Studying in the USA: Student Visa Options in 2026

Studying in the US is a four-part process:

1. Get accepted by a school certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), or by a J-1 program sponsor.
2. Receive your form. The school issues Form I-20 (F-1 and M-1), or the sponsor issues Form DS-2019 (J-1). The form shows your program and how much it costs.
3. Pay the SEVIS fee and apply for the visa at a US embassy or consulate, including an interview. You must show you can pay for your studies and that you plan to leave the US after your program.
4. Enter the US no more than 30 days before your program starts.

You cannot study for credit on a visitor visa or ESTA. Short recreational courses are allowed on a B-2 visa, but a full degree is not.

"Restricted" reflects the 2026 travel ban, which blocks these visas for nationals of 38 countries. For everyone else, student visas are available as usual.

The F-1 is for full-time academic students. Key rules:

• Study full time and keep your I-20 valid. Your school's Designated School Official (DSO) manages your record in SEVIS.
• Work is limited. You can work on campus up to 20 hours a week during classes. Off-campus work needs authorization, such as Curricular Practical Training (CPT) or OPT. Guidance issued in August 2026 narrowed when CPT is allowed, so ask your DSO before you accept a CPT job.
• Length of stay. F-1 students are admitted for "duration of status", meaning as long as they stay enrolled. A rule to replace this with fixed dates was set to start September 15, 2026, but a federal judge blocked it nationwide on September 14. Follow the F-1 fixed admission period page.
• Family. Your spouse and children can come on F-2 visas. F-2 spouses cannot work.

The J-1 is run through sponsors approved by the State Department, such as universities, research institutes, and exchange organizations. It covers degree students on exchange, research scholars, professors, interns, trainees, and teachers. Some J-1 participants must live in their home country for 2 years after the program before they can get an H-1B, L-1, or green card. This applies mainly to people funded by a government, people in fields on their country's skills list, and doctors in graduate medical training.

The M-1 is for vocational programs such as flight school or culinary training. You are admitted for a fixed period tied to your program, you cannot work during your studies, and afterward you may get up to 6 months of practical training.

Most F-1 graduates who want to stay use this sequence:

1. OPT: up to 12 months of work in your field after graduation.
2. STEM OPT: 24 more months if your degree is on the STEM list and your employer uses E-Verify.
3. H-1B: your employer registers you in the lottery. Since 2026 higher-wage jobs get more entries, which can make it harder for entry-level graduates. If selected, cap-gap rules can keep you working between OPT and the H-1B start date.
4. Green card: usually through employer sponsorship later.

A US master's degree gives you a second chance in the H-1B lottery through the 20,000-slot advanced degree cap. Plan early, because you get OPT only once per degree level.

• Travel ban. Since January 1, 2026, Proclamation 10998 blocks F, M, and J visas for nationals of 38 of its 39 listed countries.
• Duration of status survived for now. The fixed-period rule was blocked by a court the day before it took effect. If it is later allowed, students would need to apply to extend their stay, and OPT and STEM OPT would also need extensions.
• Visa costs. A $250 Visa Integrity Fee is being rolled out at visa issuance, and consulates review applicants' online presence more closely.
• In-state tuition. Several states ended in-state tuition for undocumented students. This does not change tuition rules for international students on F-1 visas, who pay out-of-state or international rates.

Check the USA Status Now page before you apply.

• Check certification. Only SEVP-certified schools can issue an I-20. The Department of Homeland Security's Study in the States site lists them.
• Budget honestly. The I-20 lists the school's estimate of a full year's costs. You must show funds for at least the first year, often through bank statements, scholarships, or a sponsor.
• Think about location. State rules affect driver's licenses and health coverage; see state pages such as California, New York, or Texas.
• Compare countries. Canada also caps international students in 2026; see studying in Canada and USA vs Canada.