What students should check now.

Last reviewed: 19 October 2026. Visa policy, consular services and litigation can change quickly. Check the linked authority and your school’s designated school official (DSO) before paying fees, changing study plans or travelling.

F-1, M-1 or J-1?

A full US degree normally cannot be studied using ESTA or a visitor visa. Confirm the category with your institution or exchange sponsor. Official student-visa guidance → · Official J-1 programme guidance →

From admission to the interview.

1. Secure admission and obtain the correct I-20 or DS-2019.
2. Check the I-901 SEVIS fee and pay through the official system where required.
3. Complete DS-160, retain the confirmation and follow the consulate’s appointment instructions.
4. Prepare your passport, signed I-20, photograph, receipts, academic records and financial evidence.
5. Explain your genuine study plans, how costs will be covered and your intent to comply with temporary admission.

Additional checks or administrative processing can delay a decision. Admission and a visa do not guarantee entry; US Customs and Border Protection makes the admission decision at the border.

Budget beyond the application fee.

There is no single nationwide student bank-balance figure to substitute for your school’s cost estimate. Ask the DSO what evidence is acceptable for issuing the I-20, including sponsorship or scholarship documents, and how additional family costs are assessed. DHS financial-ability guidance →

Show credible funding for education and living expenses. Do not rely on prospective employment or an unawarded scholarship to close a funding gap. UK residence or UK home-fee status does not establish entitlement to US tuition rates or financial aid.

What could your study budget look like?

Compare a student travelling alone with an F-1 student accompanied by a spouse and one child in F-2 status. All figures are in US dollars and cover 12 months, with initial visa application charges included once.

The living-cost allowance is intended to cover housing, utilities, food, local transport and ordinary household spending. Check rental deposits and arrival purchases against your actual cash-flow needs. Insurance premiums do not necessarily cover deductibles, co-payments, dental treatment or every medical expense.

Add any costs that apply to you: university mandatory charges not included in tuition, childcare, school or nursery fees, higher local rents, medical out-of-pocket costs, nationality-dependent visa issuance charges, and any additional government charges actually in force when you apply. These examples are not an all-inclusive quote. Visa-exempt applicants may have a different visa-fee position.

What the family needs to confirm

Ask the DSO for separate dependant I-20 documents and the school’s additional funding requirement for a spouse and child. Check whether dependants can join the university insurance plan and request the full family premium. F-2 dependants cannot work; the example assumes no spouse’s income.

Budget total and visa evidence are different

Your school and consulate decide which financial evidence is required. The totals here do not establish visa eligibility or replace the I-20 funding assessment. For a multi-year programme, plan later years separately and allow for increases; do not multiply first-year application charges as if they are automatically annual fees.

Fee references: State Department student-visa application fee · ICE I-901 fee and dependant exemptions. Fee assumptions checked on 19 October 2026. Proposed OPT charges discussed above are not included as current payable fees.

US student budget calculator.

Enter amounts in US dollars for your chosen budget period. Living costs and insurance must cover the whole household, including dependants. Changing the number of dependants changes visa application fees; it does not automatically estimate family living costs or insurance.

Your visa and your permitted stay are different.

New F/M student visas can be issued up to 365 days before the course starts, but initial entry on that visa is limited to the 30 days before the programme start date. Confirm travel dates with the school.

After arrival, check your I-94 admission record and report to your DSO. Follow the applicable full-course-of-study, reporting and employment conditions. Ask your DSO before reducing your course load, transferring, changing programmes or extending study. Do not use the visa expiry date alone to decide how long you may remain. DHS maintaining-status guidance →

Get authorisation before starting work.

• On-campus F-1 work: generally limited to 20 hours a week while school is in session, subject to eligibility and school guidance.
• CPT: qualifying curricular training requires DSO authorisation before it begins. Twelve months or more of full-time CPT normally removes eligibility for OPT.
• OPT: eligible F-1 students may apply for up to 12 months of training related to their major, subject to DSO recommendation and USCIS employment authorisation.
• STEM OPT: qualifying graduates may apply for a further 24-month extension, with additional degree, employer, training-plan and reporting conditions.

These are conditional benefits, not guaranteed jobs or unrestricted work permission. M-1 and J-1 rules differ. Check your permitted dates and authorisation before any internship or employment. ICE practical-training guidance → · USCIS OPT guidance →

Check the family route separately.

For F-1/M-1 students, eligible dependants are a spouse and unmarried children under 21, using F-2/M-2 status. Each needs the appropriate individual documentation and visa application where required. An unmarried partner does not qualify for these dependant categories.

F-2/M-2 dependants cannot work. Study permissions differ for adults and children; ask the DSO before enrolling. Budget for additional accommodation, insurance and living expenses. DHS student and dependant FAQs →

Before paying or travelling.