Important:

With an F-1 visa, you may enter the United States no earlier than 30 days before the Program Start date on the I-20. Plan your travel accordingly.

Preliminary Steps:

Check Form I-20

Important:

You cannot enter the USA without a paper I-20 (!!), you must show it every time you enter and leave the country. Make sure you have a digital copy on your cell phone in case of an emergency.

Have the I-20 stamped by your university before leaving the country.

Have your passport photo ready

• General photo requirements
• Examples of acceptable photos
• Requirements for digital photos

Step 1: Fill out application form DS-160

1. Select consulate and enter displayed code
2. Click on Start an Application
3. Write down your Application ID (top right)
4. Select and answer security question
5. Enter personal data

1. Enter the address of the university in Address where you will stay in the US. The exact dates of your stay can be found on the I-20
   
2. Select F-1 Visa under Travel Information and enter the remaining data
   
3. Enter passport data (select REGULAR PASSPORT and click DOES NOT APPLY for Passport Book Number and National ID)
   
4. Enter contact person in the USA: use the school official that is shown on your I-20
   
5. Enter details of your relatives or friends
   
6. When asked for study or work experience:
   
1. PRESENT: From the Dropdown menu select NOT EMPLOYED. In the box below, write a short explanation of your current status, for example:
   
1. Student still in school finishing A-Levels/BTEC this summer (if you are still completing your A-Levels/BTEC this year))
2. High School Graduate in Gap Year (if you have finished A-Levels/BTEC in the past year)
   
3. University student (if you are already studying at a University here and will go to the US as a transfer student)
   
2. PREVIOUS: Answer the question "Have you attended any educational institutions at a secondary level or above" with "YES". Then you will be asked to input your secondary schools including their addresses:
   
1. Put the school, where you completed you GCSE certificates
   
2. Also put the school where you have completed/will be completing your A-Levels
   
3. Also put your university, if you are already a student at a university here
   
4. As you can see, you might put 1, 2 or 3 instiutions here
   
5. COURSE OF STUDY is always ACADEMIC
7. Questions about social media activity: Please add your social media handles for the platforms tha apply to you from the drodown menu.
   
8. Answer security questions
9. You can usually answer "no" to questions about social media activity 
   
10. Answer security questions
    
11. Enter your SEVIS ID (you will find it at the top of the I-20)
    
12. Upload a photo. If necessary, you can reduce or enlarge the photo online, there are some free image editing programs online for this purpose
    
13. Check the information
    
14. Sign and submit
    
15. Click on Print Confirmation and print out the confirmation page with the barcode
    
16. Bring a printout to the interview appointment at the consulate / embassy or send it by post

Step 2: Pay SEVIS I-901 fee

In addition to the application fee, an F-1 visa application is subject to the SEVIS fee. You pay this fee online by credit card. Currently the SEVIS fee is $350 US Dollar.

1. Call up this website 
2. Click on the PAY I-901 FEE above
3. Enter your home address and click on SUBMIT
   
4. ou'll find the school code on the I-20 If the school code does not fit into the given fields, please insert 5 numbers into the field after the 214F instead of 4 numbers.
5. Complete payment by entering your credit card details

Step 3: Schedule an interview appointment

Tip:

You can find the current availability of dates for the various consulates and embassies here. 

Create an account

1. Call up this website and select your home country in which you will be applying for the visa (not USA!) and create an account
1. If your home country is NOT in the above list, please go to this website and choose your home country (not USA!) and create an account
   
2. Click CONTINUE in the bottom of the page
   
3. Click CREATE ACCOUNT
   
4. Choose "I have completed the U.S. Nonimmigrant Visa Application (DS-160) form and I need to apply for a visa"
   
5. Enter your personal information and create a password 
   
1. You will receive an email with a link to verify your account (click on this link or copy link into your browser)
   
6. Fill out your personal information on the NEW APPLICANT page to create your profile
   
1. DS-160 number can be found on your DS-160 confirmation page (AA00...)
   
2. Visa class is F1 STUDENT
7. Confirm your information on the next page
   
8. Click NO when asked if you want to add another applicant
   
9. Now choose the delivery option for your visa and passport
   
1. Choose a pick up location from the dropdown menu for no extra fee
   
2. NOTE: Most applicants will have their passport and visa delivered to their home address after the interview for an extra fee. If you want to choose this option, you can do this later in the process still!
   
10. Pay your MRV fee (application fee)
    
1. It is recommended to pay the fee through credit or debit card directly. This will allow you to book your appointment directly
   
2. If you choose to wire the fee, allow 24 hours for the fee to arrive in the embassy account, before you can book the appointment
   
11. Once the fee is paid, you can book your interview appointment directly through the calendar
    
1. Remember to pay for home delivery of your passpot and visa, if you want your documents sent to you instead of having to pick them up at the drop off station!

Step 4: Interview at the Consulate

• Printing the DS-160 confirmation page
• I-20 (all pages)
• Valid passport
• SEVIS payment document
• Interview appointment confirmation
  
• 2 recent photos (biometrical)