New York · est. 2013Saturday, September 5, 2026
Inside Immigration

Plain-language guides to US immigration, asylum and USCIS procedure.

Формы · Employment

Student visas and student work authorisation

F-1 academic and M-1 vocational students are admitted for the duration of their studies. A school issues a Form I-20 through SEVIS, the student pays the SEVIS fee and applies for a visa, and work is limited to on-campus employment plus practical training that has to be authorised in advance.

Обычный срок: Consular wait times vary by post. USCIS reports 3.7 months for most I-765 categories in FY 2026 and 3.5 months for the I-539.Сборы: The SEVIS I-901 fee plus $185 for the visa, then $470 to $520 for an OPT work permit, and $2,075 for premium processing on an I-539 if bought.

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Для кого. People coming to the United States to study at a SEVP-certified school, and their F-2 or M-2 dependants.

Формы по порядку

6 форм
DS-160I-94I-765I-907I-539I-129
  1. 1

    Get accepted and receive a Form I-20 from the school

    Кто
    The school's designated school official
    Когда
    Before the visa application
    Сбор
    $0 for the form; a SEVIS I-901 fee is payable to DHS
  2. 2

    Complete the visa application and attend the interview

    DS-160

    Кто
    The student
    Когда
    Post-dependent wait times
    Сбор
    $185 nonimmigrant visa application fee

    Expanded social media vetting since 2025 has lengthened student visa processing at many posts.

  3. 3

    Enter the United States and maintain status

    I-94

    Кто
    The student
    Когда
    Up to 30 days before the programme start date
    Сбор
    $0

    The I-94 governs status; F-1 students are usually admitted for duration of status.

  4. 4

    Apply for practical training work authorisation

    I-765I-907

    Кто
    The student, on the school's recommendation
    Когда
    OPT applications must be filed within specific windows before and after programme completion
    Сбор
    $520 paper or $470 online, plus $1,780 if premium processing is bought

    Curricular practical training is authorised by the school; optional practical training needs a USCIS EAD.

  5. 5

    Extend or change status if you stay on

    I-539I-129

    Кто
    The student, or a sponsoring employer
    Когда
    Before the current status ends
    Сбор
    $470 or $420 for the I-539; employer petition fees for a work classification

    Cap-gap protection can bridge an F-1 into an H-1B start date.

Где чаще всего ошибаются

  • Working without authorisation, including unpaid work that would normally be paid, ends F-1 status.
  • OPT filing windows are strict and a late application is simply denied.
  • Unemployment limits during OPT and STEM OPT are counted and enforced.
  • Falling below a full course load without a designated school official's authorisation ends status.
  • Visa revocations for students have increased sharply since 2025 and have sometimes been executed without notice.

Что изменилось в 2025 и 2026 годах

  • Social media vetting for student visa applicants expanded significantly in 2025 and 2026.
  • SEVIS record terminations and visa revocations affecting students drew widespread litigation in 2025.
  • The end of automatic EAD extensions affects STEM OPT renewals.

Связанные процедуры

Источники: uscis.gov · travel.state.gov · travel.state.gov · egov.uscis.gov · uscis.gov