Applying to US Universities from Iran: Timeline, Documents, and Costs
By Muntasir • Published Jun 24, 2026 • Updated Sep 20, 2026
Applying to US universities from Iran still works, but as of August 2026 a US government order blocks nearly all Iranian nationals from getting the F-1 visa needed to travel and enroll.
🎓 Iran's school year runs late September to June, so plan US deadlines, often 6-10 months before a fall start, around your local calendar.
📩 US schools want transcripts, a diploma or degree certificate, English test scores, and usually a credential evaluation.
🛂 F-1 visa issuance for Iranian nationals has been suspended since June 2025 under Proclamation 10949, and that full ban continues unchanged under Proclamation 10998, effective January 1, 2026, with no set end date.
💵 Application costs come from test fees, credential evaluation, and courier charges, not a visa you cannot get right now.
The entry restriction you need to know before you apply
Since June 2025, a US presidential proclamation has suspended the issuance of immigrant and nonimmigrant visas, including the F-1 student visa, to Iranian nationals. That order, Proclamation 10949, is continued without change by Proclamation 10998 , effective January 1, 2026. The ban has no expiration date and goes through a review every 180 days, so the rule changes without much notice.
This does not stop you from applying to a school or getting admitted. US universities still process applications, accept tuition payments, and hold spots for Iranian applicants, backed by Treasury rules that keep academic exchanges with Iran open (OFAC General License G ). What the order blocks, for now, is the visa that lets you travel and enroll in person. Check travel.state.gov and studyinthestates.dhs.gov before you commit to a start date, since each 180-day review resets the picture.
Matching Iran's school calendar to US deadlines
The Iranian academic year opens in late September (Mehr) and runs through June, split into two terms. US undergraduate and graduate programs run on a different clock: fall semester starts in August or September and spring in January. Most US schools set application deadlines 6 to 10 months ahead of the term you want, often November to January for the following fall.
Work backward from your target start date. If you want to begin a US fall term, have transcripts, test scores, and recommendation letters ready by the winter before, while you are still finishing exams and coursework in Iran.
Documents US schools ask for
| Document | What it is |
|---|---|
| Diploma or degree certificate | Your national high school diploma or university degree, in the original language plus an English translation |
| Official transcript | Full academic record with grades on Iran's 0-20 scale |
| Credential evaluation | A course-by-course report from a NACES-member evaluator that converts your record to US grading |
| English test score | TOEFL or IELTS, unless your program waives it |
| Standardized test score | SAT or ACT for some undergraduate programs, GRE or GMAT for many graduate programs |
| Financial documents | Bank statements or a sponsor letter proving funding for tuition and living costs |
| Statement of purpose and recommendation letters | Required by nearly every graduate program and many undergraduate ones |
The application timeline, step by step
Research programs and confirm admission requirements on each school's international admissions page, 12-14 months before your intended start.
Take the TOEFL or IELTS and any required GRE, GMAT, SAT, or ACT test, 9-12 months out, leaving room for a retake.
Request your credential evaluation and official transcripts, 8-10 months out, since document requests from Iranian institutions and international mail both take longer than domestic requests.
Submit applications by each school's deadline, typically 6-8 months before the term starts.
Receive admission decisions and, if accepted, your Form I-20 from the school's international student office.
Confirm your visa options before paying deposits or booking travel, given the current suspension.
What the process costs
Budget for application fees at each school, English and standardized test registration fees, a credential evaluation fee, and courier costs to send documents internationally. Fees vary by test and by school, so check the current amount on each organization's official page, ETS for TOEFL, the College Board for the SAT, your chosen NACES evaluator, rather than relying on a fixed figure, since these change often.
Because the F-1 visa is not being issued to Iranian nationals right now, leave the visa application fee and SEVIS fee out of your budget until the policy changes. Confirm the current status directly with the school's international office before you pay any deposit tied to travel.