United States visa rules: Student (F-1) or work (H-1B) visa
What the government of the United States actually requires, in plain language, with links to the official pages. We are not an agency and can't get you a visa.
Important Check your nationality first. Since 1 January 2026, the US has suspended all visas for nationals of 12 African countries, and student, visitor and immigrant visas for 14 more, including Nigeria, Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire. Anyone who offers to get you around these rules for a fee is a scammer.
Student (F-1) or work (H-1B) visa
Processing time: Months
- Full visa ban: Burkina Faso, Chad, Rep. of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Libya, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan
- No student, visitor or immigrant visas: Angola, Benin, Burundi, Côte d'Ivoire, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Zambia and Zimbabwe
- Other nationalities (e.g. Ghana, Kenya, South Africa): student and work visas still possible, with stricter checks
- H-1B work visa: employer sponsor plus an annual lottery. A $100,000 fee on new petitions is blocked by the courts for now, but the appeal continues
Figures checked Sep 2026. Rules change often, so confirm on the official site before you act. This is general information, not legal or immigration advice.
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