# US Student Visa Requirements for Indians: 2026 Checklist > The documents the U.S. Embassy in India asks F, M and J applicants to bring, the $185 fee, the public social media rule, and where biometrics and interviews happen. _Published: 2026-10-30 · Reading time: 5 min · Words: 1112_ ## TL;DR Indian students apply for an F, M or J visa by completing the DS-160, paying the non-refundable $185 fee, giving biometrics at a Visa Application Center and attending an interview. The core documents are the DS-160 barcode page, a passport valid six months beyond your stay, a photo, the fee receipt and whatever your appointment letter lists. ## Key takeaways - F (academic), M (vocational) and J (exchange) visas all sit in the $185 fee group, and the fee is non-refundable. - Your DS-160 barcode must match the barcode used to book the appointment. - F, M and J applicants must set all social media accounts to public. - Biometrics at a Visa Application Center come at least 2 business days before the interview. - Interviews are held at the Embassy in New Delhi or consulates in Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata. **Indian students need an F (academic) or M (vocational) visa, or J for exchange programmes. Complete Form DS-160, pay the non-refundable $185 fee, give biometrics at a Visa Application Center and attend an interview. Carry the DS-160 barcode page, a passport valid six months beyond your stay, your fee receipt and every document named in your appointment letter.** ## Article This checklist is built from the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India pages and the Embassy's appointment portal. Fees and processing times are as published on the official sources, checked on 10 October 2026. For tourist, business and other categories, see our US visa guide for Indian applicants. ### F, M or J: confirm your category first The Embassy groups student and exchange visas together in its $185 fee group, but they are separate categories. Your school or programme determines which one you apply for. CategoryWho it is forApplication feeFStudents on academic courses$185MStudents on vocational courses$185JExchange visitors$185Pick the category on the DS-160 that matches your admission documents. The confirmation page you carry to the interview must carry the same barcode you used to book, so settle the category before you book. ### The interview-day checklist, item by item The Embassy's general list for nonimmigrant applicants is short. What matters is that each item is exactly right: DocumentWhat the Embassy specifiesCheck before you leave homeDS-160 confirmation pageBarcode page of the online Form DS-160The barcode matches the one used to book the appointmentPassportValid at least 6 months beyond your period of stay in the US, unless exempt by country-specific agreementExpiry date against your course end datePhotoUploaded with the DS-160; one printed photo if the upload failedTaken within the last six months; not the photo from an old visaFee receiptVisa fee (MRV) payment receiptReceipt still within its 365-day validityAppointment letter documentsEvery document stated in your appointment letterTick each one off against the letter itselfNotice the last row. The Embassy's common list ends with "documents stated in the appointment letter", and that letter is where your student-specific paperwork is spelled out. Read it the day you book, not the night before. ### What you pay, and the fee that is not on this page The application (MRV) fee for F, M and J visas is $185. It is non-refundable and payable in local currency in India by NEFT, UPI, debit or credit card, or cash at the designated bank branches listed on the portal. The receipt is valid for 365 days. Students should also expect a SEVIS fee. The Embassy lists it among "other fees" alongside reciprocity (issuance) fees. The SEVIS I-901 fee is paid to the Department of Homeland Security (ICE), not through the appointment portal, before the interview: $350 for F and M students and $220 for most J exchange visitors. Bring the payment receipt. Do not rely on figures quoted by friends from earlier intakes. ### The social media rule for students F, M and J applicants are among the categories asked to adjust the privacy settings on all their social media accounts to "public". That includes accounts you rarely use. - List every platform you have used, including old accounts. - Change each account's privacy setting to public before your interview, and check again a day or two before you go in. This is a stated instruction for student categories, not optional advice, so treat it as part of the checklist. ### Where biometrics and interviews happen in India The order is fixed. You complete the DS-160, pay the MRV fee, and then schedule your appointments online through the Embassy's appointment system (ustraveldocs.com/in and usvisascheduling.com). Because you pay before you schedule, and book with your DS-160 barcode, an error in either one shows up early, which is better than finding it at the counter. You then attend two appointments: biometrics at a Visa Application Center (VAC) at least 2 business days before the interview, then the interview itself at the Embassy or a consulate. Since the two appointments fall on different days, pick locations you can reach twice without disrupting classes or work. CityVisa Application CenterInterview locationNew DelhiShivaji Stadium Metro StationU.S. Embassy, Shanti Path, Chanakya PuriMumbaiBandra Kurla ComplexConsulate General, C-49, G-Block, BKCChennaiNungambakkamConsulate General, Anna SalaiHyderabadHitec City Metro StationConsulate General, NanakramgudaKolkataMirza Ghalib StreetConsulate General, Ho Chi Minh SaraniVFS Global does not handle US visas in India; bookings go through the Embassy's own appointment system. Visa processing is typically seven to ten working days according to the appointment service, and F and M visas for new students can be issued up to 365 days before the course start date. Appointment waits vary by post, so check the appointment portal for current availability and allow for it in your admission timeline. ### Student-file mistakes to avoid - Barcode mismatch. If you have filled in more than one DS-160, bring the confirmation page whose barcode matches the one used to book the appointment. - Recycled photo. Renewal applicants generally must not reuse the photo from the old visa. - Short passport validity. Renew through Passport Seva before you apply if your passport will not last six months beyond your stay. - Tight scheduling. Book biometrics at least 2 business days before the interview, not on the same day. - Private profiles. Forgetting one account is enough to leave you non-compliant with the social media instruction. Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, itineraries and cover letters for visa files, priced from INR 1,000 for a flight reservation to INR 3,000 for all four. If a parent is later applying for a visitor visa to see you, WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or reach us through the contact page. ### Frequently asked questions #### Do I need travel or health insurance for a US student visa application from India? The U.S. Embassy pages reviewed do not publish insurance as a visa requirement. Your school may have its own rules, so check with them and read your appointment letter for any document it lists. #### How long does a US student visa take from India? The Embassy's appointment service says visa processing is typically seven to ten working days, though specific cases can take longer. F and M visas for new students can be issued up to 365 days before the course start date, and appointment waits vary by post, so check current availability on the appointment system and plan around it. #### Can a student skip the US visa interview? The Embassy notes that some previous B1/B2 visa holders may qualify for an interview waiver. It does not describe a waiver for student categories on the pages reviewed, so plan to attend an in-person interview. #### Is the US visa fee refunded if my student visa is refused? No. The $185 MRV fee is non-refundable. The receipt is valid for 365 days, so check its date if you need to reapply. ## FAQ ### Do I need travel or health insurance for a US student visa application from India? The U.S. Embassy pages reviewed do not publish insurance as a visa requirement. Your school may have its own rules, so check with them and read your appointment letter for any document it lists. ### How long does a US student visa take from India? The Embassy's appointment service says visa processing is typically seven to ten working days, though specific cases can take longer. F and M visas for new students can be issued up to 365 days before the course start date, and appointment waits vary by post, so check current availability on the appointment system and plan around it. ### Can a student skip the US visa interview? The Embassy notes that some previous B1/B2 visa holders may qualify for an interview waiver. It does not describe a waiver for student categories on the pages reviewed, so plan to attend an in-person interview. ### Is the US visa fee refunded if my student visa is refused? No. The $185 MRV fee is non-refundable. The receipt is valid for 365 days, so check its date if you need to reapply. ## Sources 1. [U.S. Embassy India - Nonimmigrant Visas](https://in.usembassy.gov/nonimmigrant-visas/) — U.S. Embassy & Consulates in India 2. [U.S. Embassy India - Apply for a Nonimmigrant Visa](https://in.usembassy.gov/apply-for-a-nonimmigrant-visa/) — U.S. Embassy & Consulates in India 3. [Embassy appointment portal - Pay your visa fees](https://www.ustraveldocs.com/in/en/step-3) — U.S. Embassy & Consulates in India 4. [Embassy appointment portal - Attend your interview (VAC locations)](https://www.ustraveldocs.com/in/en/step-5) — U.S. Embassy & Consulates in India