USA Edition · International Students

Coming to the U.S. to study

I-20 to F-1 visa·Work, OPT, H-1B·Checked Oct 2026

Two separate journeys run side by side: your education (admission, degree) and your immigration status (I-20, F-1, work permission). This page keeps them apart, uses only government sources for the rules, and dates every changing detail.

Step-by-step: admission to arrival Work, OPT and H-1B
International students, 2024/251,177,766
From India (largest group)363,019
I-901 SEVIS fee (F-1)$350
On-campus work in termUp to 20 hrs/week
Step by step

From admission to your first day

  1. Step 1

    Get admitted

    Apply to SEVP-certified colleges. Each college sets its own English-test rules (for example TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo) and may ask for a credential evaluation of foreign transcripts.

  2. Step 2

    Receive your Form I-20

    A Designated School Official (DSO) at your college issues the I-20 when you are accepted. You need it for every step that follows.

  3. Step 3

    Pay the I-901 SEVIS fee

    $350 for F-1 students, paid after you receive the I-20 and before the visa is issued.

  4. Step 4

    Apply for the F-1 visa

    Visas can be issued up to 365 days before your program start date; bring the original I-20 to the interview.

  5. Step 5

    Enter the U.S.

    You may arrive no more than 30 days before the program start date on your I-20.

  6. Step 6

    Study and work within the rules

    On-campus jobs: up to 20 hours a week while school is in session, full time during breaks. Off-campus work needs separate authorization (CPT, OPT).

Sources: Students and the Form I-20 · I-901 SEVIS Fee · Employment — SEVIS. Visa application fees and interview wait times are set by the State Department and vary by country; check your U.S. embassy or consulate.

Applying from abroad

English tests and credential evaluation

English proficiencyEach college decides which tests it accepts and the minimum scores, and some waive the requirement for certain applicants. Check every college's international admissions page.
Credential evaluationColleges often ask for a course-by-course evaluation of foreign transcripts from a NACES member such as World Education Services (WES) or Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE). Use the evaluator your college names. NACES members
Admission testsThe same testing policies apply to international applicants; some colleges require the SAT or ACT, others do not. See real college policies

From India? The India Edition has a detailed Study in the USA guide with timelines, costs and scholarships for Indian students.

Working in the U.S.

Work rules, OPT, STEM OPT and H-1B

Your degree is your education pathway. Permission to work is a separate immigration question, and none of these is guaranteed by a degree.

On-campus jobsUp to 20 hours a week while school is in session; full time during breaks and annual vacation. ICE
Optional Practical Training (OPT)Temporary employment directly related to an F-1 student's major. Up to 12 months per degree level. Pre-completion OPT (after one full academic year) reduces the post-completion time available. The DSO recommends OPT in SEVIS; the student then files Form I-765 with USCIS — up to 90 days before and no later than 60 days after program completion, and within 30 days of the DSO recommendation. USCIS
STEM OPT extensionA 24-month extension of post-completion OPT. Degree (bachelor's, master's or doctoral) must be on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List and from an accredited, SEVP-certified school. Employer must be enrolled in E-Verify and in good standing. File Form I-765 up to 90 days before current OPT ends. USCIS
H-1B specialty occupationEmployer-sponsored work status for jobs that require at least a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in a directly related field. Annual cap: 65,000, plus 20,000 for people with a U.S. master's degree or higher. Higher-education institutions and nonprofit or government research organizations are cap-exempt. Employers register electronically (usually in March); selected registrations may then file petitions. USCIS
Changing fast

H-1B changes since 2025

Dated, in order. The situation may have moved since the last check — always confirm on USCIS.

  • 2025-09-21 — A Presidential Proclamation requires an additional $100,000 payment with certain new H-1B petitions for beneficiaries outside the U.S. without a valid H-1B visa. Source
  • 2026-02-27 — DHS final rule replaces the random lottery with a weighted selection based on the offered wage level (from the FY 2027 registration). Source
  • 2026-06-08 — The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts vacated agency guidance implementing the $100,000 payment; DHS asked the First Circuit for a stay pending appeal. Source
  • 2026-07-24 — The First Circuit denied DHS's motion for a stay. The appeal itself may still change the outcome — check USCIS before relying on this. Source
Immigration rules change. This is general information, not legal advice. Always confirm with USCIS, your school's Designated School Official (DSO) and, where needed, an immigration attorney. Last checked 2026-10-07.
Open Doors 2024/25

International students in the U.S. by the numbers

GroupStudents (2024/25)
All international students1,177,766
From India363,019
From China265,919
Graduate students488,481
Undergraduate students357,231
On OPT294,253

India was the largest country of origin, up 10%; China second, down 4%. Students on OPT grew 21%. Source: Institute of International Education (with the U.S. Department of State)

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

On-campus jobs are allowed up to 20 hours a week while school is in session and full time during breaks. Off-campus work needs separate authorization such as CPT or OPT.
No. OPT and STEM OPT have their own eligibility rules and applications, and the H-1B depends on an employer, an annual cap and a selection process.
An F-1 visa can be issued up to 365 days before your program start date, but you may enter the U.S. no more than 30 days before that date.
Each college sets its own rules. Many accept tests such as TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo, but minimum scores and accepted tests differ, so check each college.
Keep going
College & MoneyDegrees and costs TestsSAT, ACT, AP Career Pathways20 fields with BLS data From India?Study in the USA guide
Sources

Where these facts come from

Official and primary sources only, each checked on the date shown. Rules on testing, aid, licensing and immigration change, so confirm a detail with its source before you rely on it.