II. Requirements for the F1 Visa

To be eligible for an F1 visa, you must prove that:

A. You have successfully completed a course of study normally required for enrollment.

B. You have been accepted for a full course of study by an educational institution approved by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The institution must send you a USCIS Form I-20A-B, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant F-1 Student Status for Academic and Language Students

C. You are sufficiently proficient in English to pursue the intended course of study, or the school you intend to attend has made special arrangements to teach you the English language or conduct the course in your native language

Note: You may be exempt from this requirement if you intend to come to the U.S. to participate exclusively in an English language-training program

D. You have sufficient funds to cover the first year of study, and access to sufficient funds to cover subsequent years

E. You have a permanent residence in your home country, which you do not intend to abandon

F. You intend to depart the U.S. upon completion of the course of study. You may establish this by presenting evidence of economic, social and/or family ties in your homeland sufficient to induce you to leave the U.S. upon completion of studies


G. Your proposed education in the U.S. would be useful in your homeland, and therefore induce you to leave the U.S. upon completion of studies

III. Applying for the F1 Visa

The first step is to obtain from the school or academic institution the USCIS Form I-20A-B entitled Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant F-1 Student Status. Schools and academic institutions, which have received USCIS approval to enroll foreign students under F1 student visa, have the authority to issue these forms.

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Note: A F1 student visa cannot be processed without USCIS Form I-20A-B.

Your F1 student visa application must include:

A. DOS Form DS-156, Nonimmigrant Visa Application

B. DOS Form DS-157, Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application, for all male applicants between the ages of 16 and 45

C. DOS Form DS-158, Contact Information and Work History for Nonimmigrant Visa Applicant

D. A copy of your passport which is valid for at least six months beyond the period of stay in the U.S. and with at least one blank page

E. Two identical color photographs showing full face without head covering against a light background. You may wear a headdress if required by a religious order of which you are a member

F. 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

G. For example, if you or your sponsor is a salaried employee, you may include income tax documents and original bank statements. If you or your sponsor owns a business, include business registration, licenses, etc., and tax documents, as well as original bank statements

H. Transcripts and diplomas from previous institutions attended

I. Scores from standardized tests required by the educational institution such as the TOEFL, SAT, GRE or GMAT

J. Documents demonstrating your intent to depart from the U.S. upon completion of studies

IV. The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS)

The SEVIS system replaces the Interim Student and Exchange Authentication System (ISEAS), which the Department of State had been using since mid-2002. All new Form I-20A-B and DS-2019 dated after February 15, 2003, must be created within the SEVIS system.
The purpose of SEVIS is to monitor the visa adjudication process and oversee the academic career of foreign students and their dependants who enter the U.S. using an F1 or F-2 visa.
Under the SEVIS guidelines, the student's proposed U.S. school must submit specific information electronically before a student visa may be issued.
The required information is:

A. The full name of the student

B. Date and place of birth of the student

C. Nationality/Citizenship of the student. The school's code/program number

D. The school/program name

This information can only be entered by the U.S. schools - students cannot enter the information on their own behalf

V. Duration of Stay

You may enter the U.S. on US student visa up to 90 days before the designated registration date on the Form I-20AB, and remain in the U.S. for up to 60 days following the completion of the course.

VI. Working on the F1 Visa:

You may obtain, in certain limited circumstances, permission to work on-campus during your stay in the U.S. on US student visa. You may also obtain off-campus employment if you can prove that unforeseen circumstances beyond your control have occurred causing you unexpected financial hardship.
Unforeseen circumstances could include:

A. The university reduces or eliminates your financial aid through no fault of yours that is, if budgets change, or a professor leaves and takes the research grant that paid you. This category could include the elimination of your on-campus job. It does not include losing your job through poor performance

B. The university drastically increasing its costs, or its living expenses

C. Unexpected and necessary expenses such as medical bills or other emergencies

D. Unexpected change in financial source, which could be family, home, government or sponsor

VII. Spouses and Children

Spouses and/or children under the age of 21 who wish to accompany or join you in the U.S. for the duration of your stay can apply for F-2 visa.

M1 Visa

The M1 visa is a nonimmigrant visa for international students who wish to pursue a course of study that is not principally academic in nature at an established vocational or other recognized nonacademic institution such as a post secondary vocational or business school.

An application for labor certification is made using official form ETA 9089. While no supporting documentation is required with the ETA 9080, the employer may need to provide additional supporting documentation upon request.

I. Benefits of the M1 Visa:

A. You can enter the U.S. as a fulltime vocational student.

B. You can legally work part-time on campus. You may also work off campus if necessary (with prior approval from the USCIS).

C. You can freely travel in and out of the U.S. while on a valid visa.

D. Your dependents can live with you as long as you maintain your M1 status .

E. M1 visas are issued quickly.

II. Requirements for the M1 Visa:

To qualify for a student visa, you must prove that:

A. You have successfully completed a course of study normally required for enrollment
B. You have been accepted for a full course of study by a vocational institution approved by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The institution must send you a Form I-20M-N, certificate of eligibility for nonimmigrant (M1) student status for vocational students
C. You are sufficiently proficient in English to pursue the intended course of study, or the school you intend to attend has made special arrangements to teach you the English language
D. You have sufficient funds to cover the first year of study, and access to sufficient funds to cover subsequent years
E. You have a permanent residence in your home country, which you do not intend to abandon
F. You intend to depart the U.S. upon completion of the course of study. You may establish this by presenting evidence of economic, social and/or family ties in your homeland sufficient to induce you to leave the U.S. upon completion of studies
G. Your proposed education in the U.S. would be useful in your homeland, and therefore induce you to leave the U.S. upon completion of studies

III. The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS)

The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) system replaces the Interim Student and Exchange Authentication System (ISEAS), which the Department of State had been using since mid-2002.

All new I-20s and DS-2019s dated after February 15, 2003, must be created within the SEVIS system.

The purpose of SEVIS is to monitor the visa adjudication process and oversee the academic career of foreign students and their dependants who enter the U.S. using an M1 or M-2 visa.

Under the SEVIS guidelines, the student's proposed U.S. school must submit specific information electronically before a student visa may be issued. The required information is:

A. The full name of the student

B. Date and place of birth of the student

C. Nationality/Citizenship of the student. The school's code/program number

D. The school/program name

This information can only be entered by the U.S. schools - students cannot enter the information on their own behalf.

IV. Applying for the M1 Visa :

The first step is to obtain from the school or vocational institution the Form I-20M-N entitled Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (M1) student status.

Schools that have received U.S. Government approval to enroll foreign students have the authority to issue these forms.


Rate This Page An M1 visa cannot be processed without the Form I-20M-N. Item 11 at the bottom of page one of the Form I-20M-N must be completed and signed by the applicant and submitted together with the following:

A. DOS Form DS-156, Nonimmigrant Visa Application

B. DOS Form DS-157, Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application, for all male applicants between the ages of 16 and 45

C. A copy of your passport which is valid for at least six months beyond the period of stay in the U.S. and with at least one blank page

D. Two identical color photographs showing full face without head covering against a light background. You may wear a headdress if required by a religious order of which you are a member

E. Evidence demonstrating sufficient funds to cover all expenses including the tuition fee and living expenses.

Such evidence may include detailed bank statements of accounts showing that adequate funds are available for transfer, evidence of scholarships and/or combination of finances which will meet the estimated total expenses, including tuition, of your proposed stay in the U.S.

F. Evidence demonstrating that you have a residence abroad to which you intend to return at the end of your stay in the U.S.

This is generally established by evidence of family, professional, property, employment or other ties and commitments to some country other than the U.S. sufficient to cause the applicant to return there at the conclusion of your stay.

G. Your academic qualifications - such evidence may include complete transcripts of grades and test records for the last four years of school and evidence of TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) scores

Applications under license to Practice category will generally need to be supported by:

1.A Letter from the employer confirming employment outside the US, the nature of the previous employment, and the dates of employment.

2.If relevant, a letter from the US employer confirming the nature of the previous employment, and the dates of employment.

3.A job description for the prospective employee.

4.Tax returns showing employment of the candidate by the same employer outside of the U.S. for at least one year in the last three years.

5.Accounts for the employer in the US.

6.Professionals with advanced degree.

7.Subject to labor certification, members of the professions who hold advanced degrees may practice in the US.

V. Duration of Stay

You may enter the U.S. up to 90 days before the designated registration date on the Form I-20M-N. You can stay in the U.S. for the period of time it will take to complete the course of study as indicated on the Form I-20M-N plus 30 days, or for one year, whichever is less.


VI. Working on the M1 Visa


You may be allowed to accept employment only if it is a required part of your practical training and the employment is approved in advance by the office of the USCIS.


VII. Spouses and Children

Spouses and/or children under the age of 21 who wish to accompany or join you in the U.S. for the duration of your stay can apply for M-2 visas.