The seven steps, the fees, the rules adopted in 2026 and the pitfalls to avoid, based on official sources consulted on 22 October 2026.
The list of countries covered by the proclamation is reviewed every 180 days: check it on the website of the US embassy in Cameroon before taking any step.
Admission deadlines are set by each institution. The other benchmarks are set by the US administration.
| Step | Benchmark |
|---|---|
| Admission application | date set by the institution |
| Visa issuance | up to 365 days before the start date on the I-20 |
| Form DS-160 | submitted at least two working days before the interview |
| Arrival in the United States | no earlier than 30 days before the programme start date |
| Departure after studies | 30 days after the end of the programme or OPT (60 previously) |
Interview slots in Yaoundé are not published: they appear in your account on usvisaappt.com, after you pay the visa fee.
Only a SEVP-certified institution can issue Form I-20. Check certification in the Study in the States School Search tool. The English test (TOEFL, IELTS or other) is required by the institution, not by the visa.
The institution checks your funding before issuing it. You sign it, then present the original at the interview.
$350 on fmjfee.com, after receiving the I-20 and before the interview. Keep the proof of payment.
Online, at least two working days before the interview. The DS-160 barcode must match the one on the appointment, otherwise the interview is refused.
$185 paid only through usvisaappt.com: by card in dollars, or in cash or by transfer in CFA francs at UBA. The receipt remains valid for 365 days.
At the US embassy, in English. Before applying, social media accounts must be set to public. The passport is not returned at the embassy: it goes through the delivery service.
Entry into the United States is possible no earlier than 30 days before the start date on the I-20.
Free advice on studying in the United States: the James Baldwin American Center in Yaoundé and the American Corners in Douala, Buea and Garoua, listed by the embassy.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| SEVIS I-901 fee (F-1 visa) | $350 |
| Visa application fee | $185, i.e. 111,000 FCFA at the consular rate of 600 FCFA to $1 (since 11/03/2026) |
| Visa integrity fee | provided for by a 2025 US law, collection not announced in Cameroon as of 22/10/2026 |
| Tuition fees and cost of living | set by each institution |
| Proof of funds | no fixed threshold: the whole first year available, then reliable sources for the following years |
The consular rate may change: the FCFA amount is a calculation, the reference fee remains $185. To prepare your proof of funds, see our article on proof of funds for a student visa.
MBM Travel Gate prepares the applications, the financial file and the English interview with you. We have no power over admissions or consular decisions: see our process and our packages.
No, as of 22/10/2026. The presidential proclamation of 16/12/2025, in force since 01/01/2026, covers 39 countries and Cameroon is not one of them. It is reviewed every 180 days: check it before you apply.
No. The English requirement comes from the institution. If the institution admitted you based on a test, the consular officer does not question that decision, unless fraud is suspected. The interview is held in English.
There is no fixed amount. You must prove funds available for all first-year expenses and reliable sources for the following years. Future OPT or CPT employment does not count for the first year.
During classes, up to 20 hours per week on campus; off-campus work is very limited. After graduation, OPT allows up to 12 months of practical training, extendable by 24 months in STEM fields. A proposal of 08/10/2026 would set a $70,000 fee for OPT: it has not been adopted as of 22/10/2026.
An MBM Travel Gate advisor reviews your profile and the feasibility of your project in the United States free of charge.
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