Students and Exchange Visitors Immigration

F1 VISA

An F1 visa is used by foreign nationals who are entering the U.S. to attend an established institution of learning or other recognized place of study in the United States.

Some of the steps a student must take to enter the U.S. as a foreign student include:

1) Acceptance to an institution of learning approved by U.S. Investigations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in compliance with the SEVIS program. The institution issues SEVIS Form I-20. U.S. Investigations and Customs Enforcement-approved educational institutions are, among others, language schools, private elementary and secondary school to colleges and universities. An F1 student can also attend a public secondary school for up to 12 months if he or she reimburses the school for the full cost of attendance. Thus, a student can remain in F1 visa status through their entire academic career starting in elementary school until he or she graduates from a PhD. program provided they maintain a full course of study and other eligibility requirements.

2) Obtaining a visa or change to student status in the US before commencing studies. Among other things, a student must prove to the consular officer or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services: 1) that he or she intends to leave the US once they complete their course of study; 2) they meet the academic requirements; 3) that they have enough financial support to attend school without engaging in unauthorized employment; 4) they are proficient in English unless they have a valid reason not to be.

M1 VISA

The M1 visa offers a great opportunity for students to train in a positive U.S. environment and strengthen their technical and non-academic skills. The M-1 visa is offered to students who wish to pursue full-time study at a USCIS approved vocational or non-academic school in the United States.

These schools are usually community and junior colleges that offer vocational and technical training or vocational high schools. The schools must prove their international students program will reach certain educational objectives and will not be used to make students work.

Your spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21 are allowed to join you in the U.S., under M2 status. A prospective student's Form I-20M-N may be used to request an M2 visa.

If your spouse and/or dependant children are joining you later, they will need to submit Form I-20M-N, endorsed from the school you are attending. M2 visa holders can not work while in the U.S.

J1 VISA

The J1 exchange visitor program is designed to promote the interchange of persons, knowledge, and skills in the fields of education, arts, and sciences. Participants include:

Contact Malee about your Student Exchange Visa needs.