When planning to study in the United States with an F-1 visa, it is essential that the educational institution be certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). This certification allows the school to issue Form I-20, which is required for the F-1 visa process.
If the intended school is not on the SEVP list, it means it has not been approved, preventing the issuance of the form and the visa application. It is crucial to confirm directly with the institution about certification processes or recent updates to their registration.
Until there is official approval, it is not possible to use Form I-20 to obtain the visa. It is recommended to follow the US immigration laws and seek information from official sources, such as the SEVP website, or from immigration specialists, avoiding incorrect information and scams.
Staying informed and relying on trustworthy sources is essential to proceed safely with the immigration process.
Learn more about F-1
- Duration
- Duration of studies
- OPT (STEM)
- Up to 3 years of work
- CPT
- Work during studies
- Processing
- 2-8 weeks
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About the author
Victoria Harper
Editor-in-Chief
As a journalist and lead editor at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps ensure that immigration topics are covered in a clear, trustworthy, and easy-to-understand way. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.