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Pakistani applicants · United States of America

F-1 Student Visa (with OPT and STEM OPT) for Pakistani citizens

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Non-immigrant student visa for academic study at a SEVP-certified institution, with post-study OPT employment authorisation.

No sponsorship requiredDoes not lead to permanent residencyDuration of study (D/S); OPT up to 12 months; STEM OPT extension up to 24 additional months.

This page covers the F-1 Student Visa (with OPT and STEM OPT) specifically for Pakistani applicants — including document requirements, consular procedures, and common issues specific to Pakistan. The route's general criteria are summarised below, but the current corridor-specific filing, visa-issuance, and entry position above can still determine whether the route is usable.

Processing time
No fixed national clock publishedUse the current DOS — Student visa (F-1) service for the responsible mission, service centre, authority or live processing-time tool before applying.
Government fees
SEVIS I-901 USD 350; DS-160 USD 185.
Typical duration
Duration of study (D/S); OPT up to 12 months; STEM OPT extension up to 24 additional months.
Sponsorship required
No
Leads to permanent residency
No
Reviewed U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services ↗

Bilateral context

No nationality-specific treaty frameworks apply to this combination.

Consular processing: a United States of America consulate or visa application centre in your country of residence

Tourist entry vs. this route

Tourist-entry rules for Pakistani nationals change periodically and are separate from the F-1 Student Visa (with OPT and STEM OPT). Check the destination government's current entry guidance before travel.

Key figures for Pakistani applicants

Computed from our continuously re-verified, primary-sourced data. Indicative, not legal advice.

How long it takes

No fixed national clock published

DOS — Student visa (F-1) does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.

Use the current DOS — Student visa (F-1) service for the responsible mission, service centre, authority or live processing-time tool before applying.

Verified 10 September 2026 · DOS — Student visa (F-1)

Visa overview

The F-1 visa is issued to students admitted to an SEVP-certified US academic institution. After completion, F-1 students may apply for up to 12 months of Optional Practical Training (OPT); students with qualifying STEM degrees can extend by 24 months (STEM OPT), for a total of up to 36 months of post-graduation employment authorisation.

Additional sources

Eligibility

Typical criteria

Common blockers

Typical evidence

Application pathway

  1. Receive I-20 from SEVP-certified school

    Institution issues the I-20 after admission.

  2. Pay SEVIS I-901 fee and complete DS-160

    Schedule consular interview.

  3. Maintain status during study

    Meet full-course-of-study and reporting requirements.

  4. OPT / STEM OPT application

    Apply for post-completion OPT, and STEM OPT extension where eligible.

Plan the practical side of your stay

Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in United States. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.

Official application links

Where to actually go next

Government links only

These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.

  1. Official guidanceApplicant + sponsor
    Use Study in the States ↗

    Students and SEVP-certified schools use this DHS page to understand I-20, SEVIS, and status steps.

    U.S. Department of Homeland Security · verified

  2. ApplyApplicant
    Complete DS-160 ↗

    F-1 visa applicants outside the United States use DS-160 for the consular visa application.

    U.S. Department of State · verified

Not sure United States of America is right for you? Compare similar routes

Other countries offer study routes that Pakistani nationals also apply to. See how they compare.

Frequently asked questions

Are Pakistani citizens eligible for the F-1 Student Visa (with OPT and STEM OPT)?+

Eligibility for the F-1 Student Visa (with OPT and STEM OPT) is set by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Pakistani applicants must meet the general route criteria plus any nationality- or location-specific intake requirements described in the current corridor guidance above.

Where do Pakistani applicants typically file the F-1 Student Visa (with OPT and STEM OPT)?+

a United States of America consulate or visa application centre in your country of residence. Specific intake (online portal, biometrics centre, or in-country lodgement) is determined by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services — confirm the current intake channel on the primary source linked above before filing.

Do Pakistani applicants need a tourist visa for United States of America as well?+

Tourist-entry rules for Pakistani nationals change periodically and are separate from the F-1 Student Visa (with OPT and STEM OPT). Check the destination government's current entry guidance before travel.

How long does the F-1 Student Visa (with OPT and STEM OPT) take to process from Pakistan?+

DOS — Student visa (F-1) does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route. Use the current DOS — Student visa (F-1) service for the responsible mission, service centre, authority or live processing-time tool before applying. Pakistani applicants usually file via a United States of America consulate or visa application centre in your country of residence, and appointment or post-specific backlogs can add to the wait. Source: DOS — Student visa (F-1), verified 10 September 2026.

Does F-1 OPT require a specific employer?+

Standard post-completion OPT does not require a specific employer at filing, but work must be directly related to the student’s major area of study. STEM OPT requires employment with an E-Verify employer and a formal training plan (Form I-983).

How we verified this

We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.

Primary source: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Last checked: 8 July 2026

See the full evidence trail and methodology

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