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F-1 Student Visa Basics for International Athletes

College athletes in the US almost always study on an F-1 student visa. The steps, per the U.S. Department of State:

1. Get admitted to a SEVP-approved school. It enters you in SEVIS and issues a Form I-20.
2. Pay the SEVIS I-901 fee: fmjfee.com (official DHS site).
3. Complete the online DS-160 visa application and pay the visa application fee ($185 as listed by the State Department in Oct 2026).
4. Schedule and attend an interview at a US Embassy or Consulate. Bring your passport, DS-160 confirmation, I-20 and proof of how you'll pay for school (your scholarship letter helps).
5. New students can get the visa up to 365 days before the program start date but can't enter the US more than 30 days before it.

Canadian and Bermudian citizens generally don't need a visa but do need the I-20. Rules on work and athlete name, image and likeness (NIL) income on F-1 are strict, so talk to your school's international student office first. More: Study in the States (DHS).