🇺🇸 United States
Study in United States
Objective encyclopedia · Primary sources used · No agency recommendation
Key facts
| Student visa | F-1 |
|---|---|
| Visa fee | USD $510 (SEVIS) |
| Post-study work | OPT (1-3 yr STEM) |
| Immigration pathway | H-1B → EB green card |
| Language of instruction | English |
Articles on United States
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F-1 Student Visa: Fixed Admission Period Replaces Duration of Status from 15 September 2026
This article verifies the DHS final rule published July 17, 2026, that replaces F-1 Duration of Status with a fixed admission period effective September 15, 2026. It covers admission caps, the 30-day grace period, extension of stay procedures, transition rules for existing F-1 students, and restrictions on changing educational levels, using only official and university-sourced facts.
April 18, 2026 · Visas / F-1 / United States
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Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
Off-campus employment integral to F-1 academic programs; authorized by Designated School Official on Form I-20; may reduce post-graduation OPT eligibility if full-time.
April 18, 2026 · Visas / CPT / United States
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DS-160 Form
Online Application for Nonimmigrant Visa; required for all F-1, J-1, and M-1 students before consular interview in the United States.
April 18, 2026 · Visas / DS-160 / United States
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Form I-20
Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status; issued by SEVP-certified schools required for F-1 and M-1 visa applications and entry.
April 18, 2026 · Visas / I-20 / United States
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J-1 Visa
US exchange-visitor visa for government-sponsored, research, and short-term study programs; often carries a 2-year home-residency requirement.
April 18, 2026 · Visas / J-1 / United States
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M-1 Visa
US non-immigrant visa for vocational and non-academic training programs at SEVP-certified schools; more restrictive than F-1.
April 18, 2026 · Visas / M-1 Visa / United States
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Optional Practical Training (OPT)
Post-graduation work authorization for F-1 students; up to 12 months in field related to major; STEM extension adds 24 months.
April 18, 2026 · Visas / OPT / United States
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SEVIS
Student and Exchange Visitor Information System; mandatory database tracking F-1, J-1, and M-1 international students in the United States.
April 18, 2026 · Visas / SEVIS / United States
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STEM OPT Extension
24-month extension to post-completion Optional Practical Training for F-1 students with STEM degrees; requires DHS-listed major and E-Verified employer.
April 18, 2026 · Visas / STEM OPT / United States
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Study in the United States
The U.S. attracts ~1M international students annually via F-1 visa; Common App centralizes applications; post-study OPT/STEM OPT extends work rights.
April 15, 2026 · Countries / United States / F-1 Visa
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Ivy League
The 8-member US Ivy League athletic conference — Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Penn, Brown, Cornell, Dartmouth — evolved into shorthand for elite Northeastern universities.
February 19, 2026 · Universities / Ivy League / United States
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Seven Sisters
The Seven Sisters — historically women's liberal-arts colleges (Barnard, Bryn Mawr, Mount Holyoke, Radcliffe, Smith, Vassar, Wellesley) — still influential.
February 14, 2026 · Universities / Seven Sisters / United States