Navigating the F-1 Student Visa Requirements for English Language Study in Los Angeles

For international students aspiring to study English in Los Angeles, understanding the F-1 student visa requirements is crucial. This article provides a detailed overview of the F-1 visa, its requirements, and the application process, focusing on the specific context of studying English at a language school in Los Angeles.

What is the F-1 Visa?

The F-1 Visa is a non-immigrant student visa that allows foreign citizens to pursue education in the United States. This includes language training programs and academic studies. Any non-US citizen who wants to study in the USA must apply for the F-1 Visa. F-1 students must maintain a full course of study. Temporary visitors who wish to participate in a short recreational course that is incidental to their purpose for visiting the United States may do so without an F-1 Visa.

Do I Need an F-1 Visa to Study English in the USA?

Whether you will need an F-1 Visa to study in the United States depends primarily on two factors: your immigration status and the type of program you wish to enroll in.

Permanent residents (green card holders) and those with most visa types that authorize employment, such E and H visas, may study either full-time or part-time in any type of program without restrictions.

However, those participating in the visa waiver program, also known as ESTA, may only study part-time and only during the period of time they are authorized to remain in the United States as temporary visitors, which is typically no more than six months.

If temporary visitors wish to engage in full-time study in an academic or language program, then they must apply for and receive an F-1 Visa.

If you are interested in a technical or vocational program that leads to a certificate or diploma, then you must apply for and receive an M-1 visa, which is valid for up to one year.

Under immigration law there are many classes of non-immigrants who may attend school in the United States either full or part time without the need for an F-1 Visa or any permission from the United States government.

Examples of such individuals are temporary workers, those with an H-1 Visa, Traders and Investors (those with an E visa), and those working for a foreign company’s branch in the United States (known as “intracompany transferees” with an L visa), as well as their dependents.

Also, temporary visitors to the United States such as tourists on B-2 visas or citizens from visa waiver countries may study in an avocational and recreational part-time program (such as the LANGUAGE ON English Unlimited Semi-Intensive Course) for relatively short periods of time as long as that their reason for entering the United States was not to become a student.

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All students, including students from visa waiver countries, must apply for an F-1 student visa for intensive English courses with more than 18 hours per week of classes.

Visa Requirements Based on Course Intensity and Nationality

Full-time English Course (over 18 hours per week): Students who enroll in an English course with more than 18 hours of classes per week will need an F-1 student visa. After paying for the course, the student will receive an I-20 that to submit to the US embassy along with the visa application. The I-20 has a SEVIS tracking number on it. embassy for a visa interview.
Part-time English Course (less than 18 hours per week):
- Students from countries that need a visa: For part-time English courses (less than 18 hours of lessons per week) that’s no more than 6 months, these students need to apply for a B1/B2 tourist/business visa.
- Students from visa waiver countries: These students may enroll in a part-time English course (less than 18 hours of classes per week) on an ESTA for a course lasting no longer than 3 months.
Tourists: Primarily for tourism, but want to take a short English course of less than 18 hours per week, may be able to do so on a B1/B2 visitor visa or an ESTA.

F-1 Visa Eligibility

UCLA defines an international student as someone who requires an F-1 visa to study in the United States.

Duration of Stay

F-1 Visas may be valid for entry to the United States for up to 10 years, but F-1 status (the ability to legally remain in the United States while enrolled in a full course of study) typically lasts for the duration of the student’s approved course.

F-1 visa students must return to their home country within 60 days of the completion of their program.

The F-1 Visa is usually valid according to the length of time in your I-20 form. If necessary you can apply for an extension to the F-1 Visa. The conditions are that you will finish your course in the USA, and return to your home country when the course has finished.

Read also: Unlock Your Potential with English

Requirements for the F-1 Visa

F-1 Visa Students must:

Attend an SEVP approved language training program or academic institution
Maintain full-time status
Demonstrate financial ability to pay for their cost of living and studying in the United States. You, or your sponsor, must provide your school with a bank statement or a certified bank letter proving that you (or your sponsor) possess sufficient available funds to cover the total cost of attendance of your program. For example, students admitted to Fall Quarter 2026 will need a minimum of about $80,739 (with an additional $5,000 recommended for additional personal expenses, contingencies and summer expenses). This minimum amount usually grows each year.
Maintain foreign residence and demonstrate intent to return upon course completion.

Required Documents for F-1 Visa Application

To apply for an F-1 student visa, you'll generally need the following documents:

Passport valid for travel to the United States - Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the United States (unless exempt by country-specific agreements).
Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160 - Learn more about completing the DS-160.
Photo - You will upload your photo while completing the online Form DS-160. Make sure to read about the photograph requirements before you begin the application.
Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status-For Academic and Language Students, Form I-20 or Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (M-1) Student Status for Vocational Students, Form I-20 - Your school will send you a Form I-20 once they have entered your information in the SEVIS database. You and your school official must sign the Form I-20.
SEVIS I-901 Payment Confirmation
Documentation of ties to your home country (if applicable)
Original identification documents and two recent passport-style photos
Your Letter of Acceptance and if applicable other educational supporting documents
Financial supporting documents
Health records (if applicable)
Proof of valid overseas health insurance

The Application Process

The process can seem quite complicated, so just take it step by step. The good news is that the application process for each of these visas is exactly the same and very simple.

Decide where and what you want to study: Before you apply for the F-1 Visa, you must apply to and be accepted by an SEVP-approved school, such as LANGUAGE ON Schools. The first step to studying in the United States is apply to a SEVP-approved school in the United States. If the SEVP-approved school accepts your enrollment, you will be registered for the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and must pay the SEVIS I-901 fee.
Receive the I-20 Form: After you’ve submitted your ELS online application form and provided all of the necessary supplemental info and payments required, ELS will provide you with the Form I-20. You will use this form to apply for your visa. You will also need to show this form when entering the USA.
Pay the SEVIS Fee: All F-1 students must pay a one-time SEVIS fee prior to applying for the visa, and at least 3 days prior to attending the visa interview. If you have dependents joining you, they do not need to pay the SEVIS fee. The SEVIS fee is $350. This fee is separate from and in addition to the visa application fee. currency. If you pay the SEVIS fee by Internet, your payment is processed immediately and, at the time you make payment, you can print a receipt directly from your computer. The fee is processed when it is received by DHS. A paper receipt is recommended, but not required, in order for you to be issued a visa. Electronic payments must be submitted at least three business days before the interview if you will rely on electronic fee verification at the consulate.
Apply for the Visa: You will then need to schedule an appointment with the US Embassy or Consulate in your country to apply for an F-1 Student Visa. You will be required to attend an in-person interview. You should sign and date the Student Attestation section of the I-20 and take it to your nearest United States Embassy or Consulate. You will also need to submit other documents (a valid passport, evidence of financial support) along with your I-20 when you apply for your student visa.
Attend the Visa Interview: A consular officer will interview you to determine whether you are qualified to receive a student visa. Ink-free, digital fingerprint scans are taken as part of the application process. After your visa interview, the consular officer may determine that your application requires further administrative processing. The interview is to assess that you are coming to the US to study as a legitimate student. You will need to prove that you have enough funds to cover you living expenses in the USA and confirm that you will return home after completing your studies.
Visa Approval and Entry: After the visa is approved, you may need to pay a visa issuance fee (if applicable to your nationality), and make arrangements for the return of the passport and visa to you. A visa does not guarantee entry into the United States. port-of-entry (generally an airport) and request permission to enter the United States.

Important Considerations During the Application Process

PLAN AHEAD! Make sure to check the Visa Appointment & Processing Wait Time for the Embassy or Consulate that you plan to visit.
Wait times for interview appointments vary by location, season, and visa category, so you should apply for your visa early.
New Students - Student (F and M) visas for new students can be issued up to 365 days before the start date of a course of study.
Continuing Students - Student (F and M) visas for continuing students may be issued at any time, as long as the student is currently enrolled at a SEVP-approved school or institution and in SEVIS.
Students on F or M visas are not permitted to enter the United States earlier than 30 days before the start date of their program. If you wish to enter earlier than 30 days before your start date, you must separately apply and qualify for a visitor (B) visa.
You can enter the country up to 30 days before the start date on your I-20 form.
Please note that you must report to CLA by 9:00am on your scheduled start date for registration and orientation.
IMPORTANT: Please keep your passport, Form I-20, and airline ticket together. Your Form I-20 must be presented with your passport and other travel documents upon arrival to the United States.

The F-1 Visa Interview

You will be required to attend an in-person interview.

Preparing for the Interview

These are some of the topics that you need to prepare to answer in your F-1 Visa Interview:

Study Plans
School Choice
Academic Studies (past and future)
Financial Status
Post-Course Plans

You should take complete and concise supporting documentation to the appointment. Some of the supporting documents include:

Certified Form I-20
SEVIS I-901 Payment Confirmation
Documentation of ties to your home country (if applicable)
Original identification documents and two recent passport-style photos
Your Letter of Acceptance and if applicable other educational supporting documents
Financial supporting documents
Health records (if applicable)

F-1 Visa Interview

The Certificate of Eligibility (Form I-20) must be presented when applying for a student (F-1) visa.

Processing Time

It depends on the country (and sometimes the city) where you will be applying for your visa. embassy or consulate where you will be applying to see their current wait times.

Additional Considerations

Health Insurance: UCLA also requires that all international students on non-immigrant visas have adequate medical insurance during all periods of enrollment. All persons present in the United States may seek medical treatment while in the United States, but they may be required to pay for that treatment if they do not have appropriate health insurance. As a result, even a relatively minor medical problem can become very expensive for international students.This is why it is important for all students to have some sort of health insurance while studying in the United States.
Financial Resources: Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement require that persons entering this country on a student visa demonstrate that they have sufficient funds available to them to support their living and education expenses. International students must prove that they have sufficient funds available to them to pay for their educational and living expenses.
Transferring Schools: If you already have an F-1 Visa and an I-20 that is still in status, transferring to CLA is fast and easy. Once you arrive at CLA, we will provide a Transfer Form that will need to be completed by your current school prior to the completion of your current program. Your current school will then “transfer” your I-20 to CLA and we will create a new I-20 for you.
Changing Status: Provided that you are lawfully present in the United States with a tourist visa (B-1/B-2) and have at least 30 days remaining in your stay (based on the date stamped in your passport), you may apply to change your status from B-1/B-2 to F-1. However, it often takes many months for USCIS to adjudicate change of status applications, so if starting your studies soon is a priority for you, you may want to consider returning to your home country to apply for initial attendance from abroad. This typically takes only a few weeks. Note that tourists in the United States on a visa waiver through the ESTA system are not eligible to apply for F-1 status while in the United States.
Dependents: Your spouse and unmarried, minor children who intend to reside with you during your study may apply for F-2 or M-2 visas. To bring dependents to the US, the F-1 student must show evidence of financial resources to support his/her spouse and/or children. As a rule, you must show a bank account with $250 per week for each dependent that you wish to bring to the US. The school will issue an I-20 form for your spouse and or children to use to apply for an F-2 visa and enter the US.

Restrictions and Important Reminders

Returning Home: F-1 visa students must return to their home country within 60 days of the completion of their program.
Validity of Visa: Unless canceled or revoked, a visa is valid until its expiration date. If you have a valid visa in your expired passport, do not remove it from your expired passport. A visa in an expired passport is still valid. If you have a valid visa in your expired passport, do not remove it from your expired passport.
Maintaining Status: Failure to depart the United States on time will result in being out of status. Failure to depart the United States on time may also result in you being ineligible for visas in the future in certain cases.
Reapplying for a Visa: You may reapply if you believe you have additional evidence of your qualifications for a student (F or M) visa, or you believe your circumstances have changed.
No Guarantee: There is no guarantee you will be issued a visa.

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