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Heading to the US to study?

A step-by-step roadmap from planning to settling in, then find your college for tips on roommates, banking, food and community.

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1

Plan and shortlist

12-18 months before you go

Decide what you want to study, where, and what it will really cost - before you spend money on applications.

Pick your level (bachelor's, master's, PhD) and field, then shortlist 6-10 schools: a few safe, a few target, a couple of reach.

Colleges known for strong aid to international students

Book the tests your programs ask for: TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo for English, and SAT/ACT, GRE or GMAT where required. Many schools have made some of these optional - check each program.

Work out the real cost of one year: tuition + housing + food + health insurance + travel. Each school publishes an estimated cost of attendance.

Talk to EducationUSA - free, official advising for students, with an advising center in Nepal. You never need to pay an agent to apply.

Nobody can guarantee admission or a visa. Anyone selling that is a red flag.

Look into funding early: scholarships, and assistantships (TA/RA).

2

Apply and get admitted

8-12 months before

Applications, essays and offers. Deadlines are the thing that ends dreams here - put every one in a calendar.

Gather transcripts, test scores and recommendation letters (ask your recommenders at least a month ahead).

Write a personal statement / statement of purpose that is specific to each program, not one copy sent everywhere.

Apply through each school's official portal (many undergraduate programs use the Common App). Deadlines for fall intake are often between November and February - but check every school.

Compare offers on funding, cost of living, location and the community around the school - not just the ranking.

Accept your offer and pay any deposit only through the school's official portal.

3

Proof of funds and your I-20

4-6 months before

The I-20 is the document everything else hangs on: your visa, the border, your bank account.

Send proof of funds (bank statements, sponsor letters, scholarship letters) to the school's international student office.

When your Form I-20 arrives, check that your name, date of birth, program, start date and funding match your passport and documents exactly. Ask them to fix any mistake straight away.

Sign it, scan it, and keep the original safe - you will need it many times.

4

Get your F-1 visa

3-5 months before

Fees and rules change, so use the official US government pages for the latest - the steps below are the order things happen.

Pay the SEVIS I-901 fee and keep the receipt.

Official SEVIS page ↗

Fill in the DS-160 online visa application, pay the visa application fee, and book your interview at the US Embassy in Kathmandu.

travel.state.gov student visa page ↗

Prepare for the interview: why this school and program, how you will pay, and what you plan to do afterwards. Bring originals of everything, answer honestly and briefly.

Know the two timing rules: a student visa can be issued up to 365 days before your program starts, but you cannot enter the US more than 30 days before the start date on your I-20.

5

Before you fly

1-2 months before

Get the first night and the first week sorted before you leave, and pack the paperwork in your carry-on.

Book your flight to arrive after your visa is issued and within the 30-day window - ideally a few days before orientation.

Plan your first night and first week: a friend, a temporary stay, or a short-term rental. Never send a housing deposit for a place you have not verified.

Need a ride from the airport? Ask the community - it's free.

See rides offered

Sort health: vaccination records, the school's immunization forms, and health insurance (most schools require it or enrol you automatically).

Carry-on documents: passport, visa, I-20, SEVIS receipt, admission letter, financial documents, immunization records. Never put these in checked luggage.

If you carry more than USD 10,000 in cash or monetary instruments, you must declare it to US Customs.

Carrying a lot of cash is also risky - most students carry a small amount and use a bank card.

Unlock your phone or plan a US SIM/eSIM, and tell your Nepali bank you will be abroad.

6

Arrival and your first week

The first 7 days

Land, report in, and get the basics done. Your school's international office is your best friend this week.

At the airport, an officer checks your passport, visa and I-20. Keep them in your hand, not in your bag. Your arrival record (I-94) is electronic.

Look up your I-94 ↗

Report to your school's international student office (the DSO) as soon as you arrive. Schools have a deadline for this, and it activates your record.

Get a local SIM/plan, reach your housing, and go to orientation - it is where you meet people who become friends.

Take photos of your passport, visa, I-20 and I-94 and keep them in cloud storage in case anything is lost.

7

Get settled

Days 7-90

Bank, housing, phone, ID - and the status rules that keep you in good standing.

Open a US bank account (see the banking tips on your college page). You usually do not need a Social Security Number to open one.

Sort out longer-term housing and roommates early - see your college page for what to check.

Social Security Number: you do not need one just to study. You need it only if you get a job - talk to your DSO and the employer first.

Get a local ID. Driver's licence and state ID rules differ by state, so check your state's motor vehicle office.

Know your status rules: stay enrolled full-time, on-campus work is limited to 20 hours a week while classes are in session, off-campus work needs authorization (CPT/OPT) through your DSO, and get your I-20 travel signature before leaving the US.

Taxes: F-1 students who earned nothing usually still file a form (Form 8843). Ask your international office how.

8

Build your life here

Semester 1 and beyond

The difference between surviving and enjoying it is community. Find yours in the first month.

Join your school's Nepali Student Association if it has one (search your school's clubs page) - and go to the first event even if you feel shy.

Come to community events, festivals and meetups near you.

Feeling homesick or overwhelmed is normal. Campus counseling is usually free or low-cost - use it.

Make a monthly budget in the first week and stick to it. Learn how credit works before you apply for a card.

Start career prep in your first year: visit the career center, learn how CPT and OPT work, and go for internships early.

Popular colleges

George Mason University

University of Maryland, College Park

College Park, MD

Columbia University

New York University

Rutgers University-New Brunswick

New Brunswick, NJ

Boston University

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Northeastern University

University of North Texas

University of Texas at Arlington

University of Texas at Dallas

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA

Colleges known for strong aid to international students

Be realistic: almost every school below is extremely selective, and only a small number of international students win a full scholarship each year. Most aid is need-based, so it depends on your family's finances. Policies change - always confirm on the school's own website.

Need-blind + full aid They admit you without looking at your ability to pay, then meet 100% of your demonstrated need. Not a free ride for everyone - your family's finances decide what you pay.

Amherst College

Bowdoin College

Brown University

Dartmouth College

Harvard University

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Princeton University

University of Notre Dame

Washington and Lee University

Yale University

Meets full need They have quotas on how many international students get full scholarship.

Denison University

Grinnell College

Macalester College

Swarthmore College

Wesleyan University

Williams College

Williamstown, MA

Tuition-free No tuition for any admitted student, international students included.

Full-ride merit scholarship A named scholarship that can cover the full cost - but only a handful of students win it each year.

Clark University

Davidson College

Indiana University Bloomington

Bloomington, IN

University of Wisconsin-Madison

This is a community guide, not legal or immigration advice. Rules and fees change. Always confirm with your school's international student office (the DSO) and official US government websites before you act.

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