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What the F-1 visa is
INA section 101(a)(15)(F)(i) provides the F-1 classification for a bona fide student with a residence abroad that they have no intention of abandoning, entering temporarily and solely to pursue a full course of study at an approved institution such as a college, university, academic high school or language training program.
Under 22 CFR 41.61(b)(3), the spouse and minor children of an F-1 student may receive F-2 visas. Vocational study uses the M-1 visa and exchange programs use the J-1 visa; see US visa types.
F-1 requirements
22 CFR 41.61(b)(1) requires the consular officer to be satisfied of four points.
First, the applicant has been accepted for a full course of study at an approved institution and presents a properly completed and signed Form I-20.
Second, the applicant has sufficient funds to cover expenses in the United States, or other arrangements to meet them.
Third, the applicant has enough English for the course, unless coming only for English study or the school will provide English instruction alongside the program.
Fourth, the applicant intends, and will be able, to depart when student status ends.
INA section 214(b) presumes every applicant to be an intending immigrant until shown otherwise, so F-1 applicants must show ties to Thailand just as visitors do. See US visa refusals.
Applying for an F-1 visa in Thailand
Step one: apply to and be accepted by an SEVP-certified school, which registers you in SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) and issues Form I-20.
Step two: pay the SEVIS I-901 fee, which is separate from the visa fee. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) page lists USD 350 for F or M applicants.
Step three: complete the DS-160, pay the application fee and book an appointment. The State Department asks F, M and J applicants to set all social media profiles to public for online presence review.
Step four: attend the interview with your passport, DS-160 confirmation, Form I-20 and financial documents. Under the policy effective 1 October 2025, interview waivers do not cover F-1 visas.
Step five: plan travel. F-1 visas for new students can be issued up to 365 days before the program start date, but you may not enter the United States more than 30 days before that date.
Visa validity and length of stay
Under the State Department's reciprocity schedule, F-1 and F-2 visas for Thai nationals are valid for up to 12 months with multiple entries and no reciprocity fee.
Visa validity is not the length of study. The visa is for entry; the period of stay is recorded on Form I-94. Under 8 CFR 214.2(f)(5) as currently applied, an F-1 student is admitted for D/S: the time pursuing a full course of study and authorized practical training, plus 60 days to prepare to depart. A visa that expires during study does not end status, but a new visa is needed before the next re-entry.
The rule ending D/S and the court order
DHS published 91 FR 44976 on 17 July 2026, replacing D/S with fixed admission periods for the F, J and I classifications, with an effective date of 15 September 2026. The key points for F-1 students are in the table.
| Point | Rule in force (D/S) | New rule 91 FR 44976 (enjoined) |
|---|---|---|
| Period of stay | While pursuing a full course of study and authorized practical training (D/S) | Fixed period to the program end date on Form I-20, not exceeding 4 years |
| Entry before program start | Up to 30 days | Up to 30 days |
| Period after completion | 60 days | 30 days |
| English language training | D/S, as for other programs | Maximum 24 months in total |
| More time to finish | Program extension through the school official (DSO) | File an extension of stay with USCIS |
| Graduate students | May change programs or transfer under the procedures | No change of educational objective during a program; transfer only with an SEVP exception |
Current status. On 14 September 2026 the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts (Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV) granted a nationwide preliminary injunction in Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration v. DHS, so the rule is not in effect. The government filed a notice of appeal to the First Circuit on 30 September 2026; the appeal does not put the rule into effect.
Caution. The eCFR already shows the amended text of 8 CFR 214.2(f). Readers of that text should bear in mind that the court has blocked its implementation. The rule may still take effect depending on the outcome, so anyone planning a program longer than 4 years, or English study longer than 24 months, should follow the appeal. Visa Connext updates this page when new orders or notices issue.
Working while studying
8 CFR 214.2(f)(9) and (f)(10), as currently applied, provide as follows.
On-campus work: up to 20 hours a week while school is in session, and full time when school is not in session or during the annual vacation.
Off-campus work: available after one full academic year in F-1 status, in good academic standing, on the basis of severe economic hardship caused by unforeseen circumstances beyond the student's control.
Practical training: CPT (curricular practical training, part of the curriculum) and OPT (optional practical training in the field of study). A student may be authorized 12 months of practical training; one year or more of full-time CPT makes a student ineligible for post-completion training; OPT must be completed within 14 months after study ends, except for the 24-month STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) extension.
Proposed OPT fees. DHS proposed 91 FR 64566 on 8 October 2026: schools would pay USD 70,000 for a student's initial OPT and USD 30,000 for any subsequent OPT, including a STEM extension, before the school official enters the recommendation in SEVIS, and schools may pass the cost to students. Comments close on 9 November 2026. The proposal is not in effect.
Elementary and secondary school students
8 U.S.C. 1184(m)(1) bars F-1 status for a public elementary school or a publicly funded adult education program. At a public secondary school, F-1 status is limited to 12 months in aggregate, and the student must show reimbursement of the full, unsubsidized per capita cost to the local educational agency.
These limits apply to public schools. Parents planning several years of high school should check the school's status before accepting a Form I-20.
Visa Connext student visa service
Visa Connext reviews the Form I-20 and eligibility under 22 CFR 41.61, prepares the DS-160, assembles financial evidence and proof of ties to Thailand, and prepares applicants for the interview. We also track the D/S litigation and the proposed OPT fee rule for our clients. See our US visa service.
Frequently asked questions
How early can I get an F-1 visa, and how early can I enter the US?
F-1 visas for new students can be issued up to 365 days before the program start date, but you may not enter the United States more than 30 days before that date.
How much is the SEVIS fee for an F-1 visa?
The ICE page lists the SEVIS I-901 fee for F or M applicants at USD 350, separate from visa fees and school fees.
Source: 8 CFR 214.13 · ICE: I-901 SEVIS Fee
How long is an F-1 visa valid for Thai nationals?
Up to 12 months with multiple entries under the reciprocity schedule. Length of study does not depend on visa validity: F-1 students are admitted for D/S as recorded on Form I-94. A new visa is needed to re-enter after the visa expires.
Source: Reciprocity: Thailand
Has the rule ending D/S taken effect?
No. 91 FR 44976 was due to take effect on 15 September 2026, but the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts enjoined it nationwide on 14 September 2026. The government appealed on 30 September 2026, and the appeal does not put the rule into effect.
Source: Presidents' Alliance: Duration of Status Litigation · 91 FR 44976
Can F-1 students work?
On campus, up to 20 hours a week while school is in session and full time during breaks. Off-campus work needs authorization, such as severe economic hardship after one academic year, or CPT and OPT practical training.
Source: 8 CFR 214.2(f)(9)–(10)
Do I have to make my social media public?
The State Department asks F, M and J applicants to set all social media profiles to public for online presence review.
Can my child attend a US public high school on an F-1 visa?
Yes, for up to 12 months in aggregate, with the full per capita cost reimbursed to the local educational agency. Public elementary schools cannot take F-1 students.
Source: 8 U.S.C. 1184(m)
How much money do I need for an F-1 visa?
22 CFR 41.61(b)(1) requires sufficient funds for expenses in the United States, or other arrangements. Applicants should show evidence covering the costs the school estimates on Form I-20.
Source: 22 CFR 41.61
Official sources used on this page
- 91 FR 44976 — Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission (FR Doc. 2026-14439)
published 17 Jul 2026 · effective date set 15 Sep 2026 · enjoined 14 Sep 2026 · checked 30 Oct 2026 - Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration — Duration of Status Litigation
preliminary injunction 14 Sep 2026 · appeal 30 Sep 2026 · checked 30 Oct 2026 - AILA — Memorandum and Order Granting Preliminary Injunction (D. Mass.)
order dated 14 Sep 2026 · checked 30 Oct 2026 - 8 CFR 214.2(f) — Academic and language students
CFR edition of 1 Jan 2025, text before 91 FR 44976, applied while the injunction stands · checked 30 Oct 2026 - 22 CFR 41.61 — Students: academic and nonacademic
last amended 68 FR 28131 (23 May 2003) · checked 30 Oct 2026 - 8 U.S.C. 1184(m) — Nonimmigrant elementary and secondary school students
U.S. Code 2024 edition (govinfo) · checked 30 Oct 2026 - U.S. Department of State — Student Visa
checked 30 Oct 2026 - U.S. Department of State — Reciprocity: Thailand
checked 30 Oct 2026 - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement — I-901 SEVIS Fee
page last updated 15 Jul 2020 · checked 30 Oct 2026 - 8 CFR 214.13 — SEVIS fee
last amended 87 FR 75911 (12 Dec 2022) · checked 30 Oct 2026 - U.S. Department of State — Announcement of Expanded Screening and Vetting for Visa Applicants
last updated 25 Mar 2026 · checked 30 Oct 2026 - 91 FR 64566 — Optional Practical Training Fees (proposed rule, FR Doc. 2026-20660)
published 8 Oct 2026 · comments close 9 Nov 2026 · not in effect · checked 30 Oct 2026 - U.S. Department of State — Interview Waiver Update, 18 September 2025
effective 1 Oct 2025 · checked 30 Oct 2026