F-1 Student Visa Lawyer in Houston, TX
The F-1 is the primary nonimmigrant visa for international students pursuing academic study at accredited U.S. colleges, universities, seminaries, conservatories, and language programs. At Prosperity Immigration Law, our legal team, led by seasoned immigration attorney, Luis F. Hess, works with F-1 students on OPT and CPT authorization, STEM OPT extensions, status violations, reinstatement, and the immigration transition after graduation.
What Is the F-1 Student Visa?
The F-1 is administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security through the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). It authorizes international students to attend full-time academic programs at SEVP-certified schools. It comes with strict obligations, full-time enrollment, employment restrictions, SEVIS reporting requirements, and travel rules, that affect students throughout their program and long after they graduate.
F-1 students are admitted for "duration of status" (D/S), they maintain valid status as long as they are actively enrolled in their program, within the dates on Form I-20.
The I-20, issued by the school's Designated School Official (DSO), is the foundational document of F-1 status.
Every material change to the student's program, a change of major, a school transfer, a reduced course load, or a leave of absence, requires DSO involvement and may require a SEVIS update. Students must report address changes to their DSO within 10 days.
Eligibility Requirements for the F-1 Visa
To qualify for F-1 classification:
Practical Training: CPT and OPT
F-1 students may work in the U.S. through two forms of authorized practical training:
Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
Employment or training that is an integral part of the academic curriculum, required for credit or fulfilling a program requirement. Must be directly related to the field of study and authorized by the DSO before work begins.
A critical limitation: 12 months or more of full-time CPT eliminates OPT eligibility at that degree level.
Optional Practical Training (OPT) for 12 months
Available before or after graduation for work directly related to the field of study. Post-completion OPT is the most common form, up to 12 months of full-time work after graduation. Applications (Form I-765) should be filed no earlier than 90 days before the program end date, and USCIS must receive the application before the program ends.
STEM OPT Extension for 24 additional months
F-1 students who earned a qualifying STEM degree (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics) and are employed by an E-Verify employer may apply for a 24-month extension, bringing total post-completion authorization to 36 months. The extension application must be filed before the standard 12-month OPT EAD expires. During the standard OPT period, students may accumulate no more than 90 days of unemployment; during the STEM extension, the combined limit is 150 days total.
How to Apply for an F-1 Visa: Step by Step
- Get accepted and receive Form I-20: Apply to an SEVP-certified school. Once accepted, the DSO issues the I-20 and enters the student's record in SEVIS.
- Pay the SEVIS I-901 fee: Most F-1 students pay $350 at fmjfee.com using the SEVIS ID printed on the I-20. Keep the payment receipt for the visa interview.
- Complete Form DS-160: The online nonimmigrant visa application through the State Department. Print the confirmation page with a barcode to bring to the interview.
- Pay the MRV visa application fee: Currently $185 for student visas. Keep the receipt.
- Schedule and attend a consular interview: At a U.S. embassy or consulate. F-1 students may not enter the U.S. more than 30 days before their program start date listed on the I-20.
- Bring required documents to the interview: Valid passport, I-20, DS-160 confirmation, SEVIS fee receipt, MRV fee receipt, proof of financial resources, and evidence of ties to the home country.
- Enter the U.S. and check in with your school: Report to the DSO within the first week of the program. Verify your I-94 at cbp.gov/i94 and confirm your SEVIS record is active.
What Our Clients Say
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Frequently Asked Questions About the F-1 Visa
Only through authorized CPT or OPT, or in rare cases of severe economic hardship. Unauthorized off-campus employment is a serious status violation that triggers SEVIS termination. On-campus employment of up to 20 hours per week while school is in session is generally permitted without separate authorization.
Yes. F-1 status is not generally incompatible with pursuing permanent residence. Some green card pathways, particularly EB-2 NIW or marriage-based adjustment of status, are pursued by F-1 students. Maintaining valid status throughout the transition is the critical requirement.
Schedule a Consultation With Our F-1 Student Visa Lawyer in Houston Today
Whether you are applying for your first F-1 visa, navigating OPT or STEM OPT authorization, addressing a status issue, or planning your immigration path after graduation, our team is ready to help.
We serve students in Houston, The Woodlands, Shenandoah, Katy, and across Montgomery and Harris Counties. Schedule a consultation to discuss your situation and next steps.
Our Offices
Houston
7322 Southwest Fwy, Tower One, 4th Floor, Suite 470
Houston, TX 77074
(281) 545-3607
Harris County
21815 Oak Park Trails Dr,
Katy, TX 77450
(281) 801-5726
The Woodlands
282 Ed English Dr,
Shenandoah, TX 77385
(281) 949-7126