Newly admitted students must pay a one-time SEVIS I-901 Fee of $350. Go to the SEVIS I-901 Fee webpage to make your payment. Click on "PAY I-901 FEE" at the top of the page. You will need to provide your SEVIS ID number. The SEVIS ID is a 9-digit number beginning with “N,” found in the upper right-hand corner of the Form I-20.

The SEVIS fee is not a school fee, and it is in addition to any fees you might be required to pay at a U.S. consulate. Dependent family members are not required to pay the fee.

For your interview, you must present the receipt as proof of payment when you apply for visa. It’s important that the SEVIS ID number on your I-901 SEVIS Fee receipt matches your SEVIS ID number on your Form I-20.

If you have paid the I-901 fee, but choose to defer your enrollment, please note that the SEVIS fee can only be transferred for ONE CALENDAR YEAR. If you defer your I-20 for more than a year, you will have to pay the fee again. 

See List of all Frequently Asked I-901 Fee Questions (FAQs)

To schedule your appointment, first complete the "DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application" on the Department of State's website here.  When you upload your photo, be sure it conforms to the Photograph Requirements.

Review frequently asked questions about the DS-160. Answer truthfully to the best of your knowledge. Contact your local embassy or consulate with any questions.

For your interview, you are required to bring your confirmation page with your application ID number on it so the visa officer can retrieve your DS-160. You must bring the confirmation page with you during all phases of the application process. Without the confirmation page, they may not be able to process your visa case.

As part of your application, you will be asked to pay the nonrefundable Visa Application (MRV) fee.

The visa application fee for a student visa is $185.

Visa applicants seeking a US Embassy Manila appointment, visit Bank and Payment Options on how to pay for the visa application fee.

To find the consulate or embassy nearest to you, visit the U.S. Consulates and Embassies Abroad website. Many consulates and embassies offer online appointment scheduling. 

See Visa Appointment Wait Times to check the estimated wait time for a nonimmigrant visa interview appointment. Visa processing times vary widely depending on the country, time of year, and if you are required to undergo a background check. If you are subject to a background check, this rigid and time-consuming process will slow down the process. Schedule your visa appointment as soon as you receive your I-20 , but not sooner. Learn more about visa delays.

See US Embassy in the Philippines for specific information if you plan to apply for your student visa at the US Embassy in Manila.

In most cases, each visa applicant, including children, is required to pay a non-refundable, non-transferable Consular application fee, whether a visa is issued or not. The visa application fee for a student visa is $185.

Visa applicants seeking a US Embassy Manila appointment will log-in to the online appointment system and create a profile. Applicants for U.S. visas are required to appear in person for a biometrics appointment at the Visa Application Center (VAC) AND the visa interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

See Schedule your Appointment on how to schedule both appointments.

See Bank and Payment Options on how to pay for the visa application fee.

The earliest you can apply for an F-1 visa is now 365 days (previously 120 days) before the program start date on your I-20, but you may enter the US up to 30 days prior to the program start date.

The following items are required in support of your application for an F-1 visa:

• Non-Immigrant visa application DS-160 confirmation page
• Valid Form I-20 from the school
• Valid passport (valid for at least six months beyond the date of travel to the U.S.)
• SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt. Go to the I-901 fee website to pay your fee and print a receipt.
• Current and original financial documentation (issued within the previous 3 months)
• One photograph which meets the Photograph Requirements.
• Other requirements as determined by your U.S. Embassy.
  

Please note that students admitted to multiple schools must decide which school to attend before applying for a visa stamp.

Review 10 points to remember when applying for a non-immigrant visa from NAFSA: Association of International Educators, the leading organization committed to international education and exchange.

The main purpose of the visa interview is to determine whether you are qualified to study in the U.S. and if you will abide by the terms of the student visa. The consular officer will ask general questions regarding your intended studies or program, your financial arrangements and how you plan to support yourself during your time in the U.S., and your future immigration plans. The F-1 visa is a non-immigrant visas, so you must demonstrate to the consular officer that you plan to return home after your studies. This can be demonstrated through evidence of strong ties to your home country such as family ties, job offers upon graduation, property ownership, or other significant connections that would encourage your return home.

Check the visa in your passport to make sure that all the information on it is correct. Your I-20 should be returned to you. You will need it toenter the U.S.