Student Visa Information

Before you can come to the United States as a student, you must be accepted to a school and prove that you have sufficient financial resources (scholarships, loans, family or personal resources) to pay your school and living expenses. For information on sources of financial aid, on applying to schools, and on organizations in your country that can assist you, see the area of our website called Study in the U.S.

There are three nonimmigrant student visas for persons wishing to study in the United States (a nonimmigrant is someone admitted to the U.S. temporarily):

F-1 Student Visa

"F" visa includes academic students in colleges, universities, seminaries, conservatories, academic high schools, other academic institutions, and in language training. F-1 Immigration Status allows an individual to be engaged in full course academic study in the United States in an accredited educational program.

The F-1 student visa classification is for full-time study in the U.S. In order to apply for the F-1 visa, the prospective student must receive a Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status — for Academic and Language Students, Form I-20 A-B. This form must be issued by a school or school system which has been authorized by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) to sponsor international students. The majority of colleges and universities, and some public school systems and private institutions have this authorization.

Once a prospective student has satisfied the admission requirements for the college or university of their choice, they must also prove that they will have adequate financial resources to cover their school and living expenses in the U.S. Employment opportunities are limited for international students. Proof of sufficient financial support may be submitted on Form I-134 Affidavit of Financial Support by a close family relative or other person who is willing to provide it. In some cases, graduate students may be offered research or teaching assistantships or fellowships, but these may only cover part of the school expenses.

Failure to be enrolled for a full course of study is considered a violation of the F-1 student status and places the student in a deportable situation.

F-1 students who want to seek additional employment in the U.S. after graduation may consider the H-1B status, which is for temporary, professional employment in a “specialty occupation”. This visa requires a job offer with a minimum qualification of at least a bachelor’s degree, and the student must have the appropriate evidence of at least such a degree.

More details for F-1 students, Click Here...

Exchange Visitor (J-1) Students

International students who are sponsored for study in the United States by their government, their foreign university, an international organization, or substantially from funding from any source other than personal or family funds may be admitted as J-1 exchange visitor students. J-1 students must also maintain a full course of study at the school they are authorized to attend. Failure to do so is a violation of status, which may subject the student to deportation from the U.S.

J-1 students have limited employment opportunities in the U.S. The program sponsor must authorize in writing any on-campus employment during the program of study. Upon completion of a degree program, J-1 students may be granted up to 18 months of academic (practical) training to gain work experience in their field of study, with the possibility of an additional 18 months for postdoctoral research.

Dependent spouses and child exchange visitors are admitted under J-2 status and may apply for employment authorization while in the U.S. Duration of the employment authorization is limited to the duration of the exchange visitor’s stay. Income earned by the J-2 dependent must be primarily for support of the J-2 and cannot be used to support the principal J-1.

More details for J-1 visa, Click Here...

M-1 students

"M" visa is for people wishing to pursue nonacademic or vocational studies.
Students who are admitted for vocational or technical training programs are admitted under M-1 student status. Admission procedures are similar to those for F-1 students. Schools that offer vocational or—technical training programs must be authorized by the Immigration Service to sponsor M-1 students, and the school issues the student a Form I-20MN. The prospective student must take the I-20MN documentation of adequate financial support for the program and evidence of non-immigrant intent to apply for the visa at the U.S. consulate or embassy.

A student admitted under M-1 status will be allowed to remain for the time necessary to complete the specified course of study plus 30 days in which to depart from the U.S. or one year, whichever is shorter. To maintain valid M-1 status, students must enroll in at least 12 hours of instruction per week or its equivalent at a post secondary vocational or business school (except for a language training program) where they will receive a recognized associate or other degree. For those M-1 students who choose a vocational or other non-academic curriculum (except for a language training program), full-time enrollment must be at least 18 hours per week or 20 hours a week if the primary activity is shop or laboratory work.

More details for M-1 students, Click Here...

Am I Eligible?

To be eligible to apply for the F or M visas, you must intend to stay for a temporary period of time and have proof of compelling ties (social, family, economic, professional or other) to a residence outside the United States to which you will return after the visit. You must also meet the following criteria:

Financial Resources
You must prove that sufficient funds are, or will be, available from an identified and reliable financial source to defray all living and school expenses during the period of your study in the U.S. Specifically, you must prove that you have enough readily available funds to meet all expenses for the first year of study, and that adequate funds will be available for each subsequent year of study. If you are applying for an M-1 visa, you must have evidence that sufficient funds are immediately available to pay all tuition and living costs for the entire period of your intended stay.

Acceptance
You must be accepted in a U.S. academic educational program, language-training program, or vocational program. The school must be approved by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (USCIS), and the school must send you a Form I-20 (which it receives from the USCIS).

Preparation for Departure:

An F-1 student who has completed a course of study and any authorized practical training following completion of studies will be allowed an additional 60-day period to prepare for departure from the United Stated. 

An F-1 student authorized by the DSO to withdraw from classes will be allowed a 15-day period for departure from the United States. However, an F-1 student who fails to maintain a full course of study without the approval of the DSO or otherwise fails to maintain status is not eligible for an additional period for departure.

Any Question:

Call at 718-888-9495 and set up an appointment with an International Student Coordinator at Infoserve Technologies Institute. The International Student Coordinator will review your request.

For more questions about immigration status and visas, contact International Student Coordinators via e-mail at the campus you wish to attend: training@infoserveusa.com