USA student visa — step by step

Two mandatory government fees, both non-refundable: (1) Nonimmigrant visa application fee, also called the MRV fee — US$185 for F and M student visas (official India fee list; payable in Indian rupees via NEFT, UPI, debit/credit card or cash at DRUK/AXIS/Citibank). (2) I-901 SEVIS fee — US$350 for F or M visa applicants (full payment), paid to DHS at FMJfee.com. Total core government cost: US$535. A visa issuance ("reciprocity") fee may also apply depending on nationality — check the State Department reciprocity table for India. MRV fee payments are valid for 365 days from the receipt date, within which you must schedule your appointment. IMPORTANT: the US$250 "Visa Integrity Fee" created by the July 2025 budget law (HR-1 / One Big Beautiful Bill Act) is NOT listed on the official India visa-fee page as of August 2026 — it requires cross-agency implementation and has not been added to the published India fee schedule. Do not quote it as a confirmed cost; re-check the official fee page before applying.

As published by the official U.S. Visa Information Service for India: "Nonimmigrant visa applicants are encouraged to apply at least three months in advance of the intended date of travel," and "although visa processing time is typically seven to ten working days, processing time for specific cases may vary due to individual circumstances and other special requirements." That 7–10 working days is the post-interview processing/passport-return time, NOT the appointment wait. Interview appointment wait times are published live and separately for each post (New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata) and change constantly — no fixed figure can be quoted honestly. Student (F/M) visas for new students can be issued up to 365 days in advance of the course start date. Cases refused under INA 221(g) for administrative processing have no published timeline.

There is no single government-fixed rupee or dollar amount (unlike Canada's GIC). The benchmark is the estimated cost of attendance printed on your Form I-20 — tuition plus living expenses for the program. USCIS requires that "you must have sufficient funds available for self-support during the entire proposed course of study." DHS (Study in the States) states a prospective F-1 student "must have financial evidence showing that they or a sponsor has sufficient funds to cover tuition and living expenses during the period of intended study," and the school's Designated School Official must collect that evidence before issuing the I-20. Accepted evidence per DHS "includes but is not limited to": family bank statements, documentation from a sponsor, financial aid letters, scholarship letters, and a letter from an employer showing annual salary. At the interview you must "give credible evidence that you have enough readily-available funds to meet all expenses for the first year of study and that you have access to funds sufficient to cover all expenses while you remain in the United States."

First academic year: on-campus employment only. DHS: "If you participate in on-campus employment, you may not work more than 20 hours per week when school is in session." Active F-1 students may apply for on-campus work up to 30 days before classes start, with DSO approval, and must obtain a Social Security Number. USCIS: "F-1 students may not work off-campus during the first academic year, but may accept on-campus employment subject to certain conditions and restrictions." After the first full academic year, three off-campus routes open up: Curricular Practical Training (CPT), Optional Practical Training (OPT) — up to 12 months, pre- or post-completion — and the 24-month STEM OPT extension for a qualifying bachelor's, master's or doctoral STEM degree. Off-campus work on severe-economic-hardship grounds needs a DSO recommendation, a new I-20, and an approved Form I-765 EAD from USCIS (you cannot start while it is pending). All off-campus work must relate to your field of study and be authorised BEFORE you start. Working without permission means your SEVIS record is terminated — you must leave the US immediately and may not be allowed back. F-2 spouses and children may NOT work.

Yes — both biometrics and an in-person interview are required, and they are two separate appointments on two different days. Biometrics (ink-free digital fingerprint scan and digital photo) are taken at a Visa Application Centre (VAC/OFC) in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad or Kolkata; this appointment must be booked at least 2 business days before the interview. Fingerprints are required for all applicants aged 14 to 79; applicants under 14 or 80+ are exempt from appearing at the VAC in person. The interview is at the U.S. Embassy New Delhi or the Consulate General in Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad or Kolkata — "All applicants, including those under the age of 14 or over the age of 79, must appear in person for the visa interview." Missing it is recorded as a "No Show": you pay a new visa fee and restart the entire application. What to expect: a short one-to-one conversation with a consular officer, typically on why you chose that university and course, your academic record, who is funding you and how, and your ties to India / intent to return after study. Bring the printed DS-160 confirmation page whose AA barcode matches the one used to book the appointment — a mismatch means you are turned away. No mobile phones, smart watches, laptops, large bags, food or sealed envelopes are allowed inside, there is no storage facility, and friends, relatives or agents may not accompany you. F visa applicants are instructed to set the privacy setting on ALL social media accounts to "public"/"open" for online-presence vetting. The officer may refuse the case under INA 221(g) for administrative processing or to request more documents.