You are expected to speak in class
Participation is often graded. Asking questions is not rude, it is how you show you are engaged.
πΊπΈ Study in United States
Study in the USA, from I-20 to visa interview.
The American route runs through one document. Your school issues an I-20, you pay the SEVIS fee, and then you attend a visa interview at the embassy. The interview is short and it turns on one question: can you show you are a genuine student with the money to study and a reason to return home.
- First year: VND 726Mβ2.4B
- 20 hours a week in term
- 4 pathways
Why students choose the United States
Classes are informal and you are expected to speak up. Asking questions is not rude, it is how participation is measured, and a large part of your grade often comes from it. Campuses are their own small towns, with housing, sport and societies built in.
More choice than anywhere else
Thousands of universities, from small liberal arts colleges to enormous public research universities.
Work experience after you graduate
Optional Practical Training lets graduates work in their field for a period after finishing, and longer in science and technology subjects.
Campus life is part of the degree
Housing, sport, societies and support services are all on site, which makes settling in far easier.
1M+
international students
The largest international student body
Over a million international students study in the United States each year.
What it is actually like
The parts of living abroad nobody puts in a brochure, the customs that catch people out and the ones that make it worth it.
Informal, but deadlines are absolute
Professors are approachable and often go by first names. Late work is still penalised without mercy.
Health insurance is not optional
Universities require it and healthcare without it is extremely expensive. Budget for it from the start.
On campus work first
F-1 students can usually work on campus with limits. Off campus work needs separate authorisation.
Where you could live
Where you study changes what you pay and how quickly your language improves. These are the places we place students most often.
Boston
NortheastA true student city with dozens of universities packed together. Cold winters, strong academics.
Known for: Universities, history, research
Living cost / month
VND 47Mβ79Mβ USD 1,800β3,000
Cheaper
Pricier
Los Angeles
West coastWarm all year, spread out, and you will probably need a car.
Known for: Weather, film industry, diversity
Living cost / month
VND 50Mβ84Mβ USD 1,900β3,200
Cheaper
Pricier
Chicago
MidwestA big city with lower costs than the coasts, and excellent public transport.
Known for: Architecture, jazz, affordability
Living cost / month
VND 37Mβ63Mβ USD 1,400β2,400
Cheaper
Pricier
Austin
SouthA growing tech city with a big university and a strong music scene.
Known for: Tech jobs, music, warm weather
Living cost / month
VND 34Mβ58Mβ USD 1,300β2,200
Cheaper
Pricier
What nobody tells you before you go
The practical detail behind each stage, how school actually runs, where you will live, what work is really allowed and the admin that catches everyone out.
The I-20 and the visa interview
One document, one fee, one short interview that decides everything.
On campus or off
First year students usually live on campus, and it is worth it.
Health insurance
Required by your university, and genuinely expensive without.
Working during and after your degree
On campus during, Optional Practical Training after.
Studying there
2
The I-20 and the visa interview
One document, one fee, one short interview that decides everything.
The I-20 and the visa interview
One document, one fee, one short interview that decides everything.
Your school issues an I-20 once you accept a place and prove you can fund the first year. You pay the SEVIS fee, book an embassy appointment and attend a short interview. The officer is deciding whether you are a genuine student with genuine funding and a reason to go home afterwards.
Answer briefly and honestly. Long rehearsed speeches make officers suspicious, not impressed.
The community college route
Two years at lower cost, then transfer into the third year of a degree.
The community college route
Two years at lower cost, then transfer into the third year of a degree.
Community colleges cost far less and have easier entry requirements, and credits transfer into a full degree at a partner university. Your final diploma comes from the university, not the college. It is the standard way to cut the cost of an American degree.
Confirm the transfer agreement in writing before you enrol, not after.
Living there
2
On campus or off
First year students usually live on campus, and it is worth it.
On campus or off
First year students usually live on campus, and it is worth it.
Dormitories cost more than a shared flat but include utilities, internet and usually a meal plan, and they put you next to everyone else who just arrived. Most students move off campus in their second year once they know the city.
Health insurance
Required by your university, and genuinely expensive without.
Health insurance
Required by your university, and genuinely expensive without.
Almost every university requires proof of health cover and will enrol you in their own plan if you have none. A single emergency visit without insurance can cost more than a semester of tuition, so this is not a place to economise.
Check whether the university plan is mandatory before buying your own. Many will not accept outside cover.
Working there
1
Working during and after your degree
On campus during, Optional Practical Training after.
Working during and after your degree
On campus during, Optional Practical Training after.
F-1 students can work on campus with hour limits. Off campus work needs separate authorisation and is not automatic. After graduating, Optional Practical Training allows a period of work in your field, and it is longer for science and technology graduates.
Apply for OPT well before you graduate. Late applications are refused, not delayed.
Culture and etiquette
1
How American classrooms work
Participation counts, and silence is read as disengagement.
How American classrooms work
Participation counts, and silence is read as disengagement.
You are expected to interrupt, question and disagree. In many courses a portion of the grade is participation, and staying quiet out of politeness will cost you marks. Office hours are open invitations, not a last resort, and using them is normal.
Practical matters
1
Your first two weeks
Check in with the international office, then a bank and a phone.
Your first two weeks
Check in with the international office, then a bank and a phone.
You must report to your school's international student office on arrival so your record is activated. Everything else follows: a student ID, a bank account, a phone plan and a social security number if you take an on campus job.
Never let your enrolment status lapse. It is what keeps your visa valid.
Choose your pathway
Most students take more than one of these in sequence. Pick the one you would start with.
Intensive English programme
Best if: Students who need to reach degree entry level
Full time English at a university language centre, often used as a bridge to a degree.
- Typical duration
- 12 months
- Language requirement
- None to start, TOEFL or IELTS to progress
- Minimum age
- 17
- Education required
- 12 years
Community college
Best if: Students who want a degree at lower cost
Two years at a community college, then transfer into the third year of a university degree.
- Typical duration
- 24 months
- Language requirement
- TOEFL or IELTS, usually lower than university
- Minimum age
- 17
- Education required
- 12 years
Undergraduate degree
Best if: Students aiming straight for a US degree
A four year bachelor degree. Applications need test scores, essays and references.
- Typical duration
- 48 months
- Language requirement
- TOEFL or IELTS, often SAT
- Minimum age
- 17
- Education required
- 12 years
Masters degree
Best if: Graduates continuing their field
One to two years of postgraduate study. Needs a bachelor degree and usually GRE or GMAT.
- Typical duration
- 24 months
- Language requirement
- TOEFL or IELTS, plus GRE or GMAT
- Minimum age
- 21
- Education required
- 16 years
Where Sakura comes in
From your level today to a real intake date
Most delays are language delays. Tell us where you are and the pathway you want, and we show the courses that close the gap and the first intake you can realistically make.
Choose your level and pathway to see your route.
What we actually do for you
English from where you are now
Reach the level your school asks for, taught here before you go.
What this means in practice
Schools want evidence, not confidence. We teach to the level your chosen school actually requires and give you the certificate to prove it, on the timeline the intake needs.
Working out which route is yours
An honest talk about your goal, your budget and your timing.
What this means in practice
We would rather tell you now that a plan does not work than let you find out at the visa stage. That conversation changes which schools we shortlist and how much you need to save.
Choosing schools and applying
A shortlist you can realistically get into, then the application itself.
What this means in practice
We shortlist schools that will accept a student at your level, in a city you can afford. Then we prepare and submit everything with you, including the personal statement, which schools read closely.
The document and funding file
Every paper checked and formatted before it goes anywhere.
What this means in practice
Most refusals are about paperwork, not the student. Bank statements in the wrong name, a sponsor letter that does not explain the relationship, a translation nobody certified. We check the file against what the school and the authorities actually want.
I-20, SEVIS fee and the F-1 visa interview
We track the application and prepare you for the step that follows.
What this means in practice
This is the step everything else waits on, so we count backwards from your intake date rather than forwards from today. You always know what is outstanding and who is holding it.
Your first two weeks
Housing, registration, health cover, bank and phone, in the right order.
What this means in practice
Arrival admin unlocks in a sequence. Some things need an address, and the address needs a registration. Do it out of order and you lose weeks. We give you the order and stay reachable.
Sakura Academy, study-abroad plan Β· 15 Oct 2026
My study-abroad plan: United States
Pick your intake and every date is counted back from it. Tick documents as you get them; your progress stays on this device.
My target intake
Intake: Fall 2027
We do this
Legal deadline
Eligibility confirmed
We check your school record, language level and funding against what the school asks for.
We do this
School shortlist agreed
You get a short list of schools that will realistically accept you, in a city you can afford.
You
Document collection starts
Transcripts, passport, bank statements and any language certificate. Start early, some take weeks.
You
Legal deadline
All documents submitted
This is the deadline students miss most often. We send reminders a month out.
We do this
Application sent to the school
We submit and then chase the school until it is confirmed as received.
The school
Offer received
The school confirms your place. Tuition deposits are usually due at this point.
We do this
I-20 issued and SEVIS fee paid
This is the step everything else waits on, so it is tracked closely.
Embassy
Legal deadline
F-1 visa interview at the embassy
Bring every original document. We rehearse the questions with you beforehand.
You
Flights and housing booked
Book once the visa is in your passport, never before.
You
Arrival
You land, and we stay reachable through your first weeks.
You
Legal deadline
Local registration completed
Address registration, health cover and a bank account. They unlock in that order.
We do this
Check in after two months
We contact you to see how classes and housing are going.
0%ready
What you will need
0 of 7 ready
What it really costs, 2026
Every cost in Vietnamese dong, with the currency you actually pay in underneath. Always a range: the real figure depends on the school and the city.
Where will you live?
Total for your stay (12 months)
VND 726Mβ2.4B
β USD 27,600β90,100
Per month
VND 30Mβ67M
β USD 1,150β2,550
First year
VND 726Mβ2.4B
β USD 27,600β90,100
Paid before you fly
VND 363Mβ1.6B
β USD 13,800β59,500
| Item | For your stay |
|---|---|
| Tuition, one yearPublic universities cost far less than private ones. | VND 316Mβ1.4Bβ USD 12,000β55,000 |
| On campus housingUsually includes a meal plan. | VND 252Mβ505Mβ USD 9,600β19,200 |
| Food and daily costsVaries enormously by state and city. | VND 95Mβ221Mβ USD 3,600β8,400 |
| TransportMany campuses need a car, some do not. | VND 16Mβ79Mβ USD 600β3,000 |
| Health insuranceNearly always required by the university. | VND 32Mβ79Mβ USD 1,200β3,000 |
| Setting up on arrivalBedding, books, phone and a first shop. | VND 16Mβ39Mβ USD 600β1,500 |
Estimates, not quotes. Excludes flights and visa fees (see the fee table below). Many agencies quote only the amount paid before you fly; the first-year figure includes a full year of living costs. Exchange rate used: 1 USD = VND 26,300, updated 1 Oct 2026. Figures reviewed 1 Oct 2026.
The money you must show (financial proof)
Unclear financial evidence is the most common reason applications are refused. This is what is usually asked for, and how long the money must have been there.
F-1 student visa (I-20)
Balance usually required
VND 789Mβ2.2B
β USD 30,000β85,000
- Held in the account for
- at least 3 months
- Set by
- Your school's I-20 and the US Embassy
Whose name: Parents or other sponsors can provide funds; each sponsor signs an affidavit of support.
You must document liquid funds for the first year's cost of attendance shown on your I-20, which each school sets.
No separate figure for this pathway. Ask us and we will check with the school.
Requirements change and schools add their own. Always confirm the current figure with the embassy and the school before you open an account. Never use borrowed money or arranged documents: it is fraud and leads to refusal and bans. Figures reviewed 1 Oct 2026.
Part-time work: the honest numbers
What you can legally earn, against what a month costs. Families who plan on part-time income to pay fees are the ones who end up in debt.
- Legal limit in term
- 20 hours a week in term
- In school holidays
- Full time on campus during official breaks
- After graduation
- Optional Practical Training (OPT) allows 12 months of work after graduation, with a 24-month extension for eligible STEM degrees.
On an F-1 visa you may work on campus only. Off-campus work (CPT or OPT) must relate to your major and be authorised by your school. Your I-20 assumes you do not need to work to pay your costs.
- Typical hourly pay
- USD 15β18
- You could earn per month
- A month of living costs
- VND 34Mβ75M
- Your family still covers
Share of living costs covered by work:
Do not count on this money. Finding work takes weeks, hours are not guaranteed, and tuition must be paid before you arrive. Working over the legal limit can cost you your visa.
Every fee, written down
What you pay us, and what you pay everyone else. No "all-inclusive" packages that hide the split, and no new fees after a deposit.
Our service fee
Essential
School application and document checking, handled properly.
Quoted in writing at your consultation
- One school application
- Document checklist and review
- Visa form preparation
- Email support
Complete
Everything from choosing a school to your first week abroad.
Quoted in writing at your consultation
- Up to three school applications
- Full document handling
- Visa interview rehearsal
- Housing arranged before you land
- Arrival checklist and support
- Phone support throughout
Language plus
The Complete package with the language course you need to qualify.
Quoted in writing at your consultation
- Everything in Complete
- Language course to entry level
- Progress tracked against the school deadline
- Certificate issued for your application
Paid to others, not to us
| Fee | Paid to | Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee per university Most students apply to 4 to 8 | The university | VND 1.3Mβ2.6Mβ USD 50β100 |
| SEVIS I-901 fee | US government | VND 9.2Mβ USD 350 |
| Visa application fee Upper figure includes a visa integrity fee that may apply | US government | VND 4.9Mβ11Mβ USD 185β435 |
| IELTS or TOEFL fee | Test centre | VND 4.6Mβ5.5M |
| Certified translation of documents About 10 to 20 documents | Translation office | VND 1.5Mβ4M |
| One-way flight to the US | Airline | VND 18Mβ40M |
Third-party fees are set by embassies, schools and airlines and change without notice. We show them so nothing is a surprise; we do not add a margin to them.
Scholarships worth knowing
Long-running programmes only. Deadlines move each round, so treat dates as a guide and check the official page.
Fulbright Vietnamese Student Program
US Mission in Vietnam
Covers: Full funding for a master's degree
Bachelor's degree, English proficiency and a commitment to return to Vietnam.
Deadline: 15 Apr 2027 (expected)
Official page
Protect your family
Warning signs, whoever you choose
Embassies regularly warn Vietnamese families about these. If you hear any of them, from us or anyone else, walk away.
- A guaranteed visa, or a "98 to 100% visa success" figure nobody can check. Only the embassy or immigration decides.
- Promises that part-time work will pay your tuition, or that you can earn back your costs quickly.
- Offers to "arrange" a savings book or financial documents for you. Fake documents are a crime and lead to bans.
- An all-inclusive price with no written breakdown, or new fees after you have paid a deposit.
- Pressure to sign or pay today, or a contract you cannot take home to read.
- No business licence, no real office address, or payment requested to a personal account.
Questions students ask
What happens at the visa interview?
It is short, often only a few minutes. You will be asked why this school, how you are paying, and what you plan to do afterwards. Answer briefly and honestly.
How much funding do I need to show?
Enough for the first year of tuition plus living costs, as stated on your I-20. The exact figure comes from your school.
Do I need the SAT?
Many universities no longer require it for international applicants, but some still do. Check each school individually.
Can I work after graduating?
Yes, through Optional Practical Training, which allows a period of work in your field and is longer for science and technology graduates.
Talk it through with us, free
Forty-five minutes with a counsellor, in person, by Zalo video or by phone. Bring your questions and your parents. You leave with a written plan and our fee in writing, whether or not you choose us.