Guide · After Admission
After You Get In: I-20, the F-1 Visa, and Enrollment
The short answer
Once you're admitted, the work shifts from applying to enrolling — and for international students, to getting a visa. Pick one school and pay the deposit by May 1; the school issues your Form I-20; pay the $350 SEVIS fee; complete the DS-160 and pay the $185 visa fee; attend your embassy interview; then enter the US up to 30 days before classes. Start early — the visa process can take two to three months — and once you arrive, the goal becomes maintaining your status.
Getting in is the milestone. Getting there is the project — especially if you're coming from abroad. Here's the path from acceptance letter to your first day of class.
First: choose one school and commit
Compare your offers on cost, financial aid, and fit; decline the rest; and pay the enrollment deposit by the May 1 reply deadline. This single choice triggers everything else — only your chosen school will issue your visa document. Then work through the enrollment tasks every admit faces: housing, orientation, course registration, placement tests, health and immunization forms, final transcripts, and setting up student accounts.
Don't coast. Your offer is conditional on finishing senior year strongly. A big drop in grades — or a discipline issue — can lead a college to rescind admission. Keep your grades up and send your final transcript on time.
The I-20: your visa document
This is the international student's first big step. After you commit and submit financial documentation proving you can cover tuition and living costs, your school's DSO (Designated School Official) enters you into the SEVIS database and issues Form I-20, the Certificate of Eligibility for F-1 status. Your SEVIS ID (it starts with "N") is printed on it. Check every detail carefully — errors take time to fix and can block your visa.
The F-1 visa, step by step
From I-20 to visa stamp
- Pay the SEVIS I-901 fee — $350 — at fmjfee.com using your SEVIS ID. Keep the receipt; it's non-refundable and you'll need it at the interview.
- Complete the DS-160 online at the CEAC portal, upload a photo, list your social-media handles (now required — set those profiles to public for review), and print the confirmation page with the barcode.
- Pay the visa application (MRV) fee — $185.
- Schedule and attend an in-person interview at the US embassy or consulate in your country. As of late 2025, most applicants must interview in person.
- Receive your passport back with the F-1 visa stamp once approved.
Budget about $535 in government fees ($350 SEVIS + $185 visa), and plan two to three months start to finish. Book the interview early — wait times swing a lot by season and country.
The interview: what to bring and show
Bring: a passport valid at least six months beyond your stay, your I-20, the SEVIS receipt, the DS-160 confirmation, a photo, your acceptance letter, financial proof, and transcripts or scores. The officer is assessing three things: are you a genuine student, can you fund it, and will you return home after your studies? Be concise and honest, keep your answers consistent with your DS-160, and speak clearly about your program and goals.
Entering the US
You may enter no earlier than 30 days before the start date on your I-20. At the port of entry, CBP reviews your documents and creates your I-94 record — it should read "D/S" (Duration of Status), not a fixed date. Verify it at i94.cbp.dhs.gov after you arrive. Keep your I-20 and passport in your carry-on, never in checked luggage.
After you arrive: check in and enroll
Report to your DSO or international office before the start date, attend orientation, and register for a full course load. From here on, your status depends on staying enrolled full-time and following the rules.
Maintaining F-1 status
This is the part students underestimate:
- Keep a full course load each term. Get DSO approval before dropping below full-time, changing program, or taking leave.
- Don't work off-campus without authorization. On-campus work up to 20 hours/week during the term is allowed; off-campus work requires CPT or OPT, approved in advance. Unauthorized work is a serious violation.
- Keep your I-20 valid, and get a travel signature from your DSO before leaving and re-entering the country.
- Remember the visa stamp is only an entry document. It can expire while you're inside the US and you're fine — you only need a valid one to re-enter after travel. Day to day, what matters is your F-1 status, not the stamp.
A few special cases
- Canadian citizens don't need the visa stamp, but still need the I-20 and must pay the SEVIS fee before entering.
- Transfer or continuing students who keep the same SEVIS ID generally don't pay the SEVIS fee again.
- Dependents (spouse or children) each need their own I-20 and apply for F-2 — they don't pay the SEVIS fee.
Common mistakes
- Coasting after acceptance — risking a rescinded offer or a late final transcript.
- Starting the visa process late and missing your start date.
- Errors on the I-20, or answers that don't match your DS-160 at the interview.
- Forgetting the SEVIS receipt at the interview.
- Booking a flight that arrives more than 30 days before classes.
- Working off-campus without authorization.
The bottom line
Commit to one school, get your I-20, move quickly through the SEVIS fee → DS-160 → interview sequence, arrive within the 30-day window, and then protect your F-1 status. Lean on your school's international office (your DSO) at every step — guiding new students through exactly this is their job.
Plan the money and the calendar that lead up to this moment.
International Financial Aid Application DeadlinesBased on U.S. Department of State, ICE/SEVP, and DHS guidance current for 2026 (SEVIS I-901 fee $350; visa application fee $185). Fees, policies, and procedures change and vary by consulate — always confirm current requirements at the official sites (travel.state.gov, fmjfee.com, ice.gov/sevp) and with your school's DSO. This is general information, not legal advice.