The US Student Visa (F-1)

The five things you need, all the fees, and how to answer the interview questions — in plain language.

Official form names and terms are kept in English throughout, exactly as they appear on the forms.

1. The five things you need

1.1 A valid passport

Your passport must stay valid for at least 6 months beyond the period you intend to stay in the United States. Tanzania is not on the list of countries exempt from this rule, so it applies to you.

A common mistake: applying with a passport that expires soon. The visa is issued to match the passport, so you get a short visa for no reason. If yours expires within 18 months, renew it first.

1.2 Form I-20

The official letter from a school recognised by the US government. The school issues it once it has admitted you and you have shown you have enough money. You will get a SEVIS number — it begins with the letter N.

Do this: sign the I-20 by hand before the interview, and check that every letter of your name matches the passport exactly.

1.3 Proof of funds

Evidence that you can pay for the whole first year — tuition and living costs. A 6-month bank statement, a sponsorship letter, a scholarship letter, or the sponsor’s business documents.

The mistake that hurts most: a large sum landing in the account a few weeks before the interview. The officer sees it immediately. Money that has sat there a long time counts for more than a big sudden deposit.

1.4 Form DS-160

The online form. When you finish you get a confirmation page with a barcode — that is the one you print and carry.

Very important: everything you write here is in front of the officer during the interview. Saying something different out loud is a credibility problem. Read your own copy before you go.

1.5 The consular interview

This is where the decision is made. Everything else is preparation for these few minutes.

2. Every fee, and when you pay it

The correct order

1. Apply to the school → get admitted
2. Show you have the money → you receive the I-20 and a SEVIS number
3. Pay the SEVIS I-901 → print the receipt
4. Complete the DS-160 → print the barcode page
5. Pay the MRV → book the appointment
6. Attend the interview

3. The new rules for 2026

A. Social media must be public

Applicants for F, M and J visas must set all their accounts to public while applying. On the DS-160 you must list every account you have used in the past 5 years — including ones you no longer use.

Leaving an account off the list creates a credibility problem, even when there is nothing bad in it.

B. Interview waivers have ended

Since 1 October 2025, renewing a visa without an interview has been closed to almost everyone. The waivers for children under 14 and adults over 79 have been removed.

C. Fixed admission period

This is the biggest change. Previously you stayed for "duration of status" — the whole length of your studies. Now you are given a fixed period: the length of your programme, up to a maximum of 4 years.

To stay longer you must apply for an Extension of Stay (EOS) with USCIS. If your programme runs longer than 4 years — a PhD, for example — plan for it early.

D. Appointments are tighter

Since 1 August 2026, Dar es Salaam has been a hub post serving neighbouring countries as well. Appointments are harder to get. Start early.

4. The interview

The one thing being decided

Section 214(b) of the law says the officer starts by presuming that every applicant intends to immigrate. Your job is to remove that presumption by showing two things: you are a genuine student, and you have reasons to return to Tanzania.

The nine questions

1. Why did you choose this school? Name the programme, the real fees, and a specific professor or laboratory. Do not just say "it is a good school".
2. Why this subject at this school? Name the courses themselves, not the school’s reputation.
3. Which other schools did you apply to? A genuine student applies to several. Name them.
4. What would you have done if you had not been admitted? Show that you thought it through.
5. What is your academic history? If you have gaps of a year or more, explain them truthfully — not as an excuse.
6. How will a US education help your career? Tie it to work here in Tanzania. This is the third most important question.
7. Who is paying for your studies? Know your parent’s business and what it earns. This is where many people fail.
8. Do you have relatives in the United States? Having them is not a problem. Lying about them is — the officer often already knows.
9. Personal questions — a past refusal, your travel, or something on your own DS-160.

Six mistakes that cause refusals

1. Memorised answers. Understand your argument; do not memorise sentences.
2. Not being able to explain the family finances. Ask your sponsor before you go.
3. Having no clear career plan for after your studies.
4. Vague, general answers about the school or the subject.
5. Not explaining gaps in your studies — it costs you credibility.
6. Contradicting your DS-160. Read your copy the night before.

5. Interview day

US Embassy, Dar es Salaam
686 Old Bagamoyo Road, Msasani

Bring

• A valid passport, and old ones if you have them
• The DS-160 barcode page
• The SEVIS I-901 and MRV receipts
• The signed Form I-20 and your admission letter
• Bank statement and sponsorship letter
• Academic certificates, TOEFL / IELTS / SAT results
• A passport photo (2×2 inches)
• Evidence of your ties to Tanzania

How to be

• Arrive 30 minutes early, no more
• Dress neatly — as you would for a job interview
• Answer in English, loudly enough to be heard
• Answer the question you were asked, then stop
• Do not argue. If you are refused, thank them and leave politely

Bring only what is needed. Check the rules for the day on tz.usembassy.gov before you go.

6. If you are refused

The slip that says 214(b) means one thing: you did not show enough to establish that you are a genuine student with reasons to return.

7. Official sources only

• travel.state.gov — official visa and fee information
• ceac.state.gov/genniv — the DS-160 form
• fmjfee.com — SEVIS I-901 payment
• ice.gov/sevis/i901 — SEVIS fee details
• ais.usvisa-info.com/en-tz/niv — appointments in Tanzania
• studyinthestates.dhs.gov — the list of SEVP-approved schools
• tz.usembassy.gov — US Embassy, Tanzania

This is general information, not legal advice, and the author is not an immigration attorney. Rules and fees change — verify everything on the official sites before paying or submitting. The visa decision belongs to the consular officer alone.