How much it costs to study in the USA from Pakistan in 2026

The fixed government fees for a US student visa from Pakistan are $535 as of October 2026: a $185 visa application fee and a $350 SEVIS fee, about Rs 148,300 at the State Bank of Pakistan rate on 7 October 2026. The much larger costs, tuition and living expenses, depend on your university and city, and the official figure for your case is the estimate printed on your Form I-20. You will need to show that you can pay at least the first year in full.

Fixed visa costs in 2026

These are the fees a new F1 student in Pakistan pays before the interview. The rupee figures are a guide only. They use the State Bank of Pakistan weighted average offer rate of Rs 277.1649 per dollar on 7 October 2026, and the amount you actually pay will depend on the rate on the day and your payment method.

A few practical points about paying:

• Visa application fee. In Pakistan you can pay in cash at Bank Alfalah branches, by electronic funds transfer, by debit or credit card, or online by card in US dollars. The fee is not refundable and must be paid whether or not a visa is issued. Your receipt is valid for 365 days, and you must book your interview within that time.
• SEVIS fee. You pay this online at FMJfee.com using the school code and SEVIS ID printed on your I-20. Pakistani students can pay by credit card, and someone else, such as a parent, can pay it for you. Print the confirmation, because you need it at the interview.
• Reciprocity fee. If a visa is issued, some nationalities pay an extra issuance fee. Check the State Department's reciprocity page for Pakistan before you budget.

The visa integrity fee: what is in force

You may have read about a new $250 US visa fee. Here is the position as of 8 October 2026.

• A US law signed on 4 July 2025 (Public Law 119-21) created a visa integrity fee. It is charged to anyone issued a nonimmigrant visa, at the time of issue. The law sets it at $250 or more for 2025, rising with inflation in later years, and says it cannot be waived.
• In July 2025, the Department of Homeland Security said in the Federal Register that the fee needs coordination between agencies and "will be implemented in a future publication".
• We could not find a later Federal Register notice putting the fee into effect, and the official Pakistan visa fee page does not list a visa integrity fee.

So we have not added it to the total above. If it does start, it would be paid when your visa is issued, roughly Rs 69,300 for $250 at the 7 October rate. Check the State Department's fees page and the US Embassy Pakistan website just before you pay.

Tuition and living costs on your I-20

There is no single official figure for the cost of studying in the USA. Each university sets its own fees, and living costs vary widely by city. The figure that counts for your visa is the one your school prints on your Form I-20, the Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status.

The school enters a set of estimates in the US government's SEVIS system, and these appear on your I-20.

The total funding shown must be equal to or more than the total estimated costs. The school must check your evidence of funds before it issues the I-20, so expect to send bank statements or sponsor documents during admission.

How much money you need to show for the visa

There is no fixed bank balance that every Pakistani student must show. What the consular officer must see, under the Foreign Affairs Manual, is:

• credible evidence of readily available funds for all first year expenses, which in practice means the total on your I-20;
• a reliable, clearly identified source for each later year;
• that you will not need unauthorised work to get by.

A student loan you have already been granted can count. A plan to apply for a loan does not, and neither does a plan to earn money through practical training in your first year. If a relative sponsors you, the officer will want to see why they are supporting you and that they can afford it.

For documents, the official Pakistan guidance asks for original bank statements or bank books, since photocopies alone are not accepted. If someone sponsors you, bring proof of your relationship (such as your birth certificate), the sponsor's most recent original tax documents, and their bank books or fixed deposit certificates. Our guide to USA student visa requirements for Pakistan has the full checklist.

Other costs to plan for

Beyond the official fees and the I-20 figures, families should also budget for:

• passport and visa photographs;
• travel to Islamabad or Karachi for the interview, and a night's stay if needed;
• university application fees and English test fees, which vary by school and test;
• your flight to the US and settling in costs for the first few weeks.

US guidance says health insurance is not required to get an F1 visa. Your university may still have its own rules on insurance and other charges after arrival, so check them before you set your budget.

Costs are only half the picture. If you are weighing your chances as well, our article on the USA student visa ratio for Pakistan explains what the official data actually shows.

A Via Nova counsellor can help you compare universities by real cost, read your I-20 figures, and organise financial documents that match them. Start with our study in the USA service, or go to our student visa service if you already have an admission.