Application Requirements for an F-1 Visa

An alien who is going to pursue full-time academic studies in a college, university, seminary, conservatory, academic high school, private elementary schools, other academic institution, or language-training program in the U.S. can apply for an F-1 visa with a U.S. consulate abroad.
In order to be eligible to apply for an F-1 visa, there are requirements that must first be met. The applicant must:

Have a foreign residence and have no intention of abandoning it;
Be a bona fide student that is qualified to pursue a full course of study;
Seek to enter the U.S. as a student temporarily and solely for the purpose of pursuing such a course of study at an established institution of learning or other recognized place of study in the United States;
Only study at an institution designated to him/her and approved by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in compliance with the SEVIS program; and
Must not attend a public elementary school or publicly funded adult education program, and will not attend a public secondary school unless he/she attends the secondary school for a period less than 12 months and demonstrated that he/she has reimbursed the school board the full, unsubsidized cost of the education.

In accordance with the "Retention and Reporting of Information for F, J and M Nonimmigrants; Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS)", effective on January 1, 2003, an alien student may take the following steps to obtain an F-1 Visa:

Admission to an approved school: An alien first must apply to study at an approved school in the United States. When the alien contacts a school that he is interested in attending, usually, he will be told immediately if the school accepts foreign national students. In order to apply for an F-1 visa, the alien must be admitted by an approved school.
If the alien is admitted, the school will issue him a SEVIS Form I-20.
The next thing for the alien to do is to take the SEVIS Form I-20 to the appropriate U.S. Embassy or Consulate with jurisdiction over his place of permanent residence to apply for a student visa (F-1 visa). The alien student must satisfy two criteria: (a) He must prove that he has no immigration intent and his travel to the U.S. is purely for studies; and (b) he must also prove to the visa officer that he has the financial resources required for his education and stay in the United States. Proof of English proficiency may also be required.

The documents and information needed to apply for an F-1 visa are:

An application Form DS-160 (the online Non-immigrant Visa application that is used by Consular Officers to process the visa application, the offline equivalent is the DS-156). A separate form is needed for children, even if they are included in a parent's passport. Blank forms are available without charge at all U.S. consular offices and on the Visa Services website under Visa Application Forms.
A passport valid for travel to the United States and with a validity date at least six months beyond the applicant's intended period of stay in the United States. If more than one person is included in the passport, each person desiring a visa must make an application;
One photograph following these requirements
A SEVIS Form I-20;
Evidence of sufficient funds;
A nonrefundable US$100 application fee; and
Documentation showing financial resources.

Sources:

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations: 8 CFR § 214.2(f)(1)(i)(A)

Immigration and Nationality Act: INA § 214(m)(1)

(Updated 10/11/2012 by AD)

For more information about F-1 visas, please click on one of the following links: