Serene sunset view over Lạng Sơn's majestic mountains reflecting in a tranquil lake.
A stunning view of the Brooklyn Bridge and New York City's skyline at sunset.
VN flag
VN
US
US flag

Photos: Sergey Guk, Federico Abis · Pexels

Can a Vietnamese traveller study in the United States?

Study visa requirements · See all destinations for Vietnamese travellers

Most Vietnamese travellers go through the embassy or consulate before they travel when heading to United States for study.

The route most travellers use is the F-1 Student Visa — United States. Stays of up to 1825 days, expect to pay around $535 in mandatory fees, processing usually takes 30–90 days.

The paperwork is heavy — approval depends heavily on the documents and circumstances you can show.

1 other route sit below if this one doesn't fit.

Straight from travel.state.gov.

Study visas have major life consequences.

Long-stay visa decisions affect your right to live, work, study, or remain with family. Always verify with a qualified immigration adviser or the destination's embassy before making travel, employment, or relocation decisions.

2 options available — review and choose the one that matches your trip.

Embassy visaStudy

F-1 Student Visa — United States

Max stay
1825days
Processing
30–90days
Fee
$535.00
Apply on official sitetravel.state.gov
Difficulty1/10·Realism7/10
Why? ▾

Difficulty

Heavy paperwork
1/10

Lots of documentation, eligibility thresholds, or a sponsor required. Start months ahead and consider professional advice.

Why this score?
  • —Embassy/consulate visa application
  • -2Long processing time (up to 90 days)
  • -0.5Proof of funds required
  • -0.5Proof of accommodation required
  • -0.5Biometrics appointment required
  • -0.5Moderate documentation list (6 items)

Approval realism

Approval depends on you
7/10

Approval depends heavily on the documents and circumstances you can show. Read the warning above — it points to what tends to move the needle.

What drives this score?
  • —Embassy visa applications generally succeed when documentation is complete and ties to home are clear
Step-by-step checklist

Your application checklist

  1. 1

    Check your passport validity

    165+ days before

    Most countries require 6+ months of validity beyond your travel dates and at least one blank page. If it's close, renew before applying.

  2. 2

    Gather supporting documents

    149+ days before

    You'll need: Acceptance to a SEVP-certified US institution (Form I-20); Proof of funds covering tuition + living costs for the entire program; Strong ties to home country (no immigrant intent); SEVIS I-901 fee paid (US$350); and others (see full list above).

  3. 3

    Prepare proof of funds

    149+ days before

    Bank statements covering 3–6 months are standard. Include both savings and recent income flow — adjudicators look for stability, not just balance.

  4. 4

    Book refundable flight + accommodation

    142+ days before

    Use a refundable booking (or a free hold/itinerary service) until your visa is approved — embassies want to see real plans, but you don't want to lose the money on a refusal.

  5. 5

    Book a biometrics appointment (US embassy / consulate)

    142+ days before

    Biometrics centres often have 1–3 week waitlists. Book the slot the moment your application is submitted, not after.

  6. 6

    Submit the application to the embassy or consulate

    135+ days before

    In person at the consulate with jurisdiction over your residence. Bring originals + photocopies of every document. Most consulates require a prior appointment.

  7. 7

    Track the application; print the approval

    7+ days before

    Decisions typically take 30–90 days. Print or save a clear PDF of the approved visa — airlines check this at check-in.

  8. 8

    On the day of travel

    day of travel

    Carry: passport (printed visa if applicable), onward ticket, proof of accommodation, proof of funds, travel insurance. Border officers retain discretion regardless of visa status.

Show full requirements, fees, and source
Passport valid 6+ monthsProof of fundsProof of accommodationBiometrics (US embassy / consulate)

What you need

  • Acceptance to a SEVP-certified US institution (Form I-20)
  • Proof of funds covering tuition + living costs for the entire program
  • Strong ties to home country (no immigrant intent)
  • SEVIS I-901 fee paid (US$350)
  • DS-160 online non-immigrant visa application
  • On-campus work (20 hrs/week) permitted; OPT extension after graduation (12 months, +24 STEM)

Fee breakdown

  • MRV non-immigrant visa fee$185.00
  • SEVIS I-901 fee$350.00
View primary source (travel.state.gov) →
Embassy visaStudy

J-1 Exchange Visitor — United States

Max stay
365days
Processing
14–60days
Fee
$405.00
Apply on official sitej1visa.state.gov
Difficulty1/10·Realism7/10
Why? ▾

Difficulty

Heavy paperwork
1/10

Lots of documentation, eligibility thresholds, or a sponsor required. Start months ahead and consider professional advice.

Why this score?
  • —Embassy/consulate visa application
  • -2Long processing time (up to 60 days)
  • -0.5Proof of funds required
  • -0.5Biometrics appointment required
  • -1Long documentation list (7 items)

Approval realism

Approval depends on you
7/10

Approval depends heavily on the documents and circumstances you can show. Read the warning above — it points to what tends to move the needle.

What drives this score?
  • —Embassy visa applications generally succeed when documentation is complete and ties to home are clear
Step-by-step checklist

Your application checklist

  1. 1

    Check your passport validity

    120+ days before

    Most countries require 6+ months of validity beyond your travel dates and at least one blank page. If it's close, renew before applying.

  2. 2

    Gather supporting documents

    104+ days before

    You'll need: Form DS-2019 issued by a US Department of State–designated sponsor; SEVIS I-901 fee paid (US$220 for most categories, $35 au-pair); Acceptance into one of 14 J-1 programme categories (research scholar, student intern, au pair, camp counsellor, summer work travel, etc.); Proof of funds to cover the programme; and others (see full list above).

  3. 3

    Prepare proof of funds

    104+ days before

    Bank statements covering 3–6 months are standard. Include both savings and recent income flow — adjudicators look for stability, not just balance.

  4. 4

    Book a biometrics appointment (US embassy / consulate)

    97+ days before

    Biometrics centres often have 1–3 week waitlists. Book the slot the moment your application is submitted, not after.

  5. 5

    Submit the application to the embassy or consulate

    90+ days before

    In person at the consulate with jurisdiction over your residence. Bring originals + photocopies of every document. Most consulates require a prior appointment.

  6. 6

    Track the application; print the approval

    7+ days before

    Decisions typically take 14–60 days. Print or save a clear PDF of the approved visa — airlines check this at check-in.

  7. 7

    On the day of travel

    day of travel

    Carry: passport (printed visa if applicable), onward ticket, proof of accommodation, proof of funds, travel insurance. Border officers retain discretion regardless of visa status.

Show full requirements, fees, and source
Passport valid 6+ monthsProof of fundsBiometrics (US embassy / consulate)

What you need

  • Form DS-2019 issued by a US Department of State–designated sponsor
  • SEVIS I-901 fee paid (US$220 for most categories, $35 au-pair)
  • Acceptance into one of 14 J-1 programme categories (research scholar, student intern, au pair, camp counsellor, summer work travel, etc.)
  • Proof of funds to cover the programme
  • Strong ties to home country (no immigrant intent)
  • Health insurance meeting J-1 minimums for the duration of the programme
  • 212(e) two-year home-residency requirement may apply

Fee breakdown

  • DS-160 application fee$185.00
  • SEVIS I-901 fee$220.00
View primary source (j1visa.state.gov) →

What you'll need

Study visa for United States

Specific to Vietnamese passport holders.

Start ~0–12 weeks before your intended travel date.

Order these first — they have the longest lead time

  • Police certificate

    Background2–12 weeks

    A criminal-record clearance from every country you've lived in for 6+ months in the past 10 years. Universally required for work, study, family and PR routes.

    How: FBI Channeler (US), ACRO (UK), AFP National Police Check (AU), state police of each country lived in.

  • Education credentials evaluation

    Credentials4–12 weeks

    WES (Canada/US), ECE, IQAS, UK ENIC, or the destination's local equivalent — converts your foreign degree to the local framework.

    How: Order online; allow 4–10 weeks. Request your university to send transcripts directly to the assessor.

  • University admission letter

    Purpose evidence2–9 weeks

    An unconditional offer (I-20 for US, CAS for UK, CoE for Australia, CAQ + Letter of Acceptance for Canada).

    How: Issued by your university once you've accepted the offer and paid the deposit.

  • English- / language-proficiency test

    Credentials3–9 weeks

    IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, DELE, TestDaF, JLPT — depending on the destination. Most have minimum scores per visa class.

    How: Book on the test provider's site. Test slots typically 2–4 weeks out; results 5–15 days after the test.

  • Valid passport

    Identity2–8 weeks

    Most countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months beyond your departure date, with two or more blank pages.

    How: Renew via your own country's passport office if expiring within 12 months.

  • Medical examination

    Medical1–4 weeks

    Conducted by a panel physician approved by the destination's immigration authority. Includes chest X-ray, blood tests, and an interview.

    How: Book directly with a panel physician — find them on the destination's immigration website.

  • Apostille / certified document copies

    Credentials1–4 weeks

    Hague Apostille on civil documents (birth, marriage, education certificates) for countries that recognise the convention. Other countries require consular legalisation instead.

    How: US: state Secretary of State or US State Dept. UK: FCDO Legalisation Office. Other: ministry of foreign affairs of the issuing country.

Then gather these

  • Biometrics (fingerprints + photo)

    Background1–4 weeks

    Captured at a Visa Application Centre (VFS, BLS, TLScontact). Walk-in is rarely possible — appointment slots fill up.

    How: Book on the VAC website after submitting your online application.

  • Certified translation of documents

    Credentials1–2 weeks

    If your documents are not in the destination's official language, you may need a sworn or certified translator.

    How: ATA-certified (US) / ITI-qualified (UK) translators, or a sworn translator registered with the destination's consulate.

  • Proof of funds (long-stay)

    Financial1–2 weeks

    Country-specific minimum savings — e.g. ~CAD 14,000 (Canada study/work permits, single applicant), ~£1,334/month + £8,000 reserve (UK family), proof of income for digital-nomad routes.

    How: Bank statements going back 3–6 months, sometimes a sworn affidavit of support from a sponsor.

  • Tuition payment receipt

    Financial1–7 days

    Many study visas require a first-semester or full-year tuition payment receipt as proof of funds.

    How: Issued by your university after you pay the deposit.

  • Passport-style photograph

    Identity1–3 days

    A recent biometric photo to the destination's specifications. Most consulates require their own dimensions, not your home country's.

    How: Any high-street photo studio, or app-based services that meet ICAO 9303 spec.

  • Online visa application form

    Application1–3 days

    The destination's online form (DS-160 for US, gov.uk for UK, IRCC portal for Canada, ImmiAccount for Australia, e-Visa portal for most others).

    How: Apply directly on the destination government website — never via a third-party paid service.

  • Application fee payment

    Application1 day

    Payable to the destination government directly. Fees range from ~$25 (e-Visas) to $2,500+ (US EB-1).

    How: Card payment on the destination's portal. Receipt required for the application.

Lead times are global averages. Country-specific channels can be faster (FBI Channeler in days vs FBI Mail in months) — always check the destination's embassy or visa portal for current timelines.

Make your case

★ Hand-written for this route

Tailored guidance — Vietnamese applying for a study visa to United States

The same things a £1,000 immigration consultation would tell you — what evidenceUnited States's caseworkers actually weight, a personal-statement skeleton you can adapt to United States's framing, common mistakes that get vietnamese applications refused, and when it's worth hiring a lawyer.

What caseworkers actually weight

  1. 1

    I-20 from a SEVP-certified US school + SEVIS I-901 paid

    Vietnamese students are the 5th-largest international cohort in the US (~30,000 annually). Your US institution issues Form I-20 (F-1) or DS-2019 (J-1 exchange) once admitted and proof-of-funds verified. Pay SEVIS I-901 fee ($350 F-1 / $220 J-1) BEFORE booking DS-160 — without the SEVIS receipt the consulate rejects the appointment. Vietnamese applicants book at US Consulate General Ho Chi Minh City (Le Duan, District 1) or US Embassy Hanoi (Lang Ha) depending on residence.

  2. 2

    Strong source-of-funds documentation in VND — the biggest refusal driver

    Vietnam has high F-1 refusal rates (~30-40%) primarily due to funding concerns. Show 1st-year tuition + living costs ($40-80k typical). Document Vietnamese bank balance (Vietcombank, BIDV, VietinBank, ACB, Techcombank, MB Bank) with USD-equivalent at SBV rate. Family business funding requires Business Registration Certificate (Giấy phép kinh doanh), tax declarations for last 3 years, and bank statements showing genuine cashflow — not just lump sums dropped in 1 week before interview. Sudden deposits trigger 214(b) refusal.

  3. 3

    Vietnamese academic transcripts apostilled + notarised translation

    Vietnam high-school certificate (Bằng Tốt nghiệp THPT) and university transcripts need Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs legalisation (Department of Consular Affairs, Hanoi or HCMC sub-office). Apostille is NOT available — Vietnam isn't a Hague Convention signatory for apostille. Instead: notarise the Vietnamese original at Phòng Công chứng, then certified translation at a sworn translator, then consular legalisation by US Embassy/Consulate or by Vietnamese MOFA for incoming use. Cost VND 200,000-500,000 per document.

  4. 4

    214(b) ties to Vietnam — family, property, return job, post-graduation plan

    F-1 is non-immigrant — officer assumes you intend to overstay unless you prove otherwise. Strong Vietnamese ties: family home with Sổ Đỏ (red book / land title) in parents' name, parents' Vietnamese employment (especially government / military / SOE), Vietnamese property (apartment, land), Vietnamese business succession (family company shares allocated to you), expected return job (Vietnamese employer Memorandum of Understanding for post-graduation hire). Officers ask 'what will you do after graduation' — answer should be Vietnam-specific, not 'maybe stay in the US'.

Personal-statement skeleton

Fill in each section with your own facts, dates, and details. The structure mirrors what caseworkers expect to find.

  1. Why this specific US programme over Vietnamese universities

    Vietnam has good universities (VNU Hanoi, HCMUS, FTU, NEU, RMIT Vietnam, BUV British University Vietnam). Explain why your US programme offers something unique — research lab, specific professor, industry network (Silicon Valley for CS, NYC for finance, Boston for biotech), specialised programme not available in Vietnam. Reference concrete elements: a faculty publication, a specific course, a lab. Vague 'American education is the best' is a 214(b) refusal trigger.

  2. Funding — Vietnamese family / business structure

    Quantify: tuition $X, living $Y, total Year 1 $Z. Then show coverage: family contribution VND X (with bank statement and Giấy ủy quyền — power of attorney / sponsorship affidavit), scholarship $Y, savings $Z. If parents own a business, name it, attach Business Registration, tax declarations (Tờ khai thuế), and bank statements showing 12+ months of revenue. Vietnamese consular officers know which industries throw off real cashflow vs which are paper-only — be transparent.

  3. Post-graduation plan — your return to Vietnam

    F-1 visas explicitly require intent to return. State which Vietnamese sector you'll return to: Vietnamese banks (Vietcombank, BIDV, Techcombank, VPBank), Vietnamese tech (VinAI, Viettel, FPT, VNG), foreign multinational Vietnam offices (Samsung Vietnam, Intel Vietnam, Unilever, Nestlé), or family business succession. If you want OPT (Optional Practical Training) after graduation, briefly mention it but emphasise return.

  4. Family ties remaining in Vietnam

    List parents (occupation, location — Hanoi / HCMC / Da Nang district level), siblings, grandparents, partner. Mention Vietnamese property — family home Sổ Đỏ in parents' name with you as heir, land in original province (quê), Vietnamese bank accounts you'll maintain. For Vietnamese males 18-25, military service status (Nghĩa vụ Quân sự) is important — show exemption certificate, deferral document, or completed service paper. Undisclosed military deferral can affect future Vietnamese re-entry.

Mistakes that cost real money

  • Apply through US Consulate Ho Chi Minh City — generally faster slot turnover than Hanoi; both consulates can serve any Vietnamese resident
  • F-1 visa fee is $185; pay via Citibank Vietnam deposit slip with the MRV barcode — fastest receipting
  • Don't pay 'visa consultancy' agencies VND 50-150M for what is a free DS-160 form + interview — they don't influence consular decisions; the interview is the bottleneck
  • Vietnamese applicants are eligible for Fulbright Vietnam (~$30,000 + tuition for grad students), USAID-funded scholarships, VEF (Vietnam Education Foundation) for STEM PhDs, Atlantic Philanthropies (legacy), Ford Foundation IFP alumni network
  • Many US universities have 'Vietnamese Heritage Scholarships' — Cornell, Stanford, MIT, USC, Texas A&M, Boston College have named Vietnamese-origin endowments; ask the international student office at admission time
  • Use VietinBank or BIDV student remittance accounts for tuition transfers — lower FX fees than retail; regulated under SBV educational outflow allowance (no annual cap for tuition with proof of admission)
  • Get all transcripts MOFA-legalised in Vietnam before applying — legalisation from outside is 5-10x more expensive and slower

DIY or hire a lawyer?

✓ DIY is fine if

  • • First-time F-1 / J-1 with clean record, clear funding, strong programme fit
  • • Standard exchange-programme J-1 through Fulbright Vietnam, AFS, EF, AYUSA, or accredited Vietnamese university partnership
  • • Renewal of existing F-1 (re-issuance in Vietnam during winter / summer breaks)
  • • OPT or STEM OPT application during or after the programme

⚠ Get a specialist if

  • • Prior US visa refusal (any category — B1/B2 tourist refusal is a major red flag for F-1)
  • • Vietnamese criminal record (even minor — drug, theft, fraud)
  • • Funding from a sponsor outside Vietnam / family (third-country sponsors face heavy scrutiny)
  • • Past US overstay or visa flag in your travel history (even old)
  • • Transfer from another country's F-1 status (SEVIS transfer within US is fine, country-to-country needs care)
  • • Unresolved Vietnamese military obligation status (males 18-25)
  • • Family member with prior US asylum claim — even successful claim can affect your non-immigrant intent showing
This guidance is general — not legal advice. For high-stakes routes (refusal history, criminal record, complex finances), spend the money on a qualified immigration adviser regulated by your destination (UK: OISC / SRA; AU: MARA; US: bar-admitted attorney).

Email me if United States's policy changes

ONE email when the rules change for Vietnamese travellers. No account, no marketing.

Other visa types for this route

We also have data on these visa categories between VN and US.

Tourism

1/10

B-2 Visitor visa (Tourism)

2 options · See details

Business

1/10

B-1 Visitor visa (Business)

2 options · See details

Transit

1/10

C-1 Transit Visa — United States

1 option · See details

Work

1/10

H-1B Specialty Occupation

5 options · See details

Partner / Family

2/10

K-1 Fiancé(e) Visa — United States

2 options · See details

Related routes

Compare other study-visa routes

Vietnamese travellers going to…

Other passports going to United States…

Sources & references

Every link below is a primary government source. We aggregate; the source is the authority. If anything on this page disagrees with a link below, the link wins.

Where this page's data came from

Official destination portal

Embassies & consulates

Your country's foreign-affairs ministry

Independent travel advisories

Sponsored

While you're sorting your trip to United States

We earn a small commission on bookings made via these links — it helps keep the visa tool free. The visa info above is independent of any partner. Our commercial policy →

Travel insurance

Pay-as-you-go cover that works for digital nomads + multi-month trips. Covers medical, evacuation, and trip interruption.

Compare plans →

eSIM data

Pre-paid local data that works on arrival. No SIM swap, no roaming charges.

Browse eSIMs →

Flights

Compare flexible flight options with full price transparency.

Search flights →

Browse other destinations

Where can Vietnamese passport holders go?

Other passports visiting United States

Who needs a visa for United States?

Informational only. A valid visa permits entry subject to officer discretion at the border. Always verify with the destination's embassy or official source before travel, employment, or relocation.