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Visa Categories
Student Visas (F, J, M Visa)
There are three principal ways in which a person may come to the United States to study:
• as a regular "F-1" student accepted to study at a U.S. school or university;
• as an "M-1" nonacademic/vocational student; or
• as a "J-1" student coming to study at a U.S. school under the auspices of an international exchange program approved by the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
After you have been accepted for admission by a U.S. school, the school will send you either a document called an "I-20A-B" form or, for nonacademic or vocational programs, an "I-20M-N" form. In the case of an exchange program, the sponsor will send you a form "DS-2019".
HOW TO APPLY FOR A STUDENT (F-1 or M-1) OR EXCHANGE VISITOR (J-1) VISA
Applicants for nonimmigrant visas must be interviewed in person. In order to receive an appointment, please click here to Book an Appointment. Students should schedule their interview as soon as possible to ensure their timely arrival in the U.S.
Please note that F, M and J visa holders may not enter the U.S. more than 30 days prior to the beginning of the program start date, given on the DS-2019, or I-20 form. If you try to enter more than 30 days in advance you will be denied entry.
Please be aware that United States Department of Homeland Security regulations state that holders of F, M and J Nonimmigrant visas will not be admitted to the United States until a date 30 days or less prior to the beginning of your program date, or start date, as given on your form I-20 (for F or M visas) or DS-2019 (for J visas). Please consider that date carefully when making your travel plans to the United States.
Other Documentation
Student visa applicants must establish to the satisfaction of the consular officer that they have binding ties to a residence in a foreign country that they have no intention of abandoning, and that they will depart the United States when they have completed their studies. It is impossible to specify the exact form the evidence should take since applicants' circumstances vary greatly.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Employment
An F-1 student may not accept off-campus employment at any time during the first year of study; however, the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration (USCIS) may grant permission to accept off-campus employment after one year. F-1 students may accept on-campus employment from the school without USCIS permission. Such arrangements for on-campus employment are usually specified on the I-20 form.
Family Members
A spouse of a student and the unmarried, minor children of a student may also be classified for a Nonimmigrant visa to accompany or follow the student. Family members need to obtain their own copies of I-20 or DS-2019 forms to be able to get a F2/J2 visa. Family members must meet all visa eligibility requirements, including evidence that they will have sufficient funds for their support, and that they will depart the U.S. when the student's program ends. Spouses and children of students may not accept employment at any time.
Holiday After Studies
If you have an F-1 visa you may remain in the United States for up to 60 days at the end of your studies; if you have an M-1 visa you may remain for up to 30 days, or in total one year from your date of admission, whichever is shorter. Holders of J-1 visas may remain for up to 30 days. If you wish to remain longer, you will be required to apply for an adjustment of status from F-1/M-1/J-1 to B-2 with the Department of Homeland Security having jurisdiction over your place of residence.
Students at U.S. Public High Schools
Congress recently enacted new limitations on certain foreign students planning to study in U.S. public elementary and secondary schools. The new law, which took effect on November 30, 1996, places the following restrictions on foreign students applying for F-1 visas to study at a U.S. public school:
Foreign students may not attend public elementary schools (grades K through 8) or publicly-funded adult education programs;
Foreign students may attend public secondary schools (grades 9 through 12), but for no more than 12 months; and
Foreign students are required to reimburse public secondary schools for the full, unsubsidized per capita cost of education for the intended period of study.
The new provisions affect only foreign students in F-1 immigration status, or who obtain F-1 student visas - in other words, those to whom Form I-20 would be issued. The provisions do not affect foreign students in any other immigration status, for example J-1 exchange visitors, or dependents of foreign nationals in the United States on long-term visas.
Likewise, the new provisions do not affect foreign students attending private schools or private training or language programs. F-1 students who wish to transfer from private schools or programs into public schools or programs must meet the new public school requirements.
For more information on the special requirements for students coming to study at a U.S. public high school please consult the relevant section of the U.S. Department of State’s Visa Services website (New Legal Requirements for Foreign Students in U.S. Public High Schools).
FORM I-20
The Form I-20 that the student receives from the U.S. school is not a visa. A student must obtain a student visa from the U.S. Embassy before he or she travels to the U.S. to begin studies. If a student arrives in the U.S. without the proper student visa, he or she will be denied entry and required to return overseas to obtain the visa. The visa and the original I-20 must be shown at the point of entry when traveling to the U.S.
QUESTIONS REGARDING FORMS, APPLICATION PROCEDURES
Questions on how to obtain Forms I-20A-B and I-20M-N should be made to the educational institution. If the institution does not have the forms, it should contact the local office of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Questions on visa application procedures at the U.S. consular offices abroad should be addressed to that consular office by the applicant.
LINKS
For further information regarding student visas please see:
• U.S. Department of State’s Visa Services;