🇺🇸 United States — US Embassy Seoul / USCIS / US universities

US F-1 Student Visa — Korean Documents Required

The F-1 student visa allows Korean nationals to study full-time at accredited US universities, colleges, and language schools. Most Korean students are admitted to their programs before applying for the F-1 visa — the school issues a Form I-20, which you then use to apply at the US Embassy in Seoul. Korean document requirements for F-1 are lighter than for immigrant visas, but some universities and credential evaluation bodies require apostilled Korean academic documents.

Required Korean Documents

May Also Be Required

Academic Transcript

성적증명서

Official transcript from your Korean high school or university, apostilled and translated. Required by many US universities for admission and sometimes by the US Embassy for the F-1 interview if specifically requested.

Diploma / Degree Certificate

학위증명서

Apostilled diploma if you are applying to a graduate program. Many US graduate schools require apostilled Korean degree certificates as part of admission, which must be submitted before the I-20 is issued.

Basic Certificate (Birth Certificate)

기본증명서

Apostilled 기본증명서 with certified translation. The US Embassy does not always require this for F-1, but some universities require it as part of the enrollment process.

Step-by-Step Process

1
Apply to your US university and receive an acceptance letter and Form I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status)
2
Pay the SEVIS fee (Form I-901) online at fmjfee.com
3
Complete the DS-160 visa application form at ceac.state.gov
4
Schedule and attend your F-1 visa interview at the US Embassy in Seoul
5
If your university requires apostilled Korean documents for admission, prepare these before your I-20 is issued — check your university's specific requirements
6
After visa approval, enter the US no earlier than 30 days before your program start date

Tips & Common Mistakes

The F-1 visa interview at the US Embassy typically does not require apostilled Korean documents — the focus is on your financial ability to support yourself and your intention to return to Korea after studies
However, your US university's admission office may separately require apostilled Korean transcripts and diplomas — these requirements vary by school and program
WES (World Education Services) credential evaluation is sometimes required for graduate admissions — this requires apostilled Korean transcripts and diplomas
Documents for university admission and documents for the visa interview are two separate processes — confirm requirements with both your university admissions office and the US Embassy

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the US Embassy require apostilled Korean documents for the F-1 visa interview?

Generally not — the US Embassy F-1 interview focuses on your intent to study, financial support, and ties to Korea. However, your US university's admission process may have separately required apostilled Korean transcripts and diplomas before issuing your I-20.

My US university requires a WES credential evaluation. What Korean documents do I need?

WES typically requires official Korean university transcripts (성적증명서) and diploma (학위증명서) sent directly from the Korean university or submitted with an apostille. WES Canada and WES US have slightly different requirements — check WES's specific requirements for Korean institutions on their website.

I am applying to a US PhD program. Which Korean documents should I apostille?

Most US PhD programs require official Korean transcripts and degree certificates for admission. Apostille requirements depend on the specific university — some require apostilled originals, others accept transcripts sent directly from the Korean university. Confirm with your target program's graduate admissions office.