Student Visas (F1 and M1) to study in the United States

Anyone wanting to study in the U.S. can apply for a nonimmigration student visa. There are two types of student visas, the F1 and M1 visas. The F1 visa allows you to be a full-time student at an accredited tertiary education school (college, university, etc.), high school, elementary, or other academic institution or a language training program. The M1 visa allows students to be enrolled in a vocational school or other nonacademic programs.

Qualifications for these visas are:

- be enrolled in an "academic" educational program, a language-training program, or a vocational program

- school must be approved by the Student and Exchange Visitors Program, Immigration & Customs Enforcement

- be a full-time student at the institution

- speak English or be enrolled in an English class to learn to speak it

- be able to support yourself during entire course of study

- have a residence abroad which you intend to keep

Employment

F1 visa students cannot work off-campus during the first year of academic enrollment but can work on campus with certain restrictions. After the first year, students can work off campus in areas related to their area of study and must be authorized prior to starting any work.

M1 visa students can only seek practical training after completion of their studies in areas related to their field of study and must be authorized prior to starting any work.