Student Visa – F, J, M visas
There are various different types of student visas that students can apply for depending on their own situations. An F-1 visa allows students to enter the U.S. as a full-time student at a university or college, high school or private elementary school, etc. An M visa allows students to attend a vocational or other recognized nonacademic institution, other than a language training program. For a short period of recreational study, a Visitor (B) visa may be appropriate as well. However, an F or M visa is required prior to entering the U.S. if the student studies in a program that leads to a U.S. conferred degree or certificate, even if it is for a short duration.
Thus, students should understand their visa requirement and whether they are eligible for that visa or not before signing up for a program.
There are three main types of student visas:
- F Student Visa: for study at an accredited U.S. college or university or to study English at an English language institute;
- J Exchange Visa: for participation in an exchange program, including high school and university study;
- M Student Visa: for non-academic or vocational study or training in the U.S.
There are multiple benefits to have a student visa, some of them are:
- F-1 and J-1 students are permitted to work provided that they obtain work authorization. However, they are only allowed to work on campus part-time, for 20-hour per week. M visas do not allow the students to work while enrolling in their programs.
- There are no quota restrictions for F-1 and J-1 visas, so an unlimited number of students can enter the United States at any given time.
- The students have the opportunity to enter the U.S. as full-time students to earn a world-class education.
- The students have the flexibility to travel in and out of the U.S. over the course of their studies. They can also stay in the U.S. for the entire time if they wish.
- The students’ family, spouse, and dependents can come to the U.S. if they file and are approved for F-2 status.
Once accepted at the Student Exchange and Visitor Program (SEVP) certified school, students will receive a Form I-20 or DS-2019 from the institution’s international student office to apply for student visas.
Application process has 2-step. First, the students will complete the form DS-160 online visa application and print the confirmation page to bring to the interview. Second, the students will go to the embassy or consulate website where they are living to request for an interview.
For new students, F and M visas, the visas can be issued up to 120 days in advance. However, the students are only allowed to enter into the U.S. within 30 days before the start date.
For continuing students, F and M visas, the visas can be issued at any time, as long as the students are still enrolling at their schools. They can enter into the U.S. at any time before classes start.
Before the student can apply for an F, J, or M student visa, the student must first apply and be accepted by a U.S. institution of higher education that is certified by the Student Exchange and Visitor Program (SEVP).
For F-1 visa, the students must demonstrate that
- The students are maintaining a permanent residence outside of the U.S. This should be substantial enough to show that they have incentive to return home after graduation.
- The students have other assets that would cause them to return home such as property, a car, family, a bank account, or a job offer.
- The students can financially support themselves while living and studying in the U.S.
- The institution for education has or will sponsor the students’ visas.
The J-1 visa can be called the “exchange visitor visa”. This visa allows students to gain skills in the U.S. to take back to their home countries. Thus, J-1 visa holders have sponsoring programs that are approved by the Department of State. Under this program, students are required to return home for at least two-year before coming back to the U.S. This requirement is called the “home residency requirement.” However, students can apply for waive of this requirement by proving:
- A statement of No Objection from the student’s home country’s government
- Evidence that returning to the student’s home country would expose the student to persecution
- Evidence that returning to the student’s home country would result in extreme hardship for the student’s family members.
- Having a U.S. government agency express interest in having the student remain in the U.S. after the student’s J-1 expired (IGA waiver).