12 headlines from 2026-10-05 to 2026-10-11 about studying in the U.S., student visas, U.S. entry and working in the U.S. Each link opens the original story; headlines stay in their original language.
A proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on 2026-10-08: “Optional Practical Training Fees” (document 2026-20660). We are reviewing what it means; confirm with your school's DSO (F-1) or your sponsor's RO (J-1).
A boarding school's college list is useful, but it is not a promise about your child. Look at how many seniors graduated, where the whole class enrolled (not just the best names), how many were international, and what the counseling office actually does for international students: essays, recommendations, deadlines and the step to a new school's I-20. Ask the school for its most recent results and read them with questions in hand.
Tuition and boarding are the largest cost, but not the only one. Plan also for application and test fees, the I-901 SEVIS fee ($350 for F-1) and the visa application fee ($185), health insurance, flights, supplies and spending money, and a guardian service if the school requires one. Ask every school for a full written cost sheet and for its financial aid rules for international students before you compare prices.
Many boarding schools close the dorms for long breaks such as winter and spring vacation, and some keep a few open for short breaks. International students usually go home, stay with a U.S. guardian or host family, stay with relatives, or join a school-arranged program. Ask the school each break's dates and rules before you book flights, and plan the arrangement and the paperwork well ahead.
The SSAT and the ISEE are the two main admission tests for U.S. independent and boarding schools, and many schools accept either one. Do not take both by default: look up which test each school on your list accepts, pick one, and plan the date so the score arrives before the deadline. Formats, fees and the places you can test differ, so check the official sites.
Work backward from your earliest application deadline. If schools want applications in January or February, aim to have a first SSAT or ISEE score by late fall so there is still time to retake, and book an English test about two to three months before your earliest deadline. Register early, ask for accommodations well ahead and send official scores to every school.
Most U.S. boarding schools want proof of English from international applicants, and each school lists the tests it accepts. The best test is the one every school on your list accepts and that you can take on time where you live: TOEFL iBT and IELTS Academic suit older students, TOEFL Junior is for ages 11 and up through schools and local providers, and the Duolingo English Test is taken online at home. Check each school before you book.
For an F-1 visa interview, a boarding school student needs a valid passport, the signed Form I-20 from the school, proof that the I-901 SEVIS fee was paid, the DS-160 confirmation page, the visa fee receipt, the appointment confirmation and a photo, plus proof that the family can pay for school. Bring originals, and be ready to explain in your own words why you chose the school. Embassy rules differ, so check your embassy's website before you go.
Most students who want to start at a U.S. boarding school in the fall begin about 12 months earlier: research and visit in the spring and summer, take tests and prepare materials in the fall, and apply by the deadlines in January or February. Many schools announce decisions in early March and ask families to reply by a spring date. Dates differ by school, so confirm each one.
Many U.S. boarding schools ask international students under 18 to have a guardian in the United States who can act quickly in an emergency, host the student during breaks and handle routine matters. Parents usually authorize this in writing, often with a notarized power of attorney, and each school decides what it requires. Ask the school before you choose anyone.
At most U.S. boarding schools, a weekday runs from breakfast and morning classes through afternoon sports or arts to dinner and a supervised evening study hall, and you live in a dorm with adult "dorm parents" on duty. Weekends mix Saturday activities, trips and free time. Schedules, rules and phone policies differ from school to school, so read each school's student handbook before you apply.
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