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F-1 student visa rules in the US: interview and requirements, OPT and CPT, on-campus work, duration of status changes and court rulings.
13 articles tagged F-1 visa
How to remain in the USA and change status from a B-1/B-2 tourist visa to F-1 student status without leaving. Rules, documents, and procedure risks.
DHS has proposed a $70,000 fee for a student's first OPT recommendation and $30,000 for each later one. Here's where the CPT lawsuit and OPT fee rule stand as of October 2026.
DHS proposed a $70,000 fee for a student's first OPT recommendation and $30,000 for each later one, paid by the school, not the student. Here's the timeline and legal risk.
DHS proposed a $70,000 fee for initial OPT and $30,000 for each OPT renewal for F-1 students. Who pays, comment deadlines, and when the rule could take effect.
DHS proposed a $70,000 fee for initial OPT and $30,000 for STEM OPT extension. Who it would hit, cost scenarios by case, and the lawsuit history behind similar fees.
Why the USA remains the best country to study: courts halted F-1 visa restrictions, H-1B fees, and internship bans. What changes after elections.
The F-1 is a US nonimmigrant visa for full-time academic study at a school certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). After admission, the school's designated school official issues Form I-20, and the student pays the SEVIS I-901 fee, files Form DS-160 and attends a consular interview. Under section 214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, the consular officer presumes immigrant intent, so applicants must show ties to their home country and enough funds to cover tuition and living costs.
F-1 students are usually admitted for duration of status (D/S), meaning they may stay as long as they maintain a full course load rather than until a fixed date; DHS has proposed replacing this with fixed admission periods. Work is restricted: on-campus jobs are allowed, while off-campus work requires Curricular Practical Training authorized by the school or Optional Practical Training approved by USCIS on Form I-765.
OPT typically lasts up to 12 months, with a 24-month extension available to graduates in eligible STEM fields. The F-1 differs from the M-1, which covers vocational programs, and from the J-1, which serves exchange visitors sponsored through State Department-designated programs.