries may study in an avocational and recreational part-time program (such as the LANGUAGE ON English Unlimited Semi-Intensive Course) for relatively short periods of time as long as that their reason for entering the United States was not to become a student.

If you’re currently in the United States on a work Visa and want to begin your academic journey, check our guide on how to change from an H-2B to an F-1 Visa to learn about the process, requirements, and important tips for changing your visa status.

3. How long can I stay in the USA with the F-1 Visa?

The expiration date printed on an F-1 visa is different from the period of time that a student is authorized to remain in the United States.

Beginning September 15, 2026, most F-1 students entering the United States will be admitted for a specific period of time. The student’s authorized stay will generally be based on the program end date listed on the Form I-20, subject to the maximum period allowed under federal regulations.

Students enrolled in English-language training programs may generally be admitted for a maximum aggregate period of 24 months of language study. This period includes time spent in English-language programs at different schools and may include authorized breaks and annual vacations.

After completing their program or authorized practical training, F-1 students will generally have 30 days to prepare to depart the United States, transfer when permitted, change status, or take another authorized action.

Students admitted under “duration of status” before September 15, 2026, may be covered by transitional rules. These students should review their Form I-94 and speak with their Designated School Official before making travel, transfer, or program-extension decisions.

Extension of Stay:

If a student needs additional time beyond the authorized period shown on the student’s admission record, the student may need to file an application for an extension of stay with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Receiving a new or extended Form I-20 from a school does not automatically extend a student’s authorized stay in the United States. Students should contact their Designated School Official well before their authorized stay expires.

Extensions are not guaranteed. Students must continue maintaining F-1 status and must satisfy all applicable USCIS requirements.

English-language students are generally limited to a maximum aggregate period of 24 months of English-language training and ordinarily may not extend their stay solely to continue English-language study beyond that limit.

4. What are the requirements for the F-1 Visa?

F-1 Visa Students must:

• Attend an SEVP approved language training program or academic institution
• Maintain full-time status
• Demonstrate financial ability to pay for their cost of living and studying in the United States. You, or your sponsor, must provide your school with a bank statement or a certified bank letter proving that you (or your sponsor) possess sufficient available funds to cover the total cost of attendance of your program.
• Maintain foreign residence and demonstrate intent to return upon course completion.

5. What is the I-20 Form?

The I-20 Form is not the F-1 (Student) Visa itself. However, you will need to get an I-20 before you can qualify for the F-1 Visa.

The I-20 Form is a United States Department of Homeland Security document and can only be issued by a qualified school official (DSO or PDSO) at an institution which is authorized under Federal Law to enroll non-immigrant students.

The I-20 is a “Certificate of Eligibility for Non-immigrant Student Status.”

How do I get an I-20 Form?

LANGUAGE ON will issue you an I-20 Form after you qualify for our Intensive English program and we issue you a letter of acceptance.
To begin the process or to see if you qualify for our Intensive English course, please complete our school application and provide us with a copy of your passport.

Requirements to get started:

• LANGUAGE ON Application for Admission
• Copy of your passport (valid for at least 6 more months)

Please send your signed application and a copy of your passport to [email protected].

If you have any questions, please contact us directly and we will be happy to help!

6. How to Apply for the F-1 Visa

Before you apply for the F-1 Visa, you must apply to and be accepted by an SEVP-approved school.
These are the steps to apply for the F-1 Visa:

1. Decide where and what you want to study

Before you apply for the F-1 Visa, you must apply to and be accepted by an SEVP-approved school, such as LANGUAGE ON Schools.

2. Complete the application process at your chosen school

Complete the school application(s) and submit a clear copy of your passport and bank statement.
When you are accepted, the school will issue you an I-20 Form and enroll you in SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System).

Please visit the Student and Exchange Visitor Program  (SEVP) website to learn more.

3. Pay the Visa Fee

Visit the official website of the Department of Homeland Security to make the payment online.

*Note: If you are traveling with your family (spouse and/or children under the age of 21), they will also need to receive an I-20 but do not need to pay the SEVIS Fee.

4. Schedule a Visa Interview

Find a U.S. Embassy or Consulate (generally in your home country) where you can schedule and attend your visa interview.

Please visit the websites of U.S. Embassies, Consulates, and Diplomatic Missions to find an Embassy or Consulate and follow the instructions.

The process may vary between different Embassies and Consulates.

PLAN AHEAD!
Make sure to check the Visa Appointment & Processing Wait Time for the Embassy or Consulate that you plan to visit.

5. Complete the Online Visa Application

In order to schedule your interview you must complete the online Visa Application Form DS-160.

You can read more about the visa application and the fees by visiting the official US Department of State website.

*Note: You will need to include a photograph of yourself. Make sure to read about the photograph requirements before you begin the application.

7. The F-1 Visa Interview – How to Prepare

Documents and Payments

You should take complete and concise supporting documentation to the appointment. Some of the supporting documents include:

1. Certified Form I-20
2. SEVIS I-901 Payment Confirmation
3. Documentation of ties to your home country (if applicable)
4. Original identification documents and two recent passport-style photos
5. Your Letter of Acceptance and if applicable other educational supporting documents
6. Financial supporting documents
7. Health records (if applicable)

Interview questions

These are some of the topics that you need to prepare to answer in your F-1 Visa Interview:

• Study Plans
• School Choice
• Academic Studies (past and future)
• Financial Status
• Post-Course Plans

8. How long does it take to process the F-1 Visa?

It depends on the country (and sometimes the city) where you will be applying for your visa. Each United States embassy and consulate has different processing times, which typically range from a few days to a few weeks.
You can visit the website of the U.S. embassy or consulate where you will be applying to see their current wait times.

9. Can I study with my family with the F-1 Visa?

Under U.S. immigration law, only the legal spouse and minor children under the age of 21 of F-1 Visa Students qualify for F-2 status.

The spouse and children of F-1 students are known as “dependents.”

*Dependents over the age 14 must usually be present for a visa interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate in order to be granted an F-2 visa.

10. I’m a Tourist in the USA. Can I change my status to the F-1 Visa?

If you are lawfully present in the United States in B-1 or B-2 status, you may be eligible to apply to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to change your status to F-1. You must generally file your application before the authorized period of stay shown on your Form I-94 expires and continue to comply with the terms of your current status while your application is pending.

However, it often takes many months for USCIS to adjudicate change of status applications, so if starting your studies soon is a priority for you, you may want to consider returning to your home country to apply for initial attendance from abroad.

This typically takes only a few weeks.

*Note that tourists in the United States on a visa waiver through the ESTA system are not eligible to apply for F-1 status while in the United States.

11. I’m already studying in the USA. Can I transfer to a different school?

F-1 students may be able to transfer to another SEVP-certified school, but they must follow all applicable transfer deadlines and eligibility requirements.

Beginning September 15, 2026, students admitted for a fixed period must also ensure that the transfer and new program can be completed within their authorized period of stay. A school transfer or the issuance of a new Form I-20 does not automatically extend the student’s authorized stay.

Students should also be aware that federal regulations may impose additional eligibility requirements or restrictions on certain transfers or changes in educational objectives. Students should consult their Designated School Officials at both schools before making transfer decisions.

English-language training completed at all schools generally counts toward the student’s maximum aggregate 24-month English-language training period.

Students should request the transfer before completing or withdrawing from their current program.

12. Can F-1 students work while studying in the USA?

The direct but not-so-simple answer to this question is, it depends.

According to U.S. government regulations, there are two classes of F-1 students:

• Academic students and 
• Language students.

Academic students are those students who are enrolled in a certificate, diploma or degree program in an academic field of study (such as the humanities, sciences, social sciences, business, medicine or law).

Language students are students who have enrolled in an intensive English program (or IEP), such as LANGUAGE ON’s intensive English course.

The rules for working while in the United States are different for each class of international student.

However, the most important rule applies equally to both academic and language students:

International (F-1) students may not work in the United States unless they have received formal, written authorization from an authorized school official, known as a Designated School Official or DSO.

It is also important to keep in mind that neither academic nor language F-1 students may operate a business while in the United States. If you wish to open and run a business in the United States, then you must apply for and receive an E-2 (treaty investor) visa.

Both academic (i.e., degree, certificate or diploma seeking) students and language students may work on-campus for up to 20 hours per week as long as their school offers on-campus employment for international students.

Such employment must be related to the school’s provision of student services.

However, it is relatively uncommon for SEVP-approved language schools to offer on-campus employment to their F-1 students.

This is the only type of employment available to F-1 language students, as under U.S. immigration law F-1 language students may never work off-campus.

Subject to written approval by a school official, F-1 academic (degree seeking) students may engage in three types of off-campus employment after they have completed their first year of full-time study.

The three types of off-campus employment available to academic (but not language) students are known as:

• Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
• Optional Practical Training (OPT) and
• Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) optional practice training extension.

In all cases, off-campus employment must be related to the academic student’s area of study and must be authorized in advance by a designated school official at the student’s school.

What are OPT and CPT?

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

OPT is a one-year period during which undergraduate students may legally work in order to obtain practical job training to complement or complete their educational program.
Only undergraduate degree-seeking F-1 students are eligible for OPT.
F-1 language students are not eligible for OPT under U.S. immigration law.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

CPT is temporary authorization to work in the United States for college and university students. College and university students may take part in paid work through CPT that is directly related to their major field of study.
Only students enrolled in a qualifying degree program at an authorized college or university are eligible for CPT.
English language students are not eligible for CPT under U.S. immigration law.

13. Can an F-1 Visa Student access the US Healthcare system?

All persons present in the United States may seek medical treatment while in the United States, but they may be required to pay for that treatment if they do not have appropriate health insurance.
Unlike most other developed nations, the United States does not have free, government-provided health care.
As a result, even a relatively minor medical problem can become very expensive for international students.

This is why it is important for all students to have some sort of health insurance while studying in the United States.

14. Can an F-1 Visa Student apply for a Green card?

No – unless the individual is otherwise qualified (such as due to being married to a United States citizen)

F-1 status is a temporary, nonimmigrant classification. Students must maintain their F-1 status and depart the United States, change status, transfer when permitted, or take another authorized action before their authorized stay and applicable departure period expire.

Beginning September 15, 2026, the general post-completion departure period for F-1 students will be 30 days.

15. Can I renew my F-1 Visa or extend my stay?

An F-1 visa and F-1 status are not the same thing.

The F-1 visa placed in your passport is generally used to request admission to the United States. If the visa expires while you are lawfully studying in the United States, you do not necessarily need to renew it unless you leave the country and plan to return.

Your authorized period of stay is determined by your admission record and applicable F-1 regulations—not only by the expiration date printed on your visa.

Beginning September 15, 2026, most newly admitted F-1 students will receive a fixed period of authorized stay. If additional time is needed, the student may need to apply to USCIS for an extension of stay before the authorized period expires.

A school may issue an updated Form I-20 when appropriate, but an updated Form I-20 alone does not necessarily extend the student’s authorized stay.

Students should speak with their Designated School Official and, when necessary, a qualified immigration attorney before traveling or applying for an extension.

16. What happens if I was admitted before September 15, 2026?

Students who are physically present in the United States in valid F-1 status and were admitted for Duration of Status before September 15, 2026, may qualify for transitional treatment. Their Form I-94 will not automatically be replaced on September 15, 2026.

The transition period is subject to the limits established by the final rule and may end when the student travels and reenters the United States, receives an approved extension of stay, changes status or takes another immigration action covered by the regulation. Students should review their Form I-94 and Form I-20 and consult their DSO before traveling, extending their program or making other changes.

17. Does transferring schools reset my 24 month English study limit?

No. The 24 month aggregate limit applies to all English language training completed in F-1 status, regardless of how many schools you attended. If you transfer from one English program to another, your previous months of study are combined with your new school’s records when calculating your total.

Transferring does not restart the clock or give you an additional 24 months. When you enroll at a new school, you must inform them of any prior English language study you completed in F-1 status so they can accurately calculate your remaining eligibility.

We hope you have found our guide useful, and we have answered all your questions about the F-1 Visa and how to apply to study in the USA.

The process can seem quite complicated, so just take it step by step.

If you would like to study English at LANGUAGE ON Schools, our friendly Student Advisers will be happy to help you with the application process.

LANGUAGE ON has English Schools in Miami, Miami Beach, Kendall, Boca Raton, Salt Lake City, Orlando and Aventura.

Come and join us!