🇺🇸 Study in the USA: The 2026 Journey, Step by Step
The full 2026 student journey to the USA: an I-20, the SEVIS fee, an F-1 interview and 20 hours of on-campus work a week. What visa officers check, what to pack to cut first-month costs, and how much part-time work really covers.
At a glance: the 2026 numbers
| What | USA |
|---|---|
| Document you need from the school | Form I-20 from a SEVP-certified school |
| Living costs to show | $18,000 (example; use the living cost printed on your I-20) |
| Work in term | 20 h/week on campus |
| Minimum wage | $15.00 an hour |
| Plugs and voltage | Type A/B plugs, 120 V |
| Cash to declare | more than $10,000 |
Step 1–9: the journey in order
Timings count back from your course start date. Start earlier if you need a scholarship or an education loan: both add months.
What the visa officer is looking for
✅ Strong reasons to return
Under section 214(b) of US law the officer assumes you intend to immigrate until you show otherwise: family, property, a job or career plan at home.
✅ A clear academic plan
Why this program, how it follows your studies, and what you will do with it.
✅ Funding that matches the I-20
At least the first year's cost of attendance, with a clear answer to "who is paying?"
✅ Consistency
Answers that match your DS-160, I-20 and public social media.
✅ Confident, honest English
Short, direct answers in your own words.
Before you leave: pack to cut your first-month costs
The first month abroad is the most expensive: deposits, bedding, a phone plan, transport cards and kitchen basics all land at once. Packing the right things from home, and leaving the wrong ones behind, saves real money and trouble at the border. The US runs on 120 V. Phone and laptop chargers are dual-voltage; Indian 230 V appliances are not.
| Item | Why |
|---|---|
| ✅ Bring: Prescription medicines in original containers | with the prescription; US prices are high |
| ✅ Bring: Spare glasses and contact lenses | eye care is costly |
| ✅ Bring: Pressure cooker and one heavy pan | cooking at home saves the most |
| ✅ Bring: Ground, sealed spices | declare all food |
| ✅ Bring: Type A/B plug adapters | for dual-voltage chargers |
| ✅ Bring: Basic winter wear | if your school is in the north or midwest |
| ✅ Bring: Document folder | I-20, admission letter, financial papers in your hand luggage |
| 🛒 Buy there: 120 V appliances | kettle, rice cooker, iron |
| 🛒 Buy there: A heavy winter coat | if you are going somewhere cold |
| 🛒 Buy there: Bedding | cheap at discount stores near campus |
| ⛔ Never pack: Meat products | many are banned outright |
| ⛔ Never pack: Fresh fruit and vegetables undeclared | fines and seizure |
| ⛔ Never pack: Undeclared cash of more than $10,000 | seizure |
💵 Report cash of more than $10,000 on FinCEN Form 105. Use a forex card or a low-fee multi-currency account for most of your money, and carry only enough cash for the first few days. Full the USA customs rules →
Paying your fees by working, within the rules
| Rule | USA in 2026 |
|---|---|
| During term | Up to 20 hours a week on campus |
| Breaks | Full-time on campus during official school breaks |
| Minimum wage | $15.00 an hour (example on-campus wage; the federal minimum is $7.25 and many states and universities pay more) |
| Legal maximum in term | $9,000 a year (20 h × 30 weeks) |
Worked example. A realistic plan is fewer hours than the legal maximum, because shifts are not always available and grades matter. Here is what 15 hours a week in term and 35 in breaks earns:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Term: 15 h/week × 30 weeks × $15.00 | $6,750 |
| Breaks: 35 h/week × 12 weeks × $15.00 | $6,300 |
| Gross earnings a year | $13,050 |
| Tuition (example: a public university for out-of-state students) | $35,000 |
| Living costs (example; use the living cost printed on your I-20) | $18,000 |
| Share of living costs covered | 73% |
| Share of tuition + living covered | 25% |
The pattern is the same everywhere: part-time work can cover much of your living costs, but rarely tuition. Plan to pay tuition from savings, a loan or a scholarship, and use wages for rent, food and the second year's buffer. Never go over your hour limit: breaching visa conditions can lead to cancellation and refusals later.
Other ways to bring the bill down
- Graduate assistantships (TA/RA): often a tuition waiver plus a stipend, the biggest lever in the US
- Merit scholarships, often decided with admission
- Full-time on-campus work in breaks
- CPT and OPT later in the program
Try your own numbers below. The legal-maximum button fills the most you are allowed to work.
Your first two weeks after landing
| Task | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| DSO check-in | activates your SEVIS record |
| Bank account | student accounts often need only your passport and I-20 |
| Social Security Number | only after an on-campus job offer |
| Health insurance | most schools enrol you automatically |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the steps to study in the USA?
1) Shortlist SEVP-certified schools. 2) Take the tests. 3) Apply. 4) Send financial documents and get your I-20. 5) Pay the SEVIS fee and file the DS-160. 6) Attend the visa interview. 7) Book flights for the right dates. 8) Check in with your DSO. 9) Work on campus only, up to 20 hours a week.
What do visa officers look for in a USA student visa application?
Strong reasons to return: Under section 214(b) of US law the officer assumes you intend to immigrate until you show otherwise: family, property, a job or career plan at home. A clear academic plan: Why this program, how it follows your studies, and what you will do with it. Funding that matches the I-20: At least the first year's cost of attendance, with a clear answer to "who is paying?"
Can I pay my tuition by working part-time in the USA?
Only partly. Working 15 hours a week in term and 35 in breaks at $15.00 an hour earns about $13,050 a year before tax, roughly 73% of the $18,000 living-cost figure. You must show the first year's funds before the visa is granted, so wages are for later years and living costs, not for getting the visa.
How many hours can international students work in the USA?
Up to 20 hours a week during term. Full-time on campus during official school breaks.
What should I pack to save money when moving to the USA?
Bring: prescription medicines in original containers; spare glasses and contact lenses; pressure cooker and one heavy pan; ground, sealed spices; type A/B plug adapters. Buy there: 120 V appliances; a heavy winter coat; bedding.
Can I work off campus in my first year in the USA?
Generally no. F-1 students can work on campus from the start, up to 20 hours a week in session. Off-campus work needs CPT or OPT, which normally require one full academic year of study.
Sources
Figures on this page were checked against these sources on 31 October 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official site before you apply.