Study in the USA from India
The United States has the widest choice of universities and the highest-paying graduate job market, and Indians are its largest group of international students. There is no cap on student visas. What decides your case is a short interview at the consulate, where the officer must be convinced that you are a real student who can pay for the course and has reasons to return home. Refusal rates for Indian applicants rose sharply in 2025, and appointment availability has been unpredictable.
The numbers that matter
Visa type
F-1
Document from the university
Form I-20
Work during study
On campus, up to 20 hours a week in term
Work after study
Optional Practical Training: 12 months, plus 24 more for STEM degrees
Funds to show
First year’s tuition and living costs, as stated on the I-20
Cap on visas
None
The process
Apply to universities.
Most need transcripts, English and entrance test scores, a statement of purpose and recommendation letters. Deadlines for the autumn intake fall between December and March.
Receive your I-20
after accepting an offer and proving funds.
Pay the SEVIS fee
and complete the visa application form.
Book and attend the visa interview
at a US consulate in India.
Travel
no earlier than 30 days before your course starts.
The interview
It lasts two to three minutes. The officer asks why this university, why this course, who is paying, and what you plan to do afterwards. Clear, specific, consistent answers matter more than documents. Memorised scripts are obvious and count against you. Consulates now also review applicants’ public social media activity.
After you graduate
Optional Practical Training lets you work in your field for a year, or three years in total for science, technology, engineering and mathematics degrees. To stay beyond that you need an employer to sponsor an H-1B, which is capped and has become costlier for employers, or another work category. A green card for Indian nationals takes many years. Go to the US for the education and the early career. Do not count on settling there.
Costs
The US is the most expensive destination. Tuition at private universities and for out-of-state students at public ones is high, and living costs in major cities add substantially. Assistantships and scholarships are common for research master’s and PhD students, and far rarer for professional master’s degrees.
Questions people ask us most
Is the GRE required?
Many programmes have made it optional. Check each one.
Can I work off campus?
Not in your first year, and afterwards only with authorisation tied to your studies.
Can my spouse come?
Yes, on an F-2 visa, without the right to work.
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