Non-Immigrant Visas

Student Visas in the United States (F or M Visas)

The Immigration and Nationality Act provides two nonimmigrant visa categories for persons wishing to study in the United States. The "F" visa is for academic studies, and the "M" visa is for nonacademic or vocational studies. Additional classifications related to studies in the United States are (H) temporary workers and trainees and (J) exchange visitors. Please see the above referenced links for information on obtaining (H) visas, and Exchange Visitors for information of obtaining (J) visas.

Supporting Documents

All academic institutions and scholarship programs will need to register students in a computerized system, SEVIS, which permits consulates worldwide to confirm that the students are registered in the institution or program. Only students registered in this system can obtain their visa. 

In addition to the required documents for all non-immigrant visas, applicant for "F" or "M" visas must meet the following additional requirements:

• Scholastic Preparation: The student visa applicant must have successfully completed a course of study normally required for enrollment. The student, unless coming to participate exclusively in an English language training program, must either be sufficiently proficient in English to pursue the intended course of study, or the school must have made special arrangement for English language courses or teach the course in the student's native language.
   
• Financial Resources: Applicants must also 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 entire period of anticipated study in the United States. Specifically, "F" visa applicants must prove that they 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. "M" visa applicants must have evidence that sufficient funds are immediately available to pay all tuition and living costs for the entire period of intended stay.

Acceptance Form: An applicant coming to the United States to study must be accepted for a full course of study by an educational institution approved by the DHS. The institution must send to the applicant a Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status for Academic and Language Students or a Form I-20M-N, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (M-1) Student Status for Vocational Students. Educational institutions obtain Forms I-20 and I-20M-N from the DHS. The I-20 must be re-endorsed by the school after one year and presented with a valid visa for each entry into the United States.