S. consulates or embassy in their nation of origin. A visa interview should be set up well in advance of the intended travel date in order to account for any potential delays or extra propatti teen patticessing needs. Aside from this, prospective international students should be aware of any extra steps or paperwork needed for their particular situation, such as financial documentation or English language proficiency testing. In general, the key to a successful F1 visa application is maintaining organization & being proactive about meeting critical dates and deadlines.