What Is the FI Visa (F1 Student Visa)?
The term FI visa is often a typing or pronunciation variation of the F1 visa, which is the official U.S. student visa for academic study.
The F1 visa allows you to:
- Study full-time at a SEVP-approved U.S. university, college, or language school
- Stay in the U.S. for the duration of your academic program
- Access Optional Practical Training (OPT) after graduation in many cases
Who Is Eligible for the FI (F1) Visa?
To qualify, you must meet these basic conditions:
- Be accepted by a SEVP-approved school in the United States
- Receive a Form I-20 from that institution
- Show that you can afford tuition and living expenses
- Have academic qualifications for your chosen course
- Demonstrate English language ability (or enroll in an English program)
- Show strong ties to your home country and intent to return after study
Documents Required for the FI (F1) Visa
Here is the core document checklist most embassies expect in 2025:
- Valid passport
- DS-160 confirmation page
- Form I-20 (signed by both you and the school)
- SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
- Visa (MRV) fee payment confirmation
- Recent passport-size photo (as per U.S. requirements)
- University admission / acceptance letter
- Academic transcripts, marksheets, degrees or diplomas
- Standardized test scores (GRE, GMAT, SAT, etc., if required)
- English proficiency scores (IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, etc.)
- Bank statements of 3–6 months
- Affidavit of support from sponsor (if applicable)
- Sponsor’s income proof (salary slips, tax returns, business docs)
- Education loan sanction letter (if using a loan)
Your financial documents must match the cost of attendance shown on your I-20. If your I-20 shows $40,000 per year, your bank statements and sponsors must realistically support that number.
Cost of the FI (F1) Visa
The official visa-related costs are:
- SEVIS I-901 fee: $350 USD
- Visa application (MRV) fee: $185 USD
In addition, you may pay:
- University deposit / seat confirmation
- Document notarization and courier charges
- Travel costs to the consulate for your interview
How to Apply for the FI (F1) Visa
1. Get Your I-20 from the University
After admission and initial deposit (if required), your university issues your I-20 with your SEVIS ID and program details.
2. Pay the SEVIS I-901 Fee
Pay online and print the SEVIS receipt. This is mandatory for every F1 applicant.
3. Complete the DS-160
Fill the DS-160 non-immigrant visa form, upload your photo, and print the confirmation page.
4. Book Visa Appointments
Schedule your biometrics appointment and your embassy/consulate interview.
5. Attend the Visa Interview
Bring all documents, answer questions clearly, and be honest about your academic plans and finances.
Common FI (F1) Visa Interview Questions
- Why did you choose this university and this program?
- How will you pay for your tuition and living costs?
- What are your plans after graduation?
- Why study in the USA instead of your home country?
- Who is sponsoring you, and what do they do?
The officer is checking whether you are a genuine student, not just someone using the visa as a backdoor to stay in the U.S. permanently.
Reasons FI (F1) Visas Are Often Refused
- Insufficient or unclear financial proof
- Weak academic justification for the chosen program
- Suspected immigrant intent (no clear ties to home country)
- Inaccurate or inconsistent answers in the interview
- Unorganized or incomplete documentation
How to Improve Your Chances for the FI (F1) Visa
Whether you call it the FI visa or F1 visa, the core success formula is the same: strong financials, clear academic goals, and honest, confident communication.
You don’t need perfect English or a memorized script. You need:
- A believable story about why this course and university make sense
- Financial documents that align with your I-20 costs
- Logical future plans connected to your home country or region
When your documents, plans, and interview answers all support each other, your chances of F1 approval become very high—regardless of whether you first typed it as “FI visa” or “F1 visa.”