Does a Canadian Student need a F-1 visa to study in the United States?

Canadian students do not need to apply at a U.S. consulate in Canada to obtain a physical F-1 visa “stamp” in their passports. Instead, Canadian students need to request to be admitted in F-1 “status” at the U.S. border (port-of-entry). Port-of-entry includes a land border or at an airport where the Canadian is interviewed by a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer.

In order to be admitted in F-1 student status, the Canadian student would need to obtain an I-20 from the U.S. institution they intend to study, sign the I-20 Form, pay the SEVIS Fee, and bring the SEVIS fee payment receipt to the border interview. They should also bring copies of the acceptance letter, proof of finances, and a copy of course registration or unofficial transcript, if applicable.

It is very important to ensure that the Canadian national is admitted correctly as a “student” under F-1 “status” according to their U.S. entry-exit records. Border officers are accustomed to routinely admitting Canadian nationals under “visitor” status. However, if a Canadian student is incorrectly categorized as “visitor,” they are not permitted to pursue schooling in the US. For this reason it is always recommended that the Canadian national check their I-94 record after every entry to the United States to verify that the Canadian national is categorized in the correct status.