Document checklist
USAVisa Checklist
Prepare your documents with confidence
To study in the USA you need admission to a SEVP-certified school and a Form I-20. You then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and attend a visa interview at the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu. The officer checks that your study plan is genuine, your funding is clear and you intend to return.
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The first step is admission from a SEVP-certified U.S. university or college. Requirements vary by institution and program, but students from Nepal should commonly prepare:
Follow the school's own list
U.S. universities set their own admission, English-test and standardized-test requirements. Always follow the exact checklist issued by your chosen institution.
F-2 dependants (spouse or children)
An F-1 student may request F-2 status for a spouse and unmarried children under 21. Each dependant needs an individual Form I-20 and a separate visa application.
SEVIS fee for dependants
F-2 dependants do not pay the I-901 SEVIS fee. The school may require additional financial evidence before issuing dependant I-20s.
After admission to a SEVP-certified school, the institution enters you in SEVIS and issues Form I-20.
Fee reminder
As of September 2026: F-1 visa application fee US$185 plus I-901 SEVIS fee US$350. A US$250 Visa Integrity Fee set by U.S. law is charged when a visa is issued — confirm with the U.S. Embassy Kathmandu. Fees change, so verify before paying.
Timing
New F and M student visas may be issued up to 365 days before the program start date on your Form I-20. However, you cannot enter the United States more than 30 days before that date.
Processing points to remember
- Appointment wait times vary by season — apply early
- The decision may be made at interview or need administrative processing
Common mistakes to avoid
- Do not make non-refundable travel plans until the visa is issued and your passport returned.
- A visa does not guarantee entry — admission is decided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the port of entry.
Saving deposits
Funds should be liquid, accessible and sufficient for the stated study cost.
Parent or family sponsorship
Education loan
Scholarship or assistantship
If your visa is approved
Collect your passport from the pickup location you selected when scheduling the interview. You will be notified by email and SMS when it is ready.
Bring a government-issued photo ID such as your citizenship card or driver's licence, and your DS-160 confirmation page or appointment confirmation letter.
Pink slip — request for further documents
The visa officer may issue a pink slip asking for further documents, such as up to 2 years of bank statement history and social media links submitted through a QR code, within a 12-month window. Making your social media accounts public is recommended.
Put the requested information in an envelope with your name and phone number on it and submit it to Nepal Investment Mega Bank between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. on any working day. If you cannot provide it within one year, your application expires and you must reapply.
You must obtain a no-objection letter from Nepal's Ministry of Education to pay your tuition fees and leave the country. You need the following documents when applying for the NOC:
Required documents
For the online application
Special cases
- Foreign qualification — Equivalence may be required
- Foreign-affiliated college in Nepal — Extra academic verification
- Medical courses — Professional eligibility verification
- Previous NOC — Refund evidence when changing institution or country
- Name or DOB mismatch — Correction document may be required
Sanothimi visit
- Not required for every applicant
- Only when the NOC system asks for physical verification
- If called, carry the original documents named in the notice
Before submission
Make sure the name, date of birth, university, course, study level and academic details match across the NOC application and every supporting document.
Take the whole checklist with you
Download the full USA checklist as a PDF and tick documents off on paper, or share it with whoever is helping you collect them.
USA Student Visa Checklist
20 October 2026
USA
To study in the USA you need admission to a SEVP-certified school and a Form I-20. You then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and attend a visa interview at the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu. The officer checks that your study plan is genuine, your funding is clear and you intend to return.
Step 1 — Offer Letter Checklist
The first step is admission from a SEVP-certified U.S. university or college. Requirements vary by institution and program, but students from Nepal should commonly prepare:
- Valid passport
- SEE transcript and certificate
- NEB / +2 transcript and certificate
- Bachelor transcript and degree or provisional certificate — For graduate study.
- Master transcript and certificate (if applicable)
- English proficiency test result (IELTS / TOEFL / PTE / Duolingo, if accepted)
- SAT / ACT score (if required for undergraduate admission)
- GRE / GMAT score (if required for graduate admission)
- Updated CV or résumé
- Statement of purpose or personal essay
- Letters of recommendation, as required
- Work experience or internship documents (if applicable)
- Portfolio or writing sample (for programs that require one)
Follow the school's own list
U.S. universities set their own admission, English-test and standardized-test requirements. Always follow the exact checklist issued by your chosen institution.
F-2 dependants (spouse or children)
An F-1 student may request F-2 status for a spouse and unmarried children under 21. Each dependant needs an individual Form I-20 and a separate visa application.
- Passport
- Individual dependant Form I-20
- Marriage certificate (spouse) or birth certificate (child)
- Relationship evidence
- Copy of the F-1 student's Form I-20 and visa details, if available
- Financial evidence for the additional dependant costs
SEVIS fee for dependants
F-2 dependants do not pay the I-901 SEVIS fee. The school may require additional financial evidence before issuing dependant I-20s.
Step 2 — Form I-20 Checklist
After admission to a SEVP-certified school, the institution enters you in SEVIS and issues Form I-20.
- Admission or acceptance confirmed
- Passport copy
- Financial evidence covering the amount required by the school
- Verify and sign your Form I-20 — Check name, date of birth, program, start date, costs and SEVIS ID, and sign it before the interview.
Step 3 — SEVIS I-901, DS-160 and Visa Appointment
- 1. Pay the I-901 SEVIS fee — Currently US$350 for F and M students. Keep the payment confirmation for your visa records.
- 2. Complete Form DS-160 — Complete the online Nonimmigrant Visa Application accurately and print the barcode confirmation page. You need the SEVIS ID and school information from your I-20. List all social media identifiers; profiles must be public for review.
- 3. Pay the visa application fee — Currently US$185 for F-1 students. Separate from the SEVIS fee, and non-refundable.
- 4. Schedule the visa interview — Follow the U.S. visa appointment instructions for Nepal and book at the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu. Apply in your country of nationality or residence.
Fee reminder
As of September 2026: F-1 visa application fee US$185 plus I-901 SEVIS fee US$350. A US$250 Visa Integrity Fee set by U.S. law is charged when a visa is issued — confirm with the U.S. Embassy Kathmandu. Fees change, so verify before paying.
Timing
New F and M student visas may be issued up to 365 days before the program start date on your Form I-20. However, you cannot enter the United States more than 30 days before that date.
Processing points to remember
- Appointment wait times vary by season — apply early
- The decision may be made at interview or need administrative processing
Step 4 — Financial Checklist and the Interview
Saving deposits
Funds should be liquid, accessible and sufficient for the stated study cost.
- Recent bank statements and bank balance certificate
- Evidence of source of funds — Explain any large deposit.
Parent or family sponsorship
- Sponsorship letter or affidavit
- Relationship evidence
Education loan
- Education loan sanction letter
- Loan agreement, terms and conditions
- Disbursement or availability evidence, where applicable
Scholarship or assistantship
- Official scholarship award letter
- Graduate assistantship, tuition waiver or stipend letter, if applicable
If your visa is approved
Collect your passport from the pickup location you selected when scheduling the interview. You will be notified by email and SMS when it is ready. Bring a government-issued photo ID such as your citizenship card or driver's licence, and your DS-160 confirmation page or appointment confirmation letter.
Pink slip — request for further documents
The visa officer may issue a pink slip asking for further documents, such as up to 2 years of bank statement history and social media links submitted through a QR code, within a 12-month window. Making your social media accounts public is recommended. Put the requested information in an envelope with your name and phone number on it and submit it to Nepal Investment Mega Bank between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. on any working day. If you cannot provide it within one year, your application expires and you must reapply.
Step 5 — NOC After Your Visa
You must obtain a no-objection letter from Nepal's Ministry of Education to pay your tuition fees and leave the country. You need the following documents when applying for the NOC:
Required documents
- Nepali citizenship — front and back
- Valid passport
- U.S. university offer or admission letter
- Form I-20, if already issued
- Latest academic transcript
- Degree or provisional certificate, if applicable
- +2 documents, if requested
- Equivalence or verification documents, if applicable
- Scholarship or fee letter, if applicable
For the online application
- Correct university or institution name
- Exact course or program name
- Study level
- Campus, city and state
- Intake or program start date
- Correct tuition and fee information
- Clear scanned documents
- NOC application fee or payment receipt
Special cases
- Foreign qualification — Equivalence may be required
- Foreign-affiliated college in Nepal — Extra academic verification
- Medical courses — Professional eligibility verification
- Previous NOC — Refund evidence when changing institution or country
- Name or DOB mismatch — Correction document may be required
Sanothimi visit
- Not required for every applicant
- Only when the NOC system asks for physical verification
- If called, carry the original documents named in the notice
Before submission
Make sure the name, date of birth, university, course, study level and academic details match across the NOC application and every supporting document.
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