When can I enter the USA with my F1 visa and can I enter earlier with an ESTA?
You can enter the USA with your F1 visa no earlier than the Earliest Admission Date entered on the I-20. If coach has given you an arrival date before this, you will need to inform them you cannot enter the USA until this date. This is non-negotiable.
It is not possible to enter the USA earlier on an ESTA. You can only enter the USA on the visa with which you are leaving. This means that you can only enter the country with an ESTA visa if you also leave the country before your studies begin. You have to "trigger" your F1 visa by entering on it.
Related Articles
Book your visa interview
If you are applying to an embassy or consulate other than London or Belfast please read the information at the bottom of the page before beginning. Please do this step on a laptop/computer and not your phone! When you have completed your DS-160 form ...
Which visa should I request?
You need an F-1 visa, a non-immigrant visa for students.
Visa appointment checklist
Below is an overview of everything you need to take with you to your visa appointment and information on what to expect at it. What to take with you Please use this list as a checklist and ensure you have all documents with you. We have provided, ...
How long is a visa valid?
Your F1 visa is usually valid for 5 years. So make sure that your passport is also valid for that long.
I am not able to schedule a visa appointment yet. Why not?
Before you can schedule a visa appointment, you will have to pay the visa fee. You can do this by clicking on the button on the top left of your online consular account that says Schedule Appointment. Then you will need to answer all of the ...