US departure checklist — visa day to landing

1. 1

   Receive your I-20 from the university's international office

   Check your name, SEVIS ID, program dates and funding figures match your admission and funding letters exactly. Sign and date it in blue or black ink where required.

2. 2

   Pay the I-901 SEVIS fee — US$350 (≈ ৳42,700)

   Pay online at fmjfee.com using your SEVIS ID from the I-20, at least 3 business days before your visa interview. Print the payment receipt — you must bring it to the interview and it may be checked at the US port of entry too.

3. 3

   Complete the DS-160 online visa application

   This is the single most detail-heavy form in the process. Enter your full travel history, employment, family details and — critically — every social media platform handle or username you have used in the last five years, exactly as it appears on your real profile.

4. 4

   Pay the MRV visa application fee — US$185 (≈ ৳22,600)

   This is separate from the SEVIS fee and is paid before scheduling your interview. In addition, a Visa Integrity Fee applies at the time your visa is actually issued — this fee amount and any refund conditions can change, so confirm the current figure and rules directly at travel.state.gov before your interview.

5. 5

   Schedule your interview at bd.usembassy.gov

   The US Embassy Dhaka's consular section is at Baridhara. Interview waiver programs that previously let some returning students skip the in-person interview no longer apply to F-1 student applicants — nearly all students must now appear in person, so book early.

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  Bank statements matching your I-20 funding figure

  Covering at least the first year of tuition and living costs shown on your I-20, in your name or your sponsor's.

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  Sponsor affidavit and sponsor's own bank/income proof

  If a parent, relative or scholarship sponsors you, bring their notarized affidavit of support plus their salary certificate, tax documents or business records.

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  Education loan sanction letter, if applicable

  From a scheduled bank, showing the sanctioned amount and disbursement schedule.

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  Assistantship or scholarship award letter

  If your funding is partly or fully from the university, bring the official award letter listing the amount and duration.

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  Property or fixed deposit documents backing the sponsor

  Not mandatory everywhere, but strengthens a marginal financial case.

Arrive early with your passport, DS-160 confirmation page, SEVIS fee receipt, I-20 (signed), MRV fee receipt, a recent photograph meeting US visa specifications, admission/funding letters, academic transcripts and certificates, and your financial documents. Keep electronics, large bags and multiple documents printed rather than only on your phone — connectivity inside the compound is limited. Answer questions about your specific program, why that university, your post-graduation plan, and your ties to Bangladesh clearly and honestly; consular officers decide most cases in a short interview.

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  Passport with F-1 visa

  The single most important document in your bag.

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  Signed, original I-20

  CBP officers at the port of entry review this on arrival.

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  SEVIS fee receipt and visa (MRV) fee receipt

  Keep printed copies even though CBP mainly relies on your I-20 and visa.

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  Admission and funding/assistantship letters

  Original or certified copies, not just photos on your phone.

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  Academic transcripts and certificates

  Sealed university envelopes where provided.

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  University international office contact details and campus address

  Written on paper as a backup.

At your first US port of entry, a Customs and Border Protection officer will review your passport, visa and I-20, ask the purpose of your trip, your school and program, and how you're funding your studies. Answer simply and consistently with your visa application. Under the new fixed-admission-period rule effective 15 September 2026, the officer stamps or annotates your entry with the specific admitted-until date tied to your program length plus the grace period — check this date carefully before leaving the counter, and keep a photo of it.

1. 1

   Mandatory international student check-in

   Universities require F-1 students to check in with the international office within days of arrival to validate SEVIS status — missing this can jeopardize your record.

2. 2

   Apply for a Social Security Number if you have a job offer

   See our part-time jobs guide — an on-campus job offer is normally required first.

3. 3

   Open a US bank account

   Bring your passport, I-20 and proof of local address.

4. 4

   Get a local SIM and set up campus email/ID

   Needed for almost every subsequent errand.