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Official form or feeF-1 · J-1DS-160 & visa interviewMRV fee

F-1 / J-1 visa interview and the $185 application (MRV) fee

F-1 and J-1 student visas are applied for at a U.S. embassy or consulate. The non-refundable visa application fee for F and J visas is $185 under the State Department's fee schedule. You book the interview yourself and bring your I-20 or DS-2019, passport, DS-160 confirmation page, fee receipt and supporting documents.

Who issues / uses itThe student applies; a consular officer of the U.S. Department of State decides. The embassy does not book the appointment for you.

When in the processAfter the I-20/DS-2019, SEVIS fee and DS-160. An F-1 visa can be issued up to 365 days before the program start date on the I-20.

Cost$185 visa application (MRV) fee for non-petition-based visas such as F and J. J-1 participants in official U.S. government–sponsored exchanges are exempt. Some nationalities also pay a reciprocity (issuance) fee — check your embassy's page.

Last checked2026-10-10

Official page ↗

Steps

Pay the visa application fee in the way your embassy or consulate explains.
Book the interview appointment.
Prepare: original signed I-20 or DS-2019, passport, DS-160 confirmation, fee receipt, SEVIS fee receipt, visa photo.
Bring supporting evidence: school transcripts and test scores, proof of funds, and your plans after the program.
Attend the interview; fingerprints are scanned.
If approved, the passport is returned with the visa in it. Check the visa type (F-1 or J-1) and your name.

The fee

The State Department's schedule of fees (22 CFR 22.1, item 21) sets $185 for non-petition-based nonimmigrant visas, which include F (student) and J (exchange visitor) visas. J-1 applicants in official U.S. government–sponsored educational and cultural exchanges pay no application fee. Separate reciprocity fees depend on nationality.

Other new fees may be announced; always confirm the total on your embassy's website before paying.

What the officer looks at

Study in the States says officers may ask about academic preparation (transcripts, test scores), your intent to leave the U.S. after the program, and how you will pay for school, living and travel costs. If your I-20 notes an English requirement, they may test your English.

Common mistakes

Booking the interview before the I-20/DS-2019 and SEVIS fee are ready.
Bringing a copy instead of the signed original I-20.
Memorized answers that do not match the documents — officers ask about study plans, money and plans after the program.
Assuming the fee is refunded if the visa is refused — it is an application fee.

Questions

How much is the F-1 visa fee?

$185 per applicant under 22 CFR 22.1 (checked 2026-10-10). The $350 SEVIS fee is separate.

How early can I get the F-1 visa?

Up to 365 days before the program start date on your I-20, but you can only enter the U.S. within 30 days of that date.

Official sources

22 CFR 22.1 — Schedule of fees (item 21: nonimmigrant visa application fee) — eCFR · checked 2026-10-10
Students: Prepare for Your Visa Interview — U.S. DHS, Study in the States · checked 2026-10-10
Students and the Form I-20 (visa issuance up to 365 days before the start date) — U.S. DHS, Study in the States · checked 2026-10-10

Information, not legal advice. We summarize public U.S. government sources in our own words; rules and fees change. Confirm with the school’s DSO (F-1), your sponsor’s Responsible Officer (J-1) or the U.S. embassy or consulate before you act.

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Cite as: USAnaru™ — https://usanaru.com/documents/visa-interview-fee