Before arriving to this point, you should have received your Form I-20 or DS-2019.
- Pay your SEVIS I-901 Fee
Once your I-20 or DS-2019 has been issued, all international students are required to pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee to the U.S. government. This fee helps fund the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVIS). You can pay your fee at www.fmjfee.com using your name, date of birth, and the SEVIS ID printed at the top left of your I-20 or the top right of your DS-2019. Please make sure to pay your SEVIS Fee before attending your visa interview and keep a copy of your receipt.
Note: If you're a citizen of Canada, you do not need to proceed with the steps listed below. Canadian citizens are required to obtain an I-20/DS-2019 and pay the SEVIS fee, but do not need to apply for a visa.
2. Submit your Visa Application (DS-160)
To apply for an F-1 student visa, start by locating your nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Visit USEmbassy.gov to search for embassy locations in your home country. If you click on the embassy that you would like to visit, you will be directed to that embassy's services. Once you have done so, scroll over to the Nonimmigrant Visa section of the website to learn more about the F-1 or J-1 application process.
Please note that you must interview for your visa in your country of citizenship or residence. Nationals of countries where the U.S. government is not conducting routine nonimmigrant visa operations must apply at the designated embassy or consulate, unless their residence is elsewhere.
To submit your DS-160 application form, the website will redirect you to www.ustraveldocs.com. There, you will create a new account and proceed to fill out the form. Answer all of the questions listed on the form to the best of your abilities. The Form DS-160 is used for many different kinds of visa applications, so be aware that some of the questions may not be relevant to you and your purposes for coming to the U.S. Don't make false statements or purposefully omit information. In order to submit your DS-160 application, you will need to have a digital copy of your passport photo.
Please note that you will be asked to list all of your social media accounts on the DS-160 and make those accounts public before your interview. Failure to report all accounts and having social media accounts set to ‘private’ can result in visa delays
3. Pay Your Visa Fee
Upon submitting the form, you will be required to pay your visa fee. This fee is separate from the SEVIS Fee. You will need the information from the DS-160 confirmation page pictured below to make your visa appointment.