Free printable kit · 18 pages
Study in the USA: Plan Every Dollar Before You Fly
Every fee, deposit and yearly cost for F-1 students, with sourced 2026 numbers
- Official 2026 fees: $185 visa, $350 SEVIS, test and evaluation costs
- Tuition and living costs by school type from College Board
- Three first-year budgets: community college, public, private
- Fill-in worksheets: one-time, yearly and monthly US budget
- 18-month timeline plus proof of funds and work rule checklists
- Scam red flags from State Dept, DHS and FTC warnings
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What is inside
2 Cost tables1 Sample budget page1 Comparison3 Worksheets1 Timeline2 Checklists1 Page of questions to ask1 Page of red flags1 Page of ways to save1 Glossary28 named sources
- 3Cost tablesOne-time costs before you arrive
- 4Cost tablesYearly costs by school type
- 5Sample budgetsSample first-year budgets
- 6ComparisonsReal I-20 cost estimates, 2026-27
- 7WorksheetsWorksheet 1: One-time costs before you study
- 8WorksheetsWorksheet 2: Yearly budget
- 9WorksheetsWorksheet 3: Monthly living budget in the US
- 10TimelineTimeline: 18 months to your first semester
- 11ChecklistsProof of funds and work rules
- 12ChecklistsBefore you fly and your first month
- 13Questions to askQuestions to ask before you pay
- 14Red flagsScams and red flags
- 15Ways to saveWays to cut the cost
- 16GlossaryGlossary
Every number in the kit comes from a named source, listed with its date on the last page. General information only, not professional advice.
Read the full guides
BudgetingCalculator50/30/20 Budget Calculator: How to Split Your Take-Home PayUse our 50/30/20 budget calculator to split take-home pay. On $5,000 a month: $2,500 for needs, $1,500 for wants and $1,000 for savings and debt.
Saving & InvestingCalculatorEmergency Fund Calculator: How Much Should You Save?Use our emergency fund calculator to size your goal. 3 to 6 months of essentials is the rule; for the average US household that's about $13,000 to $26,000.
TravelCalculatorHow Much Does a Road Trip Cost in 2026?Road trip cost calculator for 2026: gas at $4.28 a gallon, hotels near $162 a night and food per person. See sample trips and estimate your own total.