F1 Visa: the solution for studying in the United States

Every trip to the USA involves a more or less lengthy and costly process: obtaining a residence permit. This may be an official ESTA or a visa, for example. It’s the latter that interests us here, and more specifically the F1 visa. In fact, there are a multitude of them, often identified by a letter and a number; each one corresponds to a reason for travel. Depending on whether you’re going to the USA for a language stay, to work abroad or to become an au pair, for example, you’ll need to order a specific visa.

The F1 visa is an authorization granted to students wishing to attend a course at an American university. This article aims to give you as much information as possible about this document, which is requested every year by many young French people in search of adventure and the American dream.

Studying in the United States on an F1 visa

Don’t expect to go and live with Uncle Sam with just a ID card and your backpack: your adventure will end at the airport! International travel today requires more formalities than in the past, for a variety of economic reasons and above all for domestic security reasons. You’ll need at least your valid passport and an authorization issued by the U.S. authorities to cross the country’s border.

The type of authorization required simply depends on the purpose of the stay in the U.S., its duration and the individual’s country of origin. For example, citizens who are part of the Visa Waiver Program benefit from a simple procedure to travel to the United States for tourism, transit or business for a maximum of 90 consecutive days. Only 38 states are eligible.

People wishing to reside permanently on American soil require an “immigrant” visa (“green card“), while temporary visitors must apply for a USA visa, unless they meet the ESTA authorization criteria. The world of visas may seem labyrinthine at first glance. However, if you are clear about the purpose of your trip to the U.S., you can easily find the document you need.

Are you looking for a job? Go sightseeing in the national parks? Improve your English with a host family? There’s a USA visa solution for every situation. Here, we’re talking to young French people who are planning to fly to North America to study for a few months in an educational establishment (university, high school, language institute…). It’s an exciting project, and one that many people are tempted to embark on after graduating or finishing their studies.

To make your dream come true, get an F1 USA visa. This applies to any stay involving at least 18 hours of lessons per week. Please note that there’s no question of finding a student job at the same time: the visa only allows you to take part in lessons.

How do I get an F1 visa for foreign students? Answer in the following paragraph.

Apply for an F1 USA visa

Bear in mind that a visa application does not always imply a positive response from the authorities. You need to validate all the steps correctly and meet the U.S. acceptance conditions. However, it’s a good idea to be confident and self-assured when you apply: this will give you the best chance of success at the interview at the American embassy.

When it comes to F1 visas, the first hurdle is to obtain the agreement of a host school. You don’t need to go looking for it once you’re in France; you need a form to start the process, which is issued by the school in question. Gather information from your French school, which may already have contacts with international partners.

Once you’ve completed the first form (i-20), you’ll need to fill in another: the DS-160. Concentrate, because a typo in the fields will compromise your plans to move to the USA; take the time needed to fill in your contact details, your identity, your intentions, etc.

Finally, you’ll need to assemble a number of supporting documents to make up your file and take it to the U.S. embassy for a scheduled appointment. Once there, prepare your best speech to prove your desire to study in the USA, your interest in the country and your merit. If all goes well, you’ll receive your visa in no time!

At the same time, various fees will need to be paid along the way, to finance the administrative procedures. In the end, obtaining an F1 USA visa can cost several hundred euros.

Ready to move to the USA and enjoy your studies abroad on an F1 visa? We wish you the best of luck, and hope you’ll be able to multiply your excursions to the Grand Canyon, Florida or California!