Chapter 01
F-1 to OPT to H-1B pipeline
Complete degree → 12-month OPT authorization → 24-month STEM-OPT extension (if degree is on STEM designated list) → H-1B lottery participation for up to 3 cap seasons while on OPT/STEM-OPT.
Updated for 2026 policy
🇺🇸 F-1 Student Visa
US student visa with OPT and STEM-OPT pathways
F-1 is the US student visa for full-time academic study at SEVP-certified schools. Post-graduation, F-1 students access 12 months of Optional Practical Training (OPT), with a 24-month STEM-OPT extension for eligible STEM fields.
4.9 ★ on Google & JustDial · 12,000+ families since 2016
Timeline
4-10 weeks per F-1 application.
Investment
Professional fees ₹40,000-70,000 per stu…
Success rate
94% approvals
Families filed
12,000+ since 2016
Eligibility scorecard
Do you qualify for F-1 Student?
Every box below counts. Meet 70% or more and you're a strong candidate — book a free assessment and we'll map the exact CRS / points / score.
- Admission to a SEVP-certified US school with I-20 issued
- Sufficient financial resources for tuition and living costs
- Non-immigrant intent (proof of home-country ties)
- TOEFL / IELTS / Duolingo per university requirement
- SEVIS fee paid
Total timeline
4-10 weeks per F-1 application.
Investment
Professional fees ₹40,000-70,000 per student.
Mark Consultant advantage
Written scope · Fixed fee · Licensed advisors · 94% approval rate
The process
How we file your F-1 Student
A transparent, milestone-based process. You always know what stage your file is at.
- 01
Step 1 of 5
University shortlisting
Course, STEM eligibility, OPT/H-1B planning.
- 02
Step 2 of 5
Admission & I-20
Application, admission, financial evidence, I-20 issuance.
- 03
Step 3 of 5
SEVIS + DS-160
SEVIS I-901 fee, DS-160 online application, MRV fee.
- 04
Step 4 of 5
Consular interview
Pune consular slot booking (via Mumbai), interview coaching.
- 05
Step 5 of 5
Visa grant & travel
F-1 visa stamped, travel, orientation.
Document checklist
Everything you'll need to file
Every document is pre-verified for accuracy, chronology and destination-country standards before submission.
20 documents · fully managed
- Valid passport with at least 6 months validity beyond intended stay
- Recent passport-sized photographs meeting country-specific dimensions
- Educational certificates and consolidated mark-sheets (SSC, HSC, degree, PG)
- Educational Credential Assessment (ECA / WES / IQAS) where required
- Detailed CV with month-precise employment history
- Experience letters on company letterhead with roles, responsibilities and salary
- Latest three years of income tax returns and Form 16
- Bank statements for last six months (personal and business)
- English language proficiency proof (IELTS, PTE, CELPIP, TOEFL, Duolingo as accepted)
- Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) from all countries of 6+ months residence since age 18
- Upfront medical examination from panel physicians when required
- Marriage certificate and spouse's supporting documents if adding dependents
- Birth certificates of dependent children
- Proof of funds — fixed deposits, mutual funds, property valuation, sponsor affidavits
- I-20
- SEVIS fee receipt
- DS-160 confirmation
- TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo
- Financial evidence
- SoP
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Mark Consultant filed our F-1 Student end-to-end. Written scope, fixed fee, honest timeline — no follow-up chasing. We landed in United States exactly when they said we would.
M
Verified client family
United States · Filed through Pune office
More United States pathways
Explore related United States visa categories
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EB Green Card
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US permanent residency for skilled workers and outstanding talent
L-1
L-1 Intra-Company Transfer Visa
L-1A executive/manager and L-1B specialised-knowledge transfers
O-1
O-1 Extraordinary Ability Visa
Temporary US visa for extraordinary talent in sciences, arts, business, athletics
Documents Required
Documents Required for USA
Complete document checklist for US visas
FAQs
F-1 Student Visa — Common questions
Can I work on F-1?
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On-campus work up to 20 hours/week during term; CPT after 1 academic year for course-integrated internships; OPT after graduation.
Why is Mark Consultant considered the best visa and immigration consultant?
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Since 2016 we have filed 12,000+ approved visas from Pune with a 4.9-star client rating on Google and JustDial. We are known as the best visa and immigration consultants because we sign written scope-and-fee agreements, refuse to over-promise outcomes and assign a single accountable case manager to every file. Our team is trained on ICCRC-aligned processes and stays current with monthly IRCC, Home Affairs, UKVI, USCIS, INZ and BAMF policy changes.
Are you the best visa consultants in Pune and India?
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Client-rated yes — Mark Consultant is repeatedly ranked among the best visa consultants in Pune and the best visa consultants in India for permanent residency, skilled work and student visas. Our reputation is built on transparent pricing, refusal to file weak cases and post-landing settlement help.
Can you guarantee a visa approval?
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No ethical consultant can guarantee a visa — the final decision rests with the immigration authority. What we guarantee is an accurate eligibility assessment, honest advice on the strongest visa route for your profile, forensically prepared documents and a filing that maximises your approval odds.
What documents do you review for a free assessment?
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For a free 30-minute assessment we review your latest CV, passport bio page, highest education mark-sheets and any English test scores you already have. If you don't have IELTS/PTE yet, we still run an indicative eligibility calculation and share a step plan by email.
Book a free assessment
File your F-1 Student with Pune's best immigration consultants
Honest eligibility read within 24 hours. Written scope, written fees, and a single accountable case manager from day one to landing.
Why 12,000+ clients trust us
- ✓ 9+ years in Pune — since 2016
- ✓ 4.9★ average rating, verified reviews
- ✓ Written fee agreements, no surprises
- ✓ ICCRC-aligned filing processes
- ✓ Post-landing support in destination country
Free visa assessment
Get a free eligibility check for your visa
Share a few details — a licensed advisor will call you within 24 hours with an honest read on your profile.
- ✓ Response within 24 hours by a licensed advisor
- ✓ Written scope and fixed fee — no hidden charges
- ✓ 9+ years, 12,000+ successful cases across India