US F-1 Student Visa Interview from Nepal in 2026: Fees, SEVIS, OPT and STEM OPT

The F-1 visa steps in order

An F-1 visa is for full-time study at a US school approved by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). The steps follow a fixed order, and missing one can delay your interview.

• Get accepted by an SEVP-approved school. The school issues your Form I-20.
• Pay the I-901 SEVIS fee and print the payment confirmation.
• Complete the online visa application form (DS-160) and pay the visa application fee.
• Book your visa interview at the US Embassy in Kathmandu.
• Attend the interview with your documents.

If you are still choosing a country and a university, start with our guide to studying in the USA from Nepal. The rest of this post covers what happens after you have an I-20.

Fees you need to know in 2026

There are two separate payments, and they go to different places.

• Visa application fee: US$185 for F-1 student visas, as listed by the US State Department. This is separate from the SEVIS fee.
• I-901 SEVIS fee: US$350 for F and M visa applicants (full payment), as listed by ICE. You pay it on fmjfee.com. ICE says you can pay by credit card in US dollars, or by check, money order or Western Union.

Keep the SEVIS confirmation. ICE says to print it from fmjfee.com after entering your SEVIS ID, last name and date of birth, and you must show proof of payment at your visa interview. ICE also says that if you apply for your visa within 12 months of paying the SEVIS fee, you do not pay it again.

Fee rules can change. We could not confirm from official pages whether any extra visa fee applies to student visas now, so check travel.state.gov before you pay. Do not rely on an agent or a social media post for the amount.

Booking the interview from Nepal

Nepali applicants interview at the US Embassy in Kathmandu. The embassy publishes its current instructions for booking and paying the visa fee on np.usembassy.gov, and the State Department explains the general process on travel.state.gov. Follow those pages, not an old guide, because the booking and payment steps have changed over the years.

Peak periods are busy, so check for appointment dates as soon as your I-20 and SEVIS payment are done. Do not book an interview before you have your I-20, because you need it on the day.

We could not verify an exact appointment waiting time from an official page, so we do not give one here. Your counselor can help you plan around your intake date.

Documents to prepare

The State Department says you must present your Form I-20 at the visa interview, along with proof of your SEVIS fee payment. Bring these:

• A valid passport
• Your Form I-20 signed by you and the school
• SEVIS I-901 payment confirmation
• DS-160 confirmation page
• Visa fee payment receipt and your appointment confirmation
• Academic records and test scores for your chosen program
• Proof of how you will pay for your studies

Exactly which extra papers the embassy wants can change, and we could not confirm the current student checklist from the embassy page. Check the np.usembassy.gov instructions before your appointment. Bring clear, true documents. Never submit documents that are not yours or are altered.

What the officer checks

The interview is usually short. The officer wants to understand who you are and whether your plan makes sense. Typical areas are:

• Why this school and course. Be able to explain it in your own words, not from a memorised script.
• How you will pay. Know your sponsor, their work and the sources of funds.
• Your plans after study. F-1 is a student visa, and the officer looks at whether you plan to study and then follow the rules of your status.
• Your academic background. Your records should match what you say.

Online presence. The State Department said in June 2025 that all F, M and J visa applicants would be instructed to set their social media profiles to "public" so officials can review their online presence. Embassy notices also say you must list your social media handles on the DS-160, and that leaving them out can cause problems. Check the current instruction for Kathmandu on np.usembassy.gov and answer honestly.

No consultancy can promise approval. The decision is made by the consular officer on the day.

After you arrive: length of stay, OPT and STEM OPT

Length of stay. DHS published a final rule on July 17, 2026, replacing "duration of status" with a fixed admission period for F-1 students. Study in the States says new students are admitted for the program length on the I-20, up to four years, plus 30 days to arrive and 30 days to leave. The grace period after finishing is now 30 days instead of 60. Students already in the US under the old system can stay until their I-20 program end date, or the end of their OPT or STEM OPT, within the limits DHS sets. Our post on the F-1 duration of status change explains this in more detail, and the September 15 deadline post covers the date.

OPT. Post-completion Optional Practical Training lets you work in your field after graduation. USCIS guidance says you can apply no earlier than 90 days before your program end date and no later than 60 days after it. Your school's designated school official (DSO) must first recommend OPT in SEVIS. You cannot start work until you have your Employment Authorization Document. Unemployment is capped at an aggregate of 90 days during OPT. If you need more time for OPT, the new rule says you may need to apply for an extension of stay with USCIS, so speak to your DSO before filing.

STEM OPT. Students with a qualifying STEM degree can apply for a 24-month extension of OPT. The employer must be enrolled in E-Verify and in good standing, and you and your employer must complete the Form I-983 training plan. USCIS says to file up to 90 days before your current OPT expires, and within 60 days of your DSO's recommendation. For what OPT means for work visas, see our post on the H-1B wage-weighted lottery.

Check before you apply

• Confirm the visa fee and SEVIS fee on travel.state.gov and ice.gov on the day you pay.
• Check the np.usembassy.gov page for current booking, payment and document instructions.
• Make sure your name, date of birth and passport details match on the I-20, DS-160 and SEVIS payment.
• Set your social media privacy as the embassy instructs, and list your accounts honestly on the DS-160.
• Ask your school's DSO about OPT timing and the fixed admission period before you travel.
• Be careful of anyone who promises a visa. If you want to compare advisors, see our guide to the top education consultancy in Nepal.

Sources

• US Department of State: Student Visa
• US Department of State: Announcement of Expanded Screening and Vetting for Visa Applicants
• ICE: I-901 SEVIS Fee
• Study in the States: Paying the I-901 SEVIS Fee
• Study in the States: Final Rule on Fixed Time Period of Admission, Quick Facts
• Study in the States: Applying for Practical Training
• Study in the States: F-1 STEM OPT Extension
• USCIS: STEM OPT Extension

Checked in October 2026. Rules change, so confirm on the official site when you apply. For help with your own application, talk to our counseling team.