Prepare for your exchange in the United States
before you board.
Find out what changes when you study English in the United States — the F-1 visa, weekly hours and work — and practise the conversations you will have in Miami, Orlando, Boston, New York and other cities.
Free to start, no card needed. The one-time Ticket is optional.
What to know about United States
Official rules in plain language. Every card shows the source and the date we last checked it.
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An intensive English programme can qualify for the F-1 visa
A standalone intensive English programme at an SEVP-certified school qualifies for the F-1 student visa. You must hold an I-20 issued by that school.
Source: ecfr.gov · checked 12 Oct 2026
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Minimum load: 18 classroom hours a week
For English language training, an F-1 “full course of study” is at least 18 clock hours of classroom attendance per week. Online courses do not count.
Source: studyinthestates.dhs.gov · checked 12 Oct 2026
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Work is tightly restricted for English students
F-1 students may not work off campus during the first academic year, and English-language students cannot use CPT/OPT (practical training).
Source: uscis.gov · checked 12 Oct 2026
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Entering as a tourist is not a way to study
A traveller on ESTA or a B visa who intends to study as the main purpose cannot use them — only recreational study incidental to the visit.
Source: fam.state.gov · checked 12 Oct 2026
Immigration rules change and depend on your passport, your course and your school. Treat this as a starting point and always confirm on the official website before you decide.
Cities in the United States on Departi
You pick your city when you start — each destination unlocks city-specific content: transport, school routine and practical tips.
- Miami
- Orlando
- Boston
- New York
- Los Angeles
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- Chicago
- Seattle
- Washington DC
- Las Vegas
- Houston
- Atlanta
- Philadelphia
Five steps. Before you board.
Choose your destination
You have already chosen United States. Next, the city — each destination unlocks city-specific content.
Set your date
Tell us when you depart. The platform builds your preparation pace.
Discover your level
Real situations with grammar, listening and AI-assessed speaking.
Train real English
Conversations you'll actually have: job interview, flat rental, doctor, school.
Arrive with proof
Your public profile shows level, study hours and readiness score. No paperwork.
Free + Ticket
Free to start.
One Ticket unlocks everything.
The essentials are free forever — lessons, conversations and the checklist. Want everything with no limits for 12 months? One Ticket, no subscription, no Coins.
Departi Ticket — one purchase, everything unlocked
A one-time purchase that opens everything for 12 months: the full lesson library, unlimited simulations and speaking analysis, the whole hub and the work suite (CV, cover letter, interview). PIX or card, one single payment — no subscription, no Coins.
R$296.99
from R$497 · launch offer
by PIX or card · 12 months of access
Questions about United States
Can I take an English course on a tourist visa?
On a B-2 visa only short, non-credit, recreational courses are allowed; study for a degree or certificate is not. On ESTA, studying as the main purpose is not allowed either. Check your case on the State Department site.
How early can I arrive in the United States on an F-1?
Entry is allowed up to 30 days before the programme start date. The original I-20 is expected at the visa interview and at entry: carry the signed document in your hand luggage.
Does Departi replace checking the official immigration website?
No. Departi organises your preparation and shows the rules with the official source and the date of the last check, but immigration rules change. The final word always belongs to the government website.
Is Departi free?
The essentials are free: you learn English in the Journey, practise conversation within the daily quota, and get destination guides, the checklist and community — no credit card, no subscription. There are daily limits (the Journey's lives) and premium features unlocked by the Ticket. But you never have to pay to genuinely prepare.
What is the Ticket?
It's a one-time purchase that unlocks every premium feature for 12 months — no subscription. You can pay by PIX or by card, both R$296.99, in a single payment. The essentials stay free forever; the Ticket is for when you want to accelerate and use everything without limits.
What does the Ticket unlock?
The Ticket unlocks the premium features: unlimited Simulation conversations, the full lesson library, detailed speaking analysis, generating and adjusting your CV, the cover letter, the full placement test and the full hub. The Journey lessons and the daily conversation quota are always free.
Your journey in the United States starts now.
Start for free. The essentials are free forever.
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