The student visa (F-1) lets you live in the United States while you study full time at a school approved by the U.S. government. It is one of the most common legal paths for Brazilians, but there is a rule a lot of people forget: it is a temporary visa, made for people who come to study and then go back. It is not a guaranteed way to stay.

F-1, M-1, or tourist visa

The Department of State separates the categories like this:

  • F-1: universities and colleges, high schools, seminaries, conservatories, and other academic institutions, plus language courses.
  • M-1: vocational or other technical courses that are not language courses.
  • B-1/B-2 (tourist): not for studying for credit toward a degree or certificate. Usually only short recreational courses with no credit are allowed. If you enter as a tourist and start studying, you are out of status.

Step by step to get the F-1

  1. Choose a school approved by SEVP, the government program that authorizes schools to enroll foreign students. If you are accepted, the school registers you in the SEVIS system and you pay the SEVIS fee (I-901).
  2. Receive the I-20 form. The school issues it. You will need it at the interview and when you enter the U.S.
  3. Fill out the DS-160, the online visa application, and attach a photo that meets the requirements.
  4. Pay the visa fee, which was $185 on the Department of State website, when it applies. Amounts change, so confirm on the official site.
  5. Schedule and attend the interview at the U.S. embassy or consulate in the country where you live. Fingerprints are usually taken.

About timing: a new student can receive the visa up to 365 days before the start of the course, but can only enter the U.S. up to 30 days before.

How much it costs

These are the amounts charged by the U.S. government, in dollars, and they do not include school tuition. They change from time to time, so confirm on the official sites:

  • Visa fee (DS-160): $185, when it applies, according to the Department of State.
  • SEVIS fee (I-901): $350 for the F-1, according to ICE, paid online at fmjfee.com.
  • OPT (form I-765): the general I-765 fee in the official USCIS fee table is $520, and applications filed online get a discount. Confirm the current amount on the USCIS website.
  • Expedited OPT (premium processing), optional: $1,780 since March 1, 2026, according to the Federal Register. It is a paid service, filed on form I-907, in which USCIS commits to giving a response within 30 business days instead of using the regular queue. It does not increase your chance of approval.

There are also costs that don't go to the government, like tuition, housing, health insurance, plane tickets, and document translation. The consulate will want to see that you can afford all of it.

What the consulate wants to see

The officer may ask for proof that you intend to return to your home country after your studies and that you can pay for tuition, housing, and travel. This is an important difference from other visas: with the F-1, you need to show ties to Brazil, such as family, a job, property, or career plans. If you say in the interview that you want to stay in the U.S. forever, your visa may be denied. The Department of State does not set a list of documents or a minimum amount, so you should check with the school and the consulate.

Can I work with the F-1?

There are very specific rules:

  • On campus: allowed, generally up to 20 hours a week while classes are in session, and full time during breaks. The work has to be on campus or at a location connected to the school, and you can start up to 30 days before the course begins.
  • Off campus: only in special cases, such as severe financial hardship due to unforeseen circumstances, and it depends on a recommendation from the school and authorization from USCIS.
  • Course-related internship (CPT) and OPT: CPT is an internship or job that is part of the curriculum, authorized by the school, and OPT (Optional Practical Training) is work authorization in your field of study. In general you need to complete a full academic year before OPT. It is 12 months per level of study, and people with degrees in approved STEM fields can apply for a 24-month extension. During OPT there is a limit of 90 days of unemployment.

Working without authorization is the most common way to lose student status, so always ask the school to confirm first.

Family: the F-2

Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can apply for the F-2 visa, each with their own I-20. They don't pay the SEVIS fee, and the children can attend school in the U.S. The F-2 does not allow work.

What changes in 2026

Until now, students were admitted for "duration of status": you could stay as long as your course lasted, with no end date on the I-94. On July 17, 2026, the government published a final rule that ends this. According to the text published in the Federal Register, starting September 15, 2026, F and J students will be admitted for a fixed period, equal to the program length shown on the I-20, with a maximum of 4 years. Anyone who needs more time must ask USCIS for an extension of stay before the deadline runs out, and people who were already in the U.S. in valid status before the rule have transition rules. The period to leave the country after the end of the course or OPT went from 60 to 30 days.

Because this is a high-impact rule, it goes through congressional review, and the government may publish a notice changing the date. Before you plan, confirm the current situation with your school and on the official website.

Studying to live here: what to expect

The F-1 is a good way in if you want to study, learn English, and build a career, and OPT gives you a real chance to work in your field. But your status ends with your course and OPT, and the path after that is a different visa, like a work visa, or a green card. If you choose a course just to stay in the U.S., with no real interest in studying, you risk losing money and your status.

Some practical tips: check that the school is SEVP-approved before paying anything, keep all your papers (I-20, receipts, and emails), and talk to the school's international student official (the DSO) before changing courses, schools, or jobs.

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