United States student visa: the official document checklist

In short: the F-1 student visa for United States asks for 6 documents from every applicant, and 1 more when they apply to you. This list follows the official checklist the United States mission publishes for applicants in Pakistan, read on 16 October 2026. (official source, checked 16 October 2026)

Where applicants in Pakistan submit: Fill in the DS-160 online, pay the visa fee and the I-901 SEVIS fee, then book an interview at the U.S. Embassy Islamabad or the U.S. Consulate General Karachi. F-1 applicants must set all social media accounts to 'public' (embassy page).

Photo: Must meet all U.S. visa photo requirements (exact specification is on travel.state.gov, which blocked us).

Passport: DHS: 'Passport valid for travel to the United States.' travel.state.gov (search copy only): valid at least six months beyond the period of stay unless exempt by country agreement.

Documents every applicant needs (6)

Passport valid for travel to the United States
travel.state.gov (seen only through a search copy, the live page blocked us): valid for at least six months beyond your stay unless your country is exempt. (official source, checked 16 October 2026)
Original Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status
Original, with ink signature. You and your school's DSO must both sign it; a parent signs if you are under 18. A copy is accepted only in limited cases. (official source, checked 16 October 2026)
I-901 SEVIS fee payment receipt
Pay after you receive the I-20 (you need the School Code and SEVIS ID). The fee is mandatory and must be paid before you enter the United States; bring proof to the interview. (official source, checked 16 October 2026)
Form DS-160 (Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application) confirmation page
Printed confirmation page. (official source, checked 16 October 2026)
Photograph that meets all U.S. visa photo requirements
Exact size and background rules are on travel.state.gov (blocked us). (official source, checked 16 October 2026)
Visa interview appointment at the U.S. Embassy Islamabad or Consulate General Karachi
Schedule at the embassy or consulate in your country of residence or nationality. Application fees are non-refundable. (official source, checked 16 October 2026)

Documents that depend on your situation (1)

Visa application fee payment receipt When: If you are required to pay before your interview (official source, checked 16 October 2026)

Documents the checklist recommends (3)

Evidence of academic preparation: transcripts, diplomas, degrees, certificates, standardized test scores your school requires When: The consular officer may ask for them
Copies of what you sent to your school. (official source, checked 16 October 2026)
Evidence you can pay all educational, living and travel costs When: The consular officer may ask for it
Show money for school costs plus living expenses in the amount shown on your Form I-20; bring copies of the financial documents (such as bank statements) you gave the school. (official source, checked 16 October 2026)
Evidence of your intent to leave the U.S. after your studies When: The consular officer may ask for it (official source, checked 16 October 2026)

If you apply from another country

Each mission publishes its own list. What the official checklist for applicants in these countries adds or says differently:

Applying from Bangladesh

U.S. Embassy Dhaka. Appointments through ustraveldocs.com/bd. Apply in your country of residence or nationality. (official source, checked 16 October 2026)

Visa interview appointment (Required)
Schedule the interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your country of residence or nationality. Some applicants may qualify for the Interview Waiver Program (mail-in); you are told when you fill the application. (official source, checked 16 October 2026)

Getting your papers ready in Bangladesh

Applying from China

U.S. Embassy Beijing or the U.S. consulate that covers your area of residence in China (interview in person). No China-specific F-1 document list was retrieved today, so the general list applies.

Getting your papers ready in China

Applying from India

U.S. Embassy New Delhi and U.S. Consulates in India. Appointments are booked online only through the U.S. visa scheduling site for India (ustraveldocs.com/in); biometrics are given at a Visa Application Centre (VAC) before the interview. Apply in your country of residence or nationality. (official source, checked 16 October 2026)

DS-160 confirmation page (Required)
If you corrected your DS-160 and your appointment was booked on or after November 15, 2023, bring the ORIGINAL DS-160 confirmation page used to book the appointment AND the corrected DS-160 confirmation page to the VAC or document drop-off location; otherwise you must cancel and rebook with the corrected DS-160 number. (official source, checked 16 October 2026)
Visa appointment (VAC + interview) (Required)
Visa appointments can only be scheduled online on ustraveldocs.com; appointment requests by email are not accepted. Schedule at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your country of residence or nationality. (official source, checked 16 October 2026)

Applying from Malaysia

U.S. Embassy Kuala Lumpur (in-person interview). No Malaysia-specific F-1 document list was retrieved today, so the general list applies.

Getting your papers ready in Malaysia

Applying from Nepal

U.S. Embassy Kathmandu. Book the interview in your country of residence or nationality. No Nepal-specific student document list was found on the Embassy site, so the general U.S. student visa list applies. (official source, checked 16 October 2026)

Applying from Nigeria

U.S. Consulate General Lagos: routine visa services are only available there; U.S. Embassy Abuja no longer processes routine visa applications from August 1, 2026. Since July 8, 2025 most non-immigrant visas for Nigerian citizens are single-entry with a three-month validity. (official source, checked 16 October 2026)

Presidential Proclamation 10998 - partial suspension of visa issuance (If it applies to you) When: Nigerian nationals outside the U.S. without a valid visa on January 1, 2026 (dual nationals using a passport of a non-restricted country are excepted).
From January 1, 2026 issuance of F, M and J student and exchange visas (and B-1/B-2 and immigrant visas) is partially suspended for Nigerian nationals. You may still apply and schedule an interview but may be ineligible for visa issuance or admission. (official source, checked 16 October 2026)

Getting your papers ready in Nigeria

Applying from Saudi Arabia

U.S. Embassy Riyadh and Consulates in Jeddah and Dhahran normally process non-immigrant visas for citizens and residents of Saudi Arabia, but the Embassy states that routine visa processing is not available in Saudi Arabia at this time. Book in your country of residence or nationality. (official source, checked 16 October 2026)

Getting your papers ready in Saudi Arabia

Applying from Sri Lanka

U.S. Embassy Colombo. Book the interview in your country of residence or nationality. No Sri Lanka-specific student document list was found, so the general U.S. student visa list applies. (official source, checked 16 October 2026)

Applying from United Arab Emirates

U.S. Embassy Abu Dhabi and Consulate General Dubai. The Embassy states that routine visa processing is not available in the UAE at this time. Book in your country of residence or nationality. (official source, checked 16 October 2026)

Getting your papers ready in United Arab Emirates

Applying from United Kingdom

U.S. Embassy London (and consulates in the UK); in-person interview, booked through the Visa Appointment Service. (official source, checked 16 October 2026)

One 5 x 5 cm (2" by 2") colour photograph (If it applies to you) When: Only if the DS-160 photo upload failed
Taken within the last six months, not digitally retouched; not the same size as a UK passport photo (official source, checked 16 October 2026)
Passport (Required)
At least one blank page for the visa (CBP recommends one more); the six-month validity rule does not apply to United Kingdom passports (official source, checked 16 October 2026)
Evidence of your status in the United Kingdom (If it applies to you) When: You are not a UK or EU passport holder (official source, checked 16 October 2026)
ACRO Police Certificate (If it applies to you) When: You have ever been arrested, cautioned or convicted, even if spent (the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act does not apply to US visa law)
Issued within 6 months of the visa interview; bring the Supplemental Offence document if applicable; court records also needed for convictions (official source, checked 16 October 2026)
SEVIS fee receipt (Required)
Pay on the ICE website at least 3 days before the interview (official source, checked 16 October 2026)

Getting your papers ready in United Kingdom

How to prepare each document

Passport

Valid for the whole stay plus the margin the country asks (often 6 months beyond).
At least two blank visa pages.
Scan the photo page in colour, flat, all four corners visible.
If you renewed it, keep the old passport too.

Official verification: Only the issuing authority can confirm a passport; we never call it genuine.

Admission document

The document the visa asks for (CAS, I-20, CoE, LoA, admission letter).
Every detail must match your passport.

Official verification: The university can confirm it; ask its admissions office by e-mail.

SEVIS fee receipt (United States)

Pay the I-901 SEVIS fee before the interview and print the receipt.

Official verification: fmjfee.com receipt.

Visa application form

Fill it online exactly as your passport (FF Assistant can fill it); print and sign the confirmation where asked.

Visa fee receipt

Pay only on the official site; keep the receipt.

Official verification: The official payment record.

Photographs

Use the size and background the official checklist states (most ask a white or light background, face straight, no glasses).
Recent: usually taken in the last 6 months.
Same photo on the form and on paper.

Appointment confirmation

Book at the centre for where you live; print the confirmation.

Transcripts (mark sheets)

All semesters or years, with the grading scale.
Attested like the degree.

Official verification: The university's examinations office, or the body that attests it.

Bank statement

The period and balance the country asks, never dropping below the amount.
Printed after the holding period, recent on the day you apply.
Signed and stamped by the bank, or e-mailed by the bank where the mission asks.

Official verification: Only the bank can confirm a statement; we never call it genuine.

Additional documents

Anything else the checklist lists for your case; follow the checklist's own words.

These preparation points are practical guidance; the official checklist decides what is asked.

ForiForeign prepares and guides; you file your own application and the United States authorities decide. Checklists change: open the official source before you submit.

ForiForeign.com · admin@foriforeign.com · WhatsApp +92 310 5048760 · Information drawn from official sources shown on each rule; not legal advice.

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