In-person interviews are now mandatory for nearly every F1 applicant, and consular officers review your online presence as part of the process. Hike Visa prepares your file, your documents, and your interview for the way the US actually processes student visas in 2026.
What changed for this cycle
Figures per U.S. Department of State travel.state.gov notices. Confirmed current as of this page's last review.
Effective September 2, 2025, the U.S. Department of State discontinued the interview waiver ("Dropbox") programme for F1 applicants. Nearly every applicant — first-time students, renewals, even children and seniors — must now attend an in-person interview at the Embassy or a Consulate. This has stretched appointment wait times at Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh's own regional consulates, and elsewhere, so we now recommend booking 4–6 months ahead of your intake, not 2–3.
Since mid-2025, the State Department also conducts an online presence review for all F, M, and J visa applicants. You must list social media handles used over the past five years on your DS-160 and are instructed to set profiles to public. This is a disclosure and consistency check, not an automatic disqualifier — officers are checking that your online presence matches your application, not searching for reasons to refuse.
A December 2025 proclamation expanded U.S. entry and visa restrictions to 39 countries effective January 1, 2026. India is not on that list. Separately, the widely-reported $100,000 H-1B petition fee applies only to new H-1B visas, not to F1 student visas — a common source of confusion we clear up with every client.
Note: U.S. visa policy has moved quickly since 2025. We confirm the live rules for your consulate and nationality before we file your case.
The Dropbox waiver is gone. Every applicant, including renewals, needs an embassy appointment.
List your handles on the DS-160 and set profiles to public. Don't mass-delete content right before applying.
The 2026 entry suspensions cover 39 other countries. Indian F1 applicants are not affected by that list.
That fee is specific to new H-1B petitions filed by employers, not to F1 student visa applications.
With Dropbox gone, appointment slots are tighter. We recommend starting your file 4–6 months before intake.
A consular officer is checking one thing above all: that you're a genuine student who intends to return home after your program. Every requirement below feeds that assessment.
A signed I-20 from a school certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, naming your program and costs.
The $350 I-901 SEVIS fee must be paid and confirmed before you can be issued a visa.
Evidence you can cover the full cost of attendance shown on your I-20 — tuition, living costs, and dependents if any.
You must credibly demonstrate intent to return to India after your studies — the single most common refusal reason.
Handles listed on your DS-160 should be public and consistent with the rest of your application.
Transcripts, test scores, and a program choice that logically follows your academic background.
Consistency across every document is what officers check first. This is the baseline set we prepare for every applicant.
Form I-20, signed by you and your school, with your SEVIS ID.
DS-160 confirmation page and photo uploaded to the online form.
SEVIS (I-901) fee receipt — printed proof of payment from FMJfee.com.
Valid passport, valid at least six months beyond your intended stay.
Academic records — transcripts, test scores, and admission letters.
Bank statements covering the cost of attendance stated on your I-20.
Education loan sanction letter, if funding your studies through a loan.
Sponsor affidavit and sponsor's income/asset proof, if a parent or relative is funding you.
Scholarship or assistantship letter, if part of your funding is institutional.
Property or fixed-deposit documents, where relevant to show financial stability and ties to India.
From admit letter to visa stamp, here's how a Hike Visa file moves.
Your SEVP-certified school issues Form I-20 once you accept your offer and confirm funding.
Pay the $350 I-901 fee at FMJfee.com using your SEVIS ID, and keep the receipt for your interview.
Complete the online DS-160, disclose social media handles, and pay the $185 visa application fee.
Schedule as early as possible — appointment demand has risen sharply since Dropbox ended. We run mock interviews before you go.
Once approved, your passport is stamped and returned. We brief you on port-of-entry documents and first-week steps.
Note: the $350 SEVIS fee is a one-time payment per SEVIS record — you don't pay it again for renewals within 12 months or for continuing the same program. There is no separate fee tied to F1 visas resembling the $100,000 H-1B petition fee.
Good to know: your proof-of-funds target is the "cost of attendance" figure your specific school lists on your I-20, not a fixed government number — it varies school to school.
We're not affiliated with any single institution — we guide applications to SEVP-certified schools across the US, from flagship state universities to focused STEM and business programs.
An F1 visa doesn't grant a green card, but it opens a well-defined path to US work experience through OPT.
Graduates of eligible programs can work in their field of study for up to 12 months on standard Optional Practical Training, authorised through your school's international office.
Graduates of STEM-designated programs working for an E-Verify employer can extend OPT by up to 24 months, for up to 36 months of work authorisation in total. Eligible degree categories are reviewed periodically — we confirm your program's current status before you enrol.
Students with a timely-filed H-1B petition and change-of-status request can remain in authorised status through the cap-gap period while the petition is pending.
H-1B remains the most common route from OPT to longer-term US work status. Employer sponsorship, lottery timing, and the current $100,000 petition fee (borne by the employer, not the visa holder) all factor into this stage — we advise on realistic timelines, not guarantees.
Yes. Effective September 2, 2025, the State Department eliminated the Dropbox (interview waiver) programme for F1 applicants. Nearly all applicants, including first-timers and renewals, must attend an in-person interview at an Embassy or Consulate. Book well ahead of your intake — wait times have grown since this change.
You must list the social media platforms and usernames you've used over the past five years on your DS-160 and are instructed to set your profiles to public. Officers may review publicly visible content to confirm your identity and check consistency with your application. It's a disclosure and consistency check for the large majority of applicants, not an automatic red flag.
No. That fee applies only to new H-1B petitions filed by employers on or after September 21, 2025. It has no connection to F1 student visa applications, SEVIS fees, or DS-160 costs.
No. The entry and visa-issuance restrictions that took effect January 1, 2026 apply to nationals of 39 other countries. Indian F1 applicants are not on that list, though the general vetting environment — interviews, social media review — applies to everyone.
The minimum government fees are $535 — a $350 SEVIS (I-901) fee plus a $185 DS-160 visa application fee. Depending on your nationality, an additional visa issuance (reciprocity) fee may apply. School-specific costs like deposits and courier charges are separate.
Standard OPT authorises up to 12 months of work in your field of study. Graduates of STEM-designated programs working for an E-Verify employer can extend this by up to 24 additional months, for up to 36 months total. Eligibility rules for STEM OPT are reviewed periodically, so we confirm current status for your specific program.
Refusal under Section 214(b) — failure to convincingly demonstrate intent to return to India after your studies — remains the single most common reason. Weak financial documentation, inconsistent answers, and a program choice that doesn't logically follow your academic background are the next most frequent causes.
Tell us your target school, intake, and current documents. We'll tell you plainly where you stand under the 2026 rules — interview readiness, financial gap, and timeline — before you spend a rupee.
No charge. No obligation. Just honest advice.
