The F-1 Student Visa for US Medical Study
An offer of admission is not permission to enter the United States. Degree study normally requires F-1 status, which begins with a Form I-20 issued by an SEVP-certified school and ends only when you complete or leave the program.
Published 2026-02-10 · Updated 2026-09-12 · Last verified 2026-09-12 · Medically reviewed 2026-09-12
Answer in brief
After accepting an offer from an SEVP-certified school and providing the required financial evidence, the school issues a Form I-20. You then pay the SEVIS I-901 fee, complete the DS-160, pay the visa fee, attend a consular interview and, if approved, enter the United States in F-1 status. Residency training later usually uses a J-1 visa sponsored by ECFMG, or in some cases H-1B.
The process step by step
- Accept an offer from an SEVP-certified school and submit the financial documentation it requires.
- Receive the Form I-20 and check every detail, including the name spelling, programme dates and funding figures.
- Pay the SEVIS I-901 fee and keep the receipt.
- Complete the DS-160 online non-immigrant visa application and pay the visa application fee.
- Book and attend the consular interview at the US embassy or consulate.
- If approved, enter the United States within the permitted window before the programme start date.
Document checks take time
What the interview covers
- Passport valid for the required period
- Form I-20 signed by you and the school official
- SEVIS fee receipt and DS-160 confirmation page
- Evidence of funding consistent with the I-20
- Academic documents: transcripts, degree certificates and test results
- A clear account of your study plan and intentions after the programme
Decisions rest with the consular officer
Maintaining status while enrolled
F-1 status depends on maintaining a full course of study, keeping the I-20 current, reporting address changes, observing employment restrictions and requesting authorisation before any off-campus work. Speak to the designated school official before any change to enrolment, leave of absence or travel plan — not afterwards.
From student visa to residency visa
Residency is employment as well as training, so it needs a different status. Most international residents train on a J-1 visa sponsored by ECFMG; some programmes sponsor H-1B. The choice is made by the programme and the sponsor, and J-1 carries a home-residency requirement that can affect long-term plans. Consider this well before ranking programmes.
Frequently asked questions
When can I apply for the F-1 visa?
After receiving the Form I-20 from your SEVP-certified school and paying the SEVIS fee. Consular posts also apply limits on how early before the start date a visa may be issued and entry permitted.
How much money must I show?
The amount stated on the Form I-20, which reflects the school's cost of attendance and any dependants. The school sets the figure, not the consulate.
Can I work during medical school on F-1?
Employment is limited and requires authorisation in most cases. It is not a viable way to fund a medical degree.
Which visa do residents use?
Commonly J-1 sponsored by ECFMG, and in some cases H-1B where the programme supports it.
Official sources
Requirements, fees and outcome data change. Check each source for its own publication date.
- 1.Students and the F-1 visa — US Department of Homeland Security, Study in the States
- 2.SEVP-certified schools and the Form I-20 — US Department of Homeland Security, Study in the States
- 3.Student visa information — US Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs
- 4.ECFMG Certification — Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates
Authorship and review
Reviewed for factual accuracy against publicly available primary sources. Requirements change; verify directly with the relevant school, accreditor, examination authority or licensing body.
Written by
MBBSinAmerica Editorial Team
Research and editorial desk
The editorial desk compiles US medical education information from accreditor publications, medical school websites, examination authorities and federal data releases, and records a source and verification date for every figure published.
Areas of expertise: LCME accreditation records, AMCAS and MD admissions processes, USMLE and ECFMG requirements, NRMP Match reporting.
Reviewed by
Medical Review Board
MD / MBBS reviewers with US graduate medical education experience · United States
Review panel members check that descriptions of degrees, examinations, accreditation and residency processes reflect the current published requirements of the responsible bodies, and that no page implies a guaranteed admission, examination or Match outcome.
Review date: 2026-09-12
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