The F-1 student visa is the visa international students need to attend a U.S. boarding school. The process involves receiving a Form I-20 from your school, paying government fees totaling approximately $535, completing an online application, and attending an in-person interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate. Most families complete the process in 4-8 weeks, but timelines vary by country.
The visa process is one of the most stressful parts of the international boarding school journey, not because it is difficult, but because the stakes feel high and the steps are unfamiliar. This guide walks through every step so your family knows exactly what to expect.
What is the F-1 visa?
The F-1 is a nonimmigrant student visa that allows international students to study full-time at SEVP-certified schools in the United States. All U.S. boarding schools that accept international students hold SEVP (Student and Exchange Visitor Program) certification, which means they are authorized to enroll F-1 students and issue the documents required for the visa application.
The F-1 visa is valid for the duration of the student’s enrollment at the school, plus a 60-day grace period after the program ends. For boarding school students, this typically covers all four years of high school if the student remains continuously enrolled.
Step-by-step: from admission to visa
Step 1: Accept your offer and receive Form I-20
After you accept your boarding school admission and submit any required enrollment deposit, the school will issue Form I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status). This is the single most important document in the visa process.
The I-20 contains:
- Your full legal name and date of birth
- The school’s name and SEVP certification number
- Your program start and end dates
- Your SEVIS ID number (starts with N followed by 10 digits)
- Estimated costs and funding information
Check the I-20 carefully. Any errors in your name, date of birth, or citizenship must be corrected by the school before you proceed. Even a minor discrepancy between your I-20 and passport can cause problems at the embassy.
Most schools send the I-20 in late April or May after the April 10 enrollment deadline. If your school has not sent it by mid-May, contact the admissions office directly.
Step 2: Pay the SEVIS I-901 fee ($350)
Before applying for the visa, you must pay the SEVIS I-901 fee. This is a one-time fee paid to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
- Amount: $350 for F-1 students
- Where to pay: fmjfee.com (the only official payment site)
- Payment methods: Credit card, debit card, or international money order
- What you need: Your SEVIS ID number from the I-20
After payment, print or save the confirmation receipt. You will need to bring it to your visa interview. Payment is processed immediately for card payments.
Important: Dependents (parents or siblings) applying for F-2 visas do not need to pay a separate SEVIS fee.
Step 3: Complete the DS-160 online application
The DS-160 is the standard nonimmigrant visa application form, completed online at ceac.state.gov.
What you will need to complete the form:
- Your passport (valid for at least six months beyond your intended entry date)
- Your I-20
- A digital photo meeting U.S. visa photo requirements (recent, white background, specific dimensions)
- Travel history for the past five years
- Your parents’ contact information
- The school’s address and the name of a contact at the school
- Social media account information (required since 2019 for all visa applicants)
Tips for the DS-160:
- The form times out after 20 minutes of inactivity. Save frequently using the “Save” button and write down your application ID.
- Answer every question. Leaving fields blank can flag your application for additional review.
- If a question does not apply, select “Does Not Apply” rather than leaving it empty.
- For the question about who is paying for your education, list the funding sources shown on your I-20 (family funds, school financial aid, or both).
After submitting, print the DS-160 confirmation page with the barcode. You will need this at your interview.
Step 4: Pay the visa application fee and schedule your interview
The visa application fee (also called the MRV fee) is $185 and is paid separately from the SEVIS fee. Payment methods vary by country - check your local U.S. embassy website for instructions.
After paying, schedule your interview through the embassy’s appointment system. As of 2025, in-person interviews are required for nearly all F-1 applicants, including minors applying for boarding school. Interview waivers that were available during the pandemic have been discontinued for most applicants.
Schedule as early as possible. Wait times vary dramatically by country and season:
- Some embassies have appointments available within days
- Others have wait times of 4-8 weeks, especially during the summer visa season (May-July)
- If wait times are long at your nearest embassy, check whether another consulate in your country has earlier availability
Step 5: Attend the visa interview
This is the step that causes the most anxiety for families, but the interview itself is typically brief - usually 5-10 minutes for boarding school students.
Prepare a folder with the following documents, organized and easy to access:
Required:
- Valid passport
- Form I-20 (original, signed by you and the school)
- DS-160 confirmation page with barcode
- SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
- Visa application fee (MRV) payment receipt
- Visa-compliant photo (bring a printed copy even though you uploaded one digitally)
Supporting documents:
- School acceptance letter
- Financial documents proving ability to pay (bank statements, sponsor letters, scholarship/aid award letters, employer income verification)
- Academic transcripts and test scores (SSAT/ISEE, TOEFL or Duolingo)
- Proof of ties to your home country (family property, parents’ employment, family business documentation)
What the officer wants to know
The consular officer is evaluating three things:
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Is the student a genuine student? They want to see that your child has been admitted to a real school, has the academic background to succeed, and has a clear educational purpose.
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Can the family afford it? They want to see that tuition and living expenses are covered, whether by family funds, financial aid, or a combination.
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Will the student return home? This is the most critical question. The officer needs to believe your child will return to your home country after completing school. This is where “ties to home country” matter - family, property, parents’ careers, and future plans.
Common interview questions for boarding school students
- Why do you want to study in the United States?
- Why did you choose this specific school?
- What grade will you be entering?
- Who is paying for your education?
- What do your parents do for work?
- What will you do after you finish school?
- Have you visited the United States before?
Coaching your student: Answers should be honest, specific, and brief. “I want to attend [school name] because of their strong science program and small class sizes” is far better than “I want a good education.” Your student should be able to name the school, describe why it appeals to them, and explain their future plans in terms that demonstrate an intention to return home.
For minor students
A parent or legal guardian should accompany the student to the embassy. While the student is expected to answer the interview questions themselves, the parent may be asked about funding or family circumstances. The parent may wait in a separate area or be invited into the interview room depending on the embassy’s practice.
Step 6: Receive your visa and prepare for travel
If approved, the embassy will keep your passport temporarily and return it with the visa stamp, typically within 1-2 weeks. Some embassies offer courier delivery; others require in-person pickup.
Once you have the visa:
- You may enter the U.S. up to 30 days before the program start date listed on your I-20
- Do not book non-refundable flights until the visa is physically in your hands
- Keep your I-20, passport, and financial documents accessible during travel (not in checked luggage)
- At the U.S. port of entry, you will go through immigration inspection. Have your I-20, passport, and visa ready to show the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer
Total cost of the visa process
| Fee | Amount | When to pay |
|---|---|---|
| SEVIS I-901 fee | $350 | Before scheduling interview |
| Visa application fee (MRV) | $185 | Before scheduling interview |
| Total government fees | $535 | |
| Passport renewal (if needed) | Varies by country | Before starting the process |
| Document translations | $50-$200 | Before the interview |
| Travel to embassy | Varies | Day of interview |
| Courier/delivery fees | $20-$50 | After approval |
What if your visa is denied?
The most common reason for F-1 visa denial is Section 214(b), which means the consular officer was not convinced that the student intends to return home after completing school. This is not a permanent bar - you can reapply.
Common reasons for denial:
- Weak ties to home country. Young, unmarried students without property or employment are more vulnerable to this finding. Prepare documentation showing your family’s roots: parents’ employment, family business, property ownership, or siblings in school at home.
- Insufficient financial documentation. If funding sources are unclear or bank statements show sudden large deposits, the officer may question the legitimacy. Provide consistent financial records over several months, not just a single recent statement.
- Vague answers about school choice or future plans. If the student cannot explain why they chose this particular school or what they plan to do afterward, it raises concerns. Prepare specific, honest answers.
- Inconsistencies between documents. Even small discrepancies between your I-20, financial documents, and interview answers can undermine trust.
If denied, you can reapply - there is no mandatory waiting period. However, reapplying with the same documentation and answers will likely produce the same result. Address whatever weakness led to the denial before reapplying. Our admission consulting service includes visa process support for exactly these situations.
Maintaining F-1 status during school
Once your student is at boarding school on an F-1 visa, there are rules they must follow to maintain their status:
Do:
- Remain enrolled full-time at the school listed on the I-20
- Keep your passport valid at all times (renew at your country’s nearest consulate if it will expire during the school year)
- Report any changes in address to the school’s Designated School Official (DSO)
- Get your I-20 signed by the DSO before any international travel
Do not:
- Leave the U.S. for more than five consecutive months, as this can void your F-1 status and require you to reapply
- Work off campus (F-1 students at the high school level are not authorized for off-campus employment)
- Transfer to a different school without first coordinating with both schools’ DSOs to transfer your SEVIS record
Traveling home during school breaks
Boarding school students typically travel home 2-4 times per year (Thanksgiving, winter break, spring break, summer). Each time you re-enter the U.S., you will need:
- A valid passport (valid for at least six months)
- A valid F-1 visa stamp
- Your I-20, signed for travel by the school’s DSO within the past 12 months
Plan ahead for travel signatures. Before each break, ask the school’s international student coordinator or DSO to sign your I-20 for travel. Without this signature, re-entry can be complicated.
If your F-1 visa stamp expires while you are in the U.S., you do not need to leave - you can continue studying. However, if you travel home, you will need to renew the visa at a U.S. embassy before returning. Factor this into your travel planning, especially during short breaks.
Timeline: when to do what
For a student entering boarding school in September, here is a realistic timeline:
| When | Action |
|---|---|
| March 10 | Receive admission decisions |
| By April 10 | Accept admission offer and submit enrollment deposit |
| Late April - May | Receive Form I-20 from school |
| Immediately after receiving I-20 | Pay SEVIS fee, complete DS-160, schedule embassy interview |
| May - July | Attend visa interview |
| 1-2 weeks after interview | Receive passport with visa |
| August | Travel to the U.S. (up to 30 days before program start) |
| Late August - early September | Arrive for orientation |
The most common mistake is waiting too long to start. Families who receive their I-20 in May and wait until July to begin the visa process sometimes face embassy backlogs that push their interview past the school start date. Begin the process the day you receive your I-20.
The F-1 visa process is manageable when you know the steps and start early. If your family is navigating the international boarding school application process and wants support with the visa timeline alongside admissions, book a free consultation. We work with international families through every stage, from school selection to enrollment.