US Student Visa Rules 2026: What Parents Need to Know

This guide is general information for parents, not legal advice. US visa rules are changing quickly. Check the US Embassy in Japan, travel.state.gov and your child's school's international student office before you act. Checked on 12 October 2026.

If your child is going to study in the United States, at a university, a boarding school or a language school, they will almost always need a student visa. The process itself has not changed much, but the rules around it have tightened a great deal since 2025. Here is what parents need to know, and how to plan.

Which visa?

The steps, from Japan

1. Get accepted by a school that is certified to admit international students. The school sends a Form I-20, which shows the program dates and the money your family must show it can pay for the first year.
2. Pay the SEVIS fee: $350, online.
3. Fill in the DS-160 online application. It now asks for every social media account your child has used in the past five years.
4. Pay the visa application fee: $185.
5. Book and attend an interview at the US Embassy in Tokyo or the Consulate General in Osaka-Kobe. Bring the passport, I-20, fee receipts and proof of funds, such as bank statements.
6. If the visa is approved, the passport is returned with the visa. A visa can be issued up to a year before the program starts, but students can enter the US no more than 30 days before the start date on the I-20.

What changed in 2025 and 2026

Social media: talk to your child early

Under the 2025 rules, consular officers can look at your child's public posts, profile and activity. Before you start the application:

• List every account your child has used in the past five years, including old and rarely used ones, so the DS-160 is complete and consistent.
• Set them to public before the interview, as instructed.
• Look at the accounts together. Make sure what is there matches the application, such as the school, plans and dates.

Interviews

Almost every student now has an interview, including younger children and those renewing a visa. Book as early as you can, especially for August starts, when appointments are busiest. At the interview, your child should be able to explain simply what they will study, why that school, how the family will pay, and what they plan to do afterwards.

High school students

• Private high schools and boarding schools can admit international students on an F-1 visa.
• Public high schools: an F-1 student can attend for no more than 12 months in total, and must pay the full cost of their education.
• Many families use J-1 exchange programs for a high school year instead; the program organizes the paperwork.

A timeline for parents

After graduation

Rules on work after graduation, such as Optional Practical Training (OPT) and work visas, have also been changing. If your child plans to work in the US after studying, ask the university's international student office what applies when they graduate.

Japanese families and expat families

• Japanese citizens apply in Japan, at the Embassy in Tokyo or the Consulate General in Osaka-Kobe.
• Expat families living in Japan should also generally apply in Japan, as their country of residence, under the 2025 rules.
• Nationals of some countries face extra restrictions or travel bans. Check the State Department's current list for your child's nationality.

FAQ

Does my child need a visa to study in the US? For a degree, a high school program or a full-time language course, yes, usually an F-1 student visa. ESTA cannot be used for study towards a qualification.

How much does a US student visa cost? The SEVIS fee is $350 and the visa application fee is $185. A new $250 visa integrity fee is also due when the visa is issued, where it is being collected.

Does my child have to make their social media public? Yes. Since June 2025, student and exchange visa applicants must set their social media profiles to public, and list accounts used in the past five years on the application.

Does a child under 14 need a visa interview? Generally yes. Since October 2025, interview waivers for children under 14 have ended for most visa types.

Is there now a four-year limit on student visas? A rule to set a fixed period of stay of up to four years was published in July 2026 but blocked by a federal court in September 2026. The government has appealed, so check for updates before your child travels.

How early can my child go to the US? No more than 30 days before the program start date on the I-20.

Where do we apply in Japan? At the US Embassy in Tokyo or the US Consulate General in Osaka-Kobe.