Studying in the US for Ukrainians in 2026: the F-1 Visa, OPT and College with Parole or TPS

Yes, F-1 visas are also issued for language programs, but this is a visa for studying, not for moving.

The school must be SEVP-certified (you can check at studyinthestates.dhs.gov). The consular officer checks that you will actually study, can pay, and plan to return home after your studies. If the officer believes the goal is to move, you will be refused under 214(b).

The DHS rule that limited language programs to 24 months and F-1 overall to 4 years was blocked by a court on 09/14/2026. The case is ongoing, so the rules may change. You cannot work off campus while in language courses.

The required visa fees are small compared with the cost of studying, which varies many times over depending on the school.

• I-901 SEVIS: $350 for F-1. Paid at fmjfee.com after you receive your I-20, before entry.
• Visa fee (MRV): $185.
• Visa Integrity Fee of $250: provided for by law and charged at visa issuance; as of 10/26/2026 some consulates collect it, others do not yet.
• Tuition and living expenses: the annual amount the school lists on the I-20. This is the amount you must prove you can pay.

The cheapest option is usually a community college. Private universities are the most expensive.

No, the law does not set an upper age limit for the F-1.

However, the older the person and the less the studies are connected to their experience, the more closely the consular officer checks the purpose. For example, if a 45-year-old engineer is going to basic language courses, the officer will ask why they need this and why they will return home. A logical study plan, a link to your career and proof of ties to your country of residence help.

Minors can also get an F-1 to study in high school, but usually only at a private school.

The visa in your passport and your authorized period of stay are different things. As of 10/15/2026, a student is admitted for the entire period of study (duration of status, D/S).

The visa is needed only for entry, and it may expire before your studies end. As long as you study and follow the rules, you are in status. The DHS rule that replaced D/S with a fixed period based on the I-20 (no more than 4 years) and extensions through the I-539 was blocked by a court on 09/14/2026 (Presidents' Alliance v. DHS). The case is ongoing.

After your program ends, you have 60 days to leave, change status or continue studying.

The order is always the same: first the school, then the SEVIS fee, then the visa.

1. Get admitted to a SEVP-certified school and receive an I-20 from it. Sign it together with the school official (DSO).
2. Pay the I-901 SEVIS fee of $350 using the information from your I-20.
3. Fill out the DS-160, pay the visa fee and schedule an interview.
4. Bring the original I-20, SEVIS payment confirmation and financial documents to the interview.
5. You can apply for the visa up to 365 days before your program starts, and enter no earlier than 30 days before the start date on your I-20.

At the border, keep your I-20 with you, not in your checked luggage.

You must show that you can pay for at least the first year of tuition and living expenses. The school lists this amount on the I-20.

• Bank statements (yours or your sponsor's) with a history, not a one-time deposit right before the interview.
• A letter from your sponsor, usually your parents, and proof of their income.
• Scholarships or grants from the school: they reduce the amount you need to show.

The consular officer pays attention to where the money comes from. A large unexplained transfer a week before the interview raises suspicion. Schools often ask for financial documents even before issuing the I-20.

According to lawyers, Ukrainians currently get nonimmigrant visas, including the F-1, mostly at the embassy in Warsaw or the consulate in Krakow. Check current information on the websites of the US embassies in Ukraine and Poland.

According to lawyers, since September 2025 almost everyone needs an in-person interview. Typical questions:

• why this particular school and program;
• who is paying and where the money comes from;
• what your plans are after graduation;
• what ties you have to Ukraine or your country of residence.

Answer briefly and truthfully. The officer is judging whether you are a genuine student. Americanization helps with the DS-160 and interview preparation, but nobody can promise a result.

Yes, but with limits: in the first year only on campus, and off campus only with authorization.

• On campus (library, cafeteria, bookstore): up to 20 hours a week during the semester. Full-time is allowed during breaks.
• CPT: practical training that is part of your study program. It is authorized by the school (DSO), usually after one full academic year.
• OPT: up to 12 months of work in your field at each level of education. The work permit (EAD) is issued by USCIS based on the I-765.
• Authorization based on severe financial hardship (economic hardship) is also possible and is decided case by case.

Working without authorization, including "for cash," is a status violation. Your SEVIS record can be terminated because of it.

OPT is up to 12 months of legal work in your field during or after your studies. STEM graduates can get an additional 24 months.

• You can file the I-765 for post-completion OPT up to 90 days before your program ends and no later than 60 days after it ends. In addition, you must file within 30 days after the DSO enters the recommendation in SEVIS.
• On post-completion OPT, you can have no more than 90 days of unemployment in total, and with the STEM extension, no more than 150.
• If you have had one year or more of full-time CPT, you lose eligibility for OPT.

As of 10/15/2026, the current OPT rules have not changed, but there is a proposal for new fees.

This is only a proposed DHS rule of 10/08/2026. As of 10/15/2026, it is not in effect.

• The proposal is that the school would pay $70,000 per student before the first recommendation for any OPT, and $30,000 for each one after that, including STEM OPT.
• The fee is tied not to the employer but to the school's recommendation. USCIS would not issue a work permit until the fee is paid.
• The school could request a refund if the student never received an EAD.
• Comments are accepted until 11/09/2026. After that, DHS may change or finalize the rule.

If the rule is adopted, schools may limit the number of OPT recommendations or pass the costs on to students. Text of the proposal: Federal Register 2026-20660.

With parole, no: a change to a nonimmigrant status (including F-1) inside the US is not available to parolees.

Parole is not an "admission" in nonimmigrant status. The Ukraine Immigration Task Force says that for such a visa you need to leave and go through a consulate. For TPS holders, the answer depends on how the person entered and must be assessed with a lawyer.

But you often do not even need an F-1 to study: see the next question. Before leaving to get an F-1, assess the risks with an attorney, because you may not be able to come back.

Yes. Parole and TPS do not prohibit studying, and you do not need a separate student visa for it.

You apply as a regular local applicant, not as an international student with an I-20. The advantages are:

• no F-1 work restrictions: you can work with your EAD;
• you can study part-time;
• in some states and colleges, you may qualify for the local rate (in-state tuition).

The downside is that studying does not extend your parole or TPS. Keep track of your status deadlines separately.

Technically you can, through the I-539, but it is risky, and you cannot study until it is approved.

• On B-1/B-2, you cannot start studying until USCIS approves the change of status. Otherwise it is a status violation.
• If you apply within 90 days after entry, the State Department may consider that you hid the real purpose of your trip when you got your visa (the 90-day rule).
• Processing takes a long time. If you leave while it is pending, the application is considered abandoned.

Most often, it is more reliable to get an F-1 at a consulate. Talk to the school and an attorney before filing.

It depends on the child's status and state rules. U4U parole often gives eligibility for federal aid, while TPS usually does not.

• FAFSA: according to Department of Education guidance as reported by colleges, Ukrainians paroled between 02/24/2022 and 09/30/2023 (and some of their family members) are eligible for federal aid for the period of their parole. Proof is usually an I-94 with the UHP code. People with only TPS usually do not get federal aid.
• In-state tuition: the rules are set by each state and college. Ask the residency office.
• If your status cannot be verified automatically, the college will ask for original documents.

The rules for paroles after 2023 and after parole ends are different. Check with your college's financial aid office.

The simplest and cheapest start is usually a community college.

• Admission is easy: often a high school diploma (with a translation) and a placement test in English and math are enough.
• There are free or low-cost English courses (ESL), professional certificates (nursing, IT, accounting, welding) and two-year programs with transfer to a university.
• Ukrainian diplomas often need to be evaluated by a credential evaluation service for admission. More in the "Life in the USA" topic.

If you are in the US on parole or TPS, apply as a local student, not as an international student with an I-20.