🇸🇦 Saudi citizens · 🇺🇸 USA · Student
USA student visa for Saudi citizens: requirements, cost and odds
We do not publish a Saudi-specific approval rate for a student visa to the USA, because we do not yet hold a figure from the USA for this category broken down by nationality. Rather than estimate one and format it like a statistic, we leave it out. For background, the published figures that do exist for Saudi Arabia are a 6% US visitor-visa refusal rate in FY2025 and a 5.2% Schengen short-stay refusal rate in 2025 — different countries and a different visa class, so treat them as context rather than as your odds. What is documented is the decision itself — officers assess whether you are a genuine student who can fund and complete the course, and the single biggest lever is admission and funding. On the money side: Show funds covering the first-year tuition and living costs stated on your I-20 — documented, genuine, and readily available. The estimator below weighs your own finances, ties, travel history and refusal record against that.
Last reviewed July 2026 per our editorial standards. Source: U.S. Department of State — Bureau of Consular Affairs .
For Saudi citizens applying, a student visa to the United States is decided mainly on whether you are a genuine student who can fund and complete the course. Public statistics point to an approximate base approval of around 91% for this route — but your own profile can move that figure a lot in either direction. Saudi applicants generally present strong finances; outcomes hinge on clearly documented ties, purpose and funds. Saudi nationals still need a US B1/B2 and a Schengen visa (the UK now uses an ETA, not a visitor visa).
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Your trip
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Key requirements
- Form I-20 issued by a SEVP-certified school
- SEVIS I-901 fee US$350, paid before the interview
- DS-160 + US$185 MRV visa fee
- In-person interview showing genuine student intent
- Proof of funds covering first-year tuition and living costs
Visa fee (cost)
Two separate official fees: the US$185 MRV visa application fee (Department of State) and the US$350 SEVIS I-901 fee (paid to ICE at fmjfee.com before the interview). They are charged by different agencies and paid separately.
Money & funds
Show funds covering the first-year tuition and living costs stated on your I-20 — documented, genuine, and readily available.
Typical timeline
Pay the SEVIS fee once you have the I-20, then book a visa interview; wait times vary by post. The visa is usually issued a few business days after approval.
Common refusal reasons
- Section 214(b) — perceived immigrant intent
- Unclear or insufficient funding for the course
- Course inconsistent with your background or career plan
- Weak ties to home country
- Incomplete SEVIS record or I-20 issues
Where Saudi Arabia sits in the official data
Two governments publish visa outcomes broken down by country. Neither predicts an individual decision, but together they show how Saudi applicants fare relative to everyone else, and which of the destinations we cover currently refuses the fewest applications from Saudi Arabia.
US visitor visas — FY2025
A 6% adjusted refusal rate places Saudi Arabia 15th of 199 nationalities the State Department publishes — a lower refusal rate than 92% of them. The median nationality sits at 31.8%, so Saudi Arabia is 25.8 points below it.
Schengen short-stay visas — 2025
Across all Schengen consulates in Saudi Arabia, 5.2% of short-stay applications were not issued — 19th of 127 countries with a meaningful application volume, and 10.4 points below the 15.6% median.
| Destination | Refused | Issued | Decided |
|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | 2.4% | 97.6% | 83,253 |
| Spain | 2.8% | 97.2% | 57,875 |
| France | 3.8% | 96.2% | 233,101 |
| Germany | 8% | 92% | 50,841 |
| Portugal | 12.7% | 87.3% | 16,501 |
| the Netherlands | 15% | 85% | 18,777 |
| Greece | 18.9% | 81.1% | 11,391 |
Among Schengen states, applications lodged in Saudi Arabia were refused least often by Italy at 2.4% and most often by Greece at 18.9% — a gap of 16.5 points on a like-for-like basis. That gap reflects who applies where as much as how strictly each state decides, so it is a starting point for choosing a main destination, not a ranking of leniency. You must still apply to the state where you will spend the most nights.
Demand and outcome moved together for Saudi Arabia between 2024 and 2025. Schengen consulates there decided 550,463 short-stay applications, against 501,380 the year before — up 9.8% — while the refusal rate went from 5.9% to 5.2%. That easing meant roughly 4,010 more applicants were issued a visa than 2024's rate would have produced.
Sources: U.S. Department of State — Adjusted Refusal Rate, B-Visas Only, by Nationality and European Commission — Schengen short-stay visa statistics for consulates . Schengen figures are grouped by the country an application was lodged in, not by passport.
What actually moves the needle
Admission to an accredited institution
This is the heart of student decisions for USA. Make it concrete and documented rather than assumed.
Clearly documented funding for tuition and living costs
Officers weigh this alongside everything else — gather clear evidence before you apply.
A credible study plan that fits your background
Officers weigh this alongside everything else — gather clear evidence before you apply.
Context for Saudi Arabia applicants
Saudi applicants generally present strong finances; outcomes hinge on clearly documented ties, purpose and funds. Saudi nationals still need a US B1/B2 and a Schengen visa (the UK now uses an ETA, not a visitor visa). Your personal profile matters far more than any nationality-level pattern, so focus on the levers above.
Avoid the common pitfall
The most frequent reason this route fails is unclear funding or a course that does not fit your profile. Address it directly and you remove the biggest doubt.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an official USA student visa success rate for Saudi citizens?
Not one we currently carry. We only print a rate when we hold the publisher's own figure for this nationality and this visa category, and we do not hold one for the USA student visas. The figure shown on this page is a modelled estimate built from published route-level data and your answers — we label it as such rather than presenting it as a government statistic. What you can act on is the documented requirement set below, which is what the decision actually turns on.
What matters most for a USA student visa?
Officers focus on whether you are a genuine student who can fund and complete the course. In practice the single biggest lever is admission and funding, so make that part of your application as strong and well-documented as possible.
Does a previous visa refusal affect my chances?
Yes. A prior refusal weighs on new applications until its underlying reason is addressed. Find out exactly why you were refused, fix what caused it, and clearly show what is different this time.
Is this a guarantee of approval?
No. GetVisaOdds is an educational planning tool, not legal advice and not a guarantee. Only a consular or immigration officer can decide your application. We show approximate odds and the reasons behind them so you can prepare better.
Is my information private?
Completely. The estimate runs entirely in your browser. Your answers are never sent to a server or stored — there is no sign-up and nothing to leak.
What are the total US student visa fees in 2026?
About US$535 in government fees: the US$350 SEVIS I-901 fee plus the US$185 MRV visa application fee. Schools and tests charge separately.
Do I need an I-20 before applying for an F-1 visa?
Yes. A SEVP-certified school issues the Form I-20 first; you pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160, then attend the interview.
How do I prove funding for an F-1 visa?
Show documented, available funds covering the first-year tuition and living costs on your I-20 — bank statements, sponsor letters with evidence, scholarships or loans.
Can an F-1 visa be refused under 214(b)?
Yes. Even genuine students must show intent to return home. Weak ties or an unconvincing study plan can lead to a 214(b) refusal.
How early should I apply for a US student visa?
As early as your I-20 allows — you can be issued the visa up to 365 days before your program start and enter the U.S. up to 30 days before it begins.
