Applying to US Universities from Saudi Arabia: Timeline, Documents, and Costs
By Muntasir • Published Sep 18, 2026 • Updated Sep 20, 2026
Most Saudi students start their US application 12 to 18 months before the semester they want to join, gathering thanawiyyah transcripts, English test scores, and financial proof for the I-20.
📩 Apply through each university's own portal or the Common App, not through SACM directly.
🎓 You need your thanawiyyah certificate, transcripts, and an English test score like TOEFL or IELTS.
💵 Budget for application fees, test fees, the SEVIS fee, and the visa fee before you travel.
🛂 The US Embassy in Riyadh and the consulates in Jeddah and Dhahran handle F-1 interviews.
⏱️ Book your visa interview as soon as you get your I-20. Wait times change often.
Map your Saudi school calendar to US deadlines
The Saudi school year usually runs from around September to June, close to the US academic year. That overlap gives you time to apply in your final year of secondary school for a fall start in the US the following year.
Most US colleges use two main rounds: an early deadline around November 1 and a regular deadline around January 1, though each university sets its own dates on its own site or through the Common App . Graduate programs often set deadlines between December and February for a fall intake. Start researching schools and tests in your second-to-last year of secondary school so you are not rushing near your thanawiyyah exams.
Documents you need from Saudi Arabia
Every US university asks for a version of the same document set. Gather these early, since some take weeks to arrange.
Your General Secondary Education Certificate (thanawiyyah) and official transcripts, in Arabic with certified English translations if your school does not issue bilingual copies.
An English proficiency score: TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic, or Duolingo English Test, depending on what each university accepts.
Standardized test scores if your program requires them. Many US undergraduate programs are now test-optional for the SAT or ACT, so check each school's current policy.
A passport valid well beyond your planned travel date.
Financial documents that prove you or your sponsor can cover a year of costs, such as a bank statement, a sponsorship letter, or a SACM scholarship award letter. Your school uses this to issue your I-20.
Letters of recommendation and a personal statement or essays, in English.
Timeline from application to enrollment
| Stage | When |
|---|---|
| Research schools, take English and standardized tests | 12-18 months before your intended start |
| Submit applications | 6-10 months before, by each school's deadline |
| Receive admission decisions | 2-5 months before |
| Accept your offer and receive Form I-20 from your school's international office | As soon as you decide and pay any deposit |
| Pay the SEVIS I-901 fee and apply for your F-1 visa | As soon as you have your I-20 |
| Attend your visa interview in Riyadh, Jeddah, or Dhahran | Book as early as your appointment system allows |
| Travel to the US | Up to 30 days before your program start date on the I-20 |
Your school's international student office issues the I-20 through the SEVIS system once you accept your offer and show proof of funding. Study in the States explains what the Designated School Official (DSO) at your university does at each step.
What the process costs
Costs add up before you leave Saudi Arabia. Budget for these categories and check the current amount on the official page for each, since fees change.
Application fees per university, usually paid online with the application.
English and standardized test fees (TOEFL, IELTS, SAT, ACT, GRE, or GMAT depending on your program).
A credential evaluation fee if your chosen school asks a NACES member evaluator to assess your thanawiyyah or university transcripts.
The SEVIS I-901 fee, paid before your visa interview. Check the current amount at fmjfee.com .
The F visa application (MRV) fee, paid when you schedule your interview. Confirm the current amount on travel.state.gov .
Travel to your consular appointment city and your flight to the US.
A housing deposit and initial living costs for your first weeks on campus.
Where you apply from in Saudi Arabia
The US Embassy in Riyadh and the US Consulates General in Jeddah and Dhahran process F-1 student visas. Which post you use depends on where you live, not where your university is. Check ustraveldocs.com/sa for the current appointment system and wait times before you plan your travel dates, since wait times shift through the year.
If your school works with a SACM-affiliated scholarship, keep your SACM advisor updated on your admission and I-20 timeline. SACM (the Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission) supports government-sponsored students through orientation, academic advising, and health insurance enrollment, according to sacm.org .
Undergraduate vs graduate applications
Undergraduate admission in the US looks mainly at your thanawiyyah record, English test score, and sometimes SAT or ACT scores, plus essays and recommendation letters. Many universities read your Saudi grades directly, without a separate credential evaluation, though some ask for one. Confirm this on each school's international admission page.
Graduate admission (master's and PhD) looks at your bachelor's degree, GPA, sometimes GRE or GMAT scores, a statement of purpose, recommendation letters from professors, and for PhD applicants, research interests that match a specific faculty advisor. Most graduate programs ask for a credential evaluation of your Saudi bachelor's degree, since GPA scales and grading systems differ between the two countries.
Mistakes that cost Saudi applicants time
Waiting for a SACM scholarship decision before applying to universities. Apply to schools on your own timeline, then connect the scholarship once you have an offer.
Booking a visa interview before the I-20 arrives. You need the I-20 in hand to complete the DS-160 and book the interview.
Sending transcripts that are not properly translated or certified. Confirm the translation requirement with each university before you submit.
Underestimating consular appointment wait times. Book as soon as your I-20 is issued rather than waiting until closer to your program start date.
Not budgeting for the full cost stack. Application fees, test fees, the SEVIS fee, and the visa fee add up before you even buy a plane ticket.