OTHER STUDIES

F1 Student Visa
The F1 Visa is issued to students who are coming to the USA to study on an academic program or to come to learn English as a Second Language.

To apply for an F1 Visa, If you desire assistance, please click here

All applicants please be prepared to provide:

• Transcripts and diplomas from previous institutions attended;
• Scores from standardized tests required by the educational institution such as the TOEFL, SAT, GRE, GMAT, etc.;
• Financial evidence that shows you or your parents who are sponsoring you have sufficient funds to cover your tuition and living expenses during the period of your intended study. For example, if you or your sponsor is a salaried employee, please bring income tax documents and original bank books and/or statements. If you or your sponsor own a business, please bring business registration, licenses, etc., and tax documents, as well as original bank books and/or statements.

Applicants with dependents please also provide:

• Proof of the student’s relationship to his/her spouse and/or children (e.g., marriage and birth certificates.);
• It is preferred that families apply for F-1 and F-2 visas at the same time, but if the spouse and children must apply separately at a later time, they should bring a copy of the student visa holder’s passport and visa, along with all other required documents.

Additional Information

• No assurances regarding the issuance of visas can be given in advance. Therefore final travel plans or the purchase of non refundable tickets should not be made until a visa has been issued.
• Unless previously canceled, a visa is valid until its expiration date. Therefore, if the traveler has a valid U.S. visa in an expired passport, do not remove the visa page from the expired passport. You may use it along with a new valid passport for travel and admission to the United States.

Entering the U.S. - Port of Entry

A visa allows a foreign citizen coming from abroad, to travel to the United States port-of entry and request permission to enter the U.S.  Applicants should be aware that a visa does not guarantee entry into the United States. Various US  officials have authority to permit or deny admission to the United States. Student visitors must have their Form I-20 in their possession each time they enter the United States.  In advance of travel, students should review important information about admissions/entry requirements, as well as information related to restrictions about bringing food, agricultural products, or other restricted  /prohibited goods Upon arrival (at an international airport, seaport or land border crossing), you will be enrolled in the US-VISIT entry-exit program. In addition, some travelers will also need to register their entry into and their departure from the U.S. with the Special Registration Program. If you are allowed to enter the U.S., the U S official will determine the length of your visit on the Arrival-Departure Record (Form I-94). Since Form I-94 documents your authorized stay in the U.S., it’s very important to keep in your passport.

Staying Beyond Your Authorized Stay in the U.S. and Being Out of Status

• You should carefully consider the dates of your authorized stay and make sure you are following the procedures under U.S. immigration laws. It is important that you depart the U.S. on or before the last day you are authorized to be in the U.S. on any given trip, based on the specified end date on your Arrival-Departure Record, Form I-94. Failure to depart the U.S. will cause you to be out-of-status.  You must maintain your immigration status [Link to 200] while a student
• Staying beyond the period of time authorized and being out-of-status in the United States is a violation of U.S. immigration laws, and may cause you to be ineligible for a visa in the future for return travel to the U.S. 
• Staying unlawfully in the United States beyond the date authorized--even by one day--results in your visa being automatically voided, in accordance with INA 222(g). Under this provision of immigration law, if you overstay on your nonimmigrant authorized stay in the U.S., your visa will be automatically voided. In this situation, you are required to reapply for a new nonimmigrant visa, generally in your country of nationality. 
• For non immigrants in the U.S. who have an Arrival-Departure Record, Form I-94 but who are no longer performing the same function in the U.S. that they were originally admitted to perform (e.g. you are no longer working for the same employer or you are no longer attending the same school), a DHS or an immigration judge makes a finding of status violation, resulting in the termination of the period of authorized stay.
• What Items Do Returning Students Need?
  
  
  All applicants applying for renewals must submit:
  
  A passport valid for at least six months;
  
  An application Form DS-156, together with a Form DS-158. Both forms must be completed and signed. Some applicants will also be required to complete and sign Form DS-157.
• A receipt for visa processing fee. A receipt showing payment of the visa application fee for each applicant, including each child listed in a parent’s passport who is also applying for a U.S. visa, is needed;
• a new I-20 or an I-20 that has been endorsed on the back by a school official within the past 12 months.

All applicants applying for renewals should be prepared to submit:

• A certified copy of your grades from the school in which you are enrolled;
• Financial documents from you or your sponsor, showing your ability to cover the cost of your schooling.

Students Away from Classes More Than Five Months

Students in or outside the U.S., who have been away from classes for more than five months, will likely need a new visa to enter the U.S.

How long may I stay on my F-1 student visa?

When you enter the United States on a student visa, you will usually be admitted for the duration of your student status. That means you may stay as long as you are a full time student, even if the F-1 visa in your passport expires while you are in America. For a student who has completed the course of studies shown on the I-20, and any authorized practical training, the student is allowed the following additional time in the U.S. before departure:

• F-1 student - An additional 60 days, to prepare for departure from the U.S. or to transfer to another school.

As an example regarding duration of status, if you have a visa that is valid for five years that will expire on January 1, 2001, and you are admitted into the U.S. for the duration of your studies (often abbreviated in your passport or on your I-94 card as "D/S"), you may stay in the U.S. as long as you are a full time student. Even if January 1, 2001 passes and your visa expires while in America, you will still be in legal student status. However, if you depart the U.S. with an expired visa, you will need to obtain a new one before being able to return to America and resume your studies.

Optional Practical Training

When authorized, Optional Practical Training (OPT) is 17 month temporary employment that is directly related to the eligible F-1 student’s area of study, and occurs before or after the completion of the student’s studies..

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Please note that any information contained on this entire web site shall not be construed as rendering legal advice to any individual on his/her case or situation. Any responses or information is merely intended to be of general character and must not be relied upon for any specific situation.

All information contained in this website is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. 

F1 Student Visa

An F1 visa is issued to international students who are attending an academic program or English Language Program at a US college or university. F-1 students must maintain the minimum course load for full-time student status. They can remain in the US up to 60 days beyond the length of time it takes to complete their academic program. In addition, an F1 student can remain for 12 months after securing a degree to work under the OPT (Optional Practical Training) program. F1 students are expected to complete their studies by the expiration date on their I-20 form (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status) which is provided by the US college or university that the student has been accepted to and will attend.

In order to qualify, applicants need to satisfy several strict criteria:

1. Must have a foreign residence and must intend to return there upon completion of studies;
2. Can only study at the academic institution through which the visa was granted;
3. Must have sufficient financial support;
4. Must have strong ties to home country (e.g. job offer letter upon completion of studies, assets, bank accounts, and family).
5. It may be possible to convert this visa to a temporary work visa upon completion of applicant's studies. Spouses and minor children obtain F-2 visa status and are not authorized to work in the U.S.

In our working in the USA ] section, we provide detailed guidance on the various employment opportunities for F1 students in the USA. Generally, immigration regulations are very strict with respect to working while carrying a student visa. F-1 status, which is the most common status for full-time international students, allows for part time, on-campus employment (fewer than 20 hours per week.) Jobs available on campus typically do not pay much, certainly not enough to finance a university education. Do not count on this kind of a job for anything more than a supplement to other funds.

An F-1 student is generally entitled up to one year of post-completion practical training. Authorization for this type of practical training may be granted for a maximum of 12 months and only starts once you have graduated or completed your course of study.

Please visit our Working in the USA [link to 300] section for complete information regarding OPT and other permitted employment for F1 students.

Speak to the international students department of your university to get the necessary forms to apply. They will inform you of the different practical training options available to you. Find out about your practical training options when you start to study so you can adequately prepare for the future.

Applying for an F1 Visa  

Different universities have different admission policies. Your university will inform you what they need from you in order to determine that you are academically eligible. Amongst other requirements, you will need to show the school that you have enough money to support yourself while studying without having to work and you may have to show health insurance in order to cover any medical expenses should you need any medical assistance. Always protect yourself by keeping a copy of everything that you fill out and send off.

Once the university has determined that your application is complete and you are academically eligible, they will issue an I-20 form to enable you to apply for your student visa.


You will need the following when applying for your student visa:

1. You will have to pay a non-refundable application fee. This means that if your visa does not get approved, you will not get your money back.
2. An application Form DS-156, completed and signed. These forms are free at all U.S. consular offices.
3. A DS-157 form for all males aged 16-45.
4. A passport valid for travel to the United States and with a validity date at least six months beyond your intended period of stay in the United States. If more than one person is included in the passport, each person desiring a visa must make an application.
5. One photograph [link to 100]1 and 1/2 inches square (37x37mm) for each applicant, showing full face, without head covering, against a light background
6. For the "F" applicant, a Form I-20A-B. For the "M" applicant, a Form I-20M-N. This form shows that you have been admitted into a US college, university or other institution.
7. You will need to show that you have enough money to support yourself.

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Please note that any information contained on this entire web site shall not be construed as rendering legal advice to any individual on his/her case or situation. Any responses or information is merely intended to be of general character and must not be relied upon for any specific situation.

All information contained in this website is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Applying for J1 Student Visa [link to tell us]  The J1 Visa is issued to students who need to have practical training as part of the academic program, however there is also a large program called the "Work/ Travel Program" under the J1 Visa where students can come to the USA for three to four months to gain employment and travel the USA.: 

A J1 visa is issued to a student who needs to obtain practical training, which is not available in their home country, to complete their academic program. J1 visas are also available for work and travel programs. Because students on J1 visas are often able to earn enough money to pay for their entire stay, the J1 visa program has become very popular.

J1 visas require an official "sponsoring organization" which has been designated and approved by the US State Department. Sponsors can be private or public organizations. Private, for-profit J1 Work and Travel operators have multiplied, making it difficult to sort through to find the best program. For a fee, these programs will get you a J1 visa, get you a job, provide health insurance and sometimes travel and lodging. There are many good and respected J1 visa operators, but some have provided sub-par experiences to their participants, and it pays to do your research.

J1 Visa Requirements
This visa enables applicants to enter the U.S. to participate in an Exchange Visitor Program. It may be an option for trainees, students, professors, or research scholars, physicians and summer students in travel/work programs. Traditional college and university students are typically on F1 visas, not J1 visas, though research scholars and visiting professors may be J1. The period of stay differs according to the different categories - most Work and Travel programs are three to four months, and most trainee/internship programs are up to 18 months. Spouses of J-1 applicants may be employed provided employment is not for the support of the J-1 and the spouse is not a J-1 visa holder themselves. Employment may be authorized for the duration of the J-1 validity or 4 years, whichever is shorter.

Jobs available on campus typically do not pay much, certainly not enough to finance a university education. Do not count on this kind of a job for anything more than a supplement to other funds. J-1 student status allows for similar employment, with similar restrictions, as long as permission is given by the exchange visitor program sponsor.

Since J1 visas are only issued through sponsoring organizations, your sponsoring organization (whether a work and travel operator, a trainee program, or a university) will help you through the process of obtaining your J1 visa.

 

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Please note that any information contained on this entire web site shall not be construed as rendering legal advice to any individual on his/her case or situation. Any responses or information is merely intended to be of general character and must not be relied upon for any specific situation.

All information contained in this website is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.