HomeStudent or traineeUnited States
Routes to United States: student or trainee
Per sources (unverified): F-1 for SEVP-certified schools, with strictly limited work rights.
The F-1 route is open to students admitted by a certified school, but a student cannot simply work to fund study: only campus jobs, CPT and OPT with the right authorisation are allowed. After studies, staying to work depends on OPT and then on an employer filing an H-1B, which now carries the restrictions described under the white-collar track. Admission standards, financial-proof amounts and visa-refusal rates were not verified.
Match an occupation and passport
Choose an occupation and a passport
0 study paths are named in United States's official demand list, ranked below.
What United States wants, in its own order
This order is the official shortage analysis, not our opinion. The source is linked under the list.
The routes
Each route below is a separate permit with its own listed requirements. A requirement you do not meet can stop an application for that route, however strong the rest of the case is. A requirement we cannot confirm is shown as unknown, not as a failure.
F-1 academic student
Preview — under verificationOpen to applicants admitted by a SEVP-certified school; working rights are narrow (campus jobs, curricular and optional practical training) and require specific authorisation.
Who this is for
- Degree students at SEVP-certified schools
You must have every one of these
- A Form I-20 from the school is required before the SEVIS fee can be paid.
- The USD 350 I-901 SEVIS fee must be paid before the consular interview (allow three business days for verification); fee waivers are not available.
- A visa application fee of USD 185 applies (State Dept schedule dated June 2023).
- Financial evidence, intent-to-return test and earliest-entry window: NOT VERIFIED (not yet verified — official source could not be read: Study in the States).
Source: State Department — Nonimmigrant visa fee increases effective 17 June 2023 (checked 2026-11-07; document dated 2023-06-02; Government or public body) · ICE — I-901 SEVIS Fee FAQ (checked 2026-11-07; Government or public body) · Study in the States (DHS) — Student Employment Overview (checked 2026-11-07; document dated 2024-06-18; Government or public body) · Study in the States (DHS) — F-1 STEM OPT extension (SEVIS help hub) (checked 2026-11-07; Government or public body)
What it costs
Costs are shown in USD as the cited source states them, with the unit the source gives. We do not convert currencies. A line with no stated unit or date is marked as such and is not an exact official charge.
A school or third party may pay it.
Source: ICE — I-901 SEVIS Fee FAQ (checked 2026-11-07; Government or public body)
USD 350You payState Dept schedule dated June 2023.
Source: State Department — Nonimmigrant visa fee increases effective 17 June 2023 (checked 2026-11-07; document dated 2023-06-02; Government or public body)
USD 185You payHow long it takes
Timeline not published by the authority
No authority-published timeline for student visa processing was verified (NOT VERIFIED; State Dept wait-time page not yet verified).
Published figures for this route
Published figures on how often this route is used, with their sources.
Documents, insurance, housing and money
These needs are the same whichever track you choose, so they are published once for United States, with sources and check dates.
Quick answers
Which routes to United States exist on the student or trainee track?
Per sources (unverified): F-1 for SEVP-certified schools, with strictly limited work rights.
How long does it take?
Timeline not published by the authority. No authority-published timeline for student visa processing was verified (NOT VERIFIED; State Dept wait-time page not yet verified).
How much does it cost?
The published costs on this page total USD 535. Items that are not in that total, such as proof of funds or later permit fees, are labelled on this page where our sources state them.