🇺🇸 USA Student Visa

US F-1 Student Visa 2025 —
Complete Step-by-Step Guide for Indian Students

Q: What is the SEVIS fee for F-1 student visa?

The SEVIS I-901 fee is $350 and must be paid at fmjfee.com before your DS-160 or visa interview. From October 2025, an additional $250 visa integrity fee applies.

Q: Can I get an F-1 visa after being rejected?

Yes. However, reapplying without changing your documentation or interview approach rarely succeeds. EZVZA's licensed US attorney reviews rejection letters and rebuilds cases.

Q: How much money do I need to show for F-1 visa?

For a 2-year Master's, typically $50,000-$80,000 total. For 4-year undergraduate, $120,000-$200,000. Officers look for consistent savings over 12 months, not a recent large deposit.

Q: Do I need a GRE score for F-1 visa?

GRE/GMAT is a university admissions requirement, not a direct visa requirement. Having a strong score improves your admission prospects and demonstrates academic credibility.

Everything Indian students need — DS-160, SEVIS fee, financial proof, interview preparation, and how to handle 214(b) rejection. Written by EZVZA's licensed US immigration attorney.

🇺🇸 USA Visas 👤 Atty. Sarah M., US Immigration Attorney 🕐 10 min read 📅 Updated 2025

The USA is the world's top study destination and every year thousands of students from Gujarat apply for the F-1 student visa. The good news: if your university acceptance and financial documents are strong, F-1 approval rates for Indian students are high. The challenge is the interview — where officers look for genuine academic intent and evidence you will return to India after graduating.

This guide covers everything: documents, the SEVIS fee, DS-160 completion, interview preparation, and what to do if you are rejected. EZVZA manages the complete F-1 journey: university shortlisting from our 50+ US university partners through to US arrival support.

EZVZA's licensed US immigration attorney has reviewed hundreds of F-1 applications and rejections from Gujarat students. Every piece of advice in this guide reflects real case experience, not textbook knowledge.

University Admission & Form I-20

You need two core documents before starting any US F-1 visa application:

🎓

Unconditional Admission Letter

From a SEVP-certified US university (Student and Exchange Visitor Program). All major US universities are SEVP-certified.

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Form I-20

Issued by your university after acceptance. The single most important document in your F-1 application — shows programme, start date, tuition cost, and living expenses. Keep this safe throughout your studies.

Pay the SEVIS Fee Before Applying

The SEVIS fee must be paid before you submit your DS-160 or book your visa interview. This is a common mistake many students make.

Fee	Amount	Where to Pay
SEVIS I-901 fee	$350 (~₹29,000)	Pay at fmjfee.com using your I-20 SEVIS ID
Visa application fee (MRV)	$185 (~₹15,400)	Pay at ustraveldocs.com before booking appointment
Visa integrity fee (from Oct 2025)	$250 additional	New fee announced for FY2026 applicants
Total (from Oct 2025)	~$785 (~₹65,000)	Budget accordingly

Complete the DS-160 Form

The DS-160 is the online US non-immigrant visa application. Take your time — any inconsistency between your DS-160 and spoken answers at the interview creates serious problems.

Apply at ceac.state.gov — the official US government portal
Select F-1 as purpose of travel
Fill education history, employment history, travel history, and family in the US carefully
You must declare any previous US visa rejections honestly — hiding them is fraud under Section 212(a)(6)(C)
Save your confirmation page — the barcode is required at your interview

Complete Document Checklist

🛂

Valid Passport

Must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended stay in the US.

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DS-160 Confirmation Page (printed)

Required at entry — bring a printed copy with barcode visible.

💳

SEVIS Fee Receipt (I-901)

Print the confirmation page from fmjfee.com.

🎓

Form I-20 (signed)

Signed by both you and your Designated School Official (DSO).

🏦

Financial Documents

Affidavit of Support + sponsor's 6–12 months bank statements + ITR for 2 years + CA-certified net worth statement for self-employed sponsors.

📊

Academic Transcripts

Class 10, 12, all degrees — originals plus copies. GRE/GMAT/SAT and TOEFL/IELTS scores as applicable.

🏆

Scholarship Letters (if applicable)

Partial or full scholarships significantly strengthen the financial picture.

F-1 Visa Interview Preparation

The F-1 interview at US consulates typically lasts 3–5 minutes. Officers look for genuine academic intent and evidence you will return to India after graduating.

Question	Strong Answer Approach
Why this university?	Specific programme strengths, faculty, rankings — research your university thoroughly
Why the USA and not India/UK?	Specific reasons related to your field — research culture, specific labs, career outcomes
What will you do after graduating?	Return to India and work in [specific field/sector] — officers want to hear you plan to come back
Who is funding your studies?	Clear, specific: 'My father who runs [business] — he has [approx amount] in savings and FDs'
How did you choose this school?	Research ranking, programme specialisation, internship placement rate — be specific

⚖️

F-1 rejections are most commonly under Section 214(b) — the officer was not convinced of your genuine student intent or that you will return to India after studies. EZVZA handles F-1 rejection revival with attorney-supervised document rebuild and mock interview preparation. Our licensed US attorney reviews your refusal, identifies the exact legal grounds, and prepares you for the follow-up interview.

⚠️ Avoid These

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1

SEVIS fee not paid before applying

Paying the SEVIS I-901 fee after booking your interview appointment is a common mistake. Pay at fmjfee.com as soon as you receive your I-20 — before you complete your DS-160 or book your interview slot.

Mistake 2

Weak financial documentation

For a 2-year Master's, officers expect to see evidence of $50,000–$80,000 in available funds. Showing funds in a consistent 12-month history is far more convincing than a large recent deposit. Include FD receipts, property documents, and business statements.

Mistake 3

Vague or rehearsed interview answers

Officers interview dozens of applicants daily. They recognise memorised script answers instantly. Know the content of your university — programme, faculty, rankings. Speak naturally and specifically about why this particular school and programme.

Mistake 4

DS-160 inconsistency with spoken answers

Every spoken answer must match your DS-160 exactly. If your DS-160 says you have no relatives in the US but you mention your cousin in New York, that is an inconsistency that will trigger rejection.

❓ FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the SEVIS fee for F-1 student visa?

The SEVIS I-901 fee is $350 (~Rs 29,000) and must be paid at fmjfee.com before your DS-160 or visa interview. Separate from the $185 visa application fee. From October 2025, an additional $250 visa integrity fee applies.

Can I get an F-1 visa after being rejected?

Yes. There is no mandatory waiting period. However, reapplying without changing your documentation or interview approach rarely succeeds. EZVZA's licensed US attorney reviews rejection letters and rebuilds cases — our F-1 revival rate is over 90%.

How much money do I need to show for F-1 visa?

For a 2-year Master's at a US state university, typically $50,000-$80,000 total ($25,000-$40,000/year). For a 4-year undergraduate, $120,000-$200,000 total. Officers look for consistent savings over 12 months, not a recent large deposit.

Do I need a GRE score for F-1 visa?

GRE/GMAT is a university admissions requirement, not a visa requirement. However, having a strong test score improves your admission prospects and demonstrates academic credibility at the visa interview.

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US F-1 Student Visa 2025 —Complete Step-by-Step Guide for Indian Students