Student Visa
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Student Visa
Study in United States of America
The United States of America (USA) hosts the most number of international students in the world. Quality education, unique curriculum, multicultural environment, and abundant opportunities are just some of the reasons why many Indian students want to study in the USA.
An F1 visa is a non-immigrant visa for those wishing to study in the U.S. You must file an F1 visa application if you plan on entering the US to attend a university or college, high school, private elementary school, seminary, conservatory, language training program, or other academic institution.
There are a few exceptions, but in general anyone who intends to stay in the USA to study or live must obtain either a temporary or immigrant visa by the US Department of State. If you wish to study in the USA, you will most typically be issued a non-immigrant visa called an F1 (F2 for dependents) and can choose to attend one school types that are listed above.
The F1 visa process is relatively simple but can be time consuming, so it’s important to start this process as soon as possible to ensure that any delays won’t affect your education. Perhaps one of the lengthiest steps towards becoming an international student can be applying to a US school that has been approved by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). It’s also important to keep in mind that while there are many great institutions across the country, not all are equipped to handle international students and the administration that is required, so it’s important to verify that the school you would like to attend is approved well before filling out any applications, writing any essays or providing references.
After receiving acceptance by the school of your choice, you will be officially enrolled into the SEVP and are required to pay a one-time application fee. After all fees are paid and your account is in good standing, what is called an “I-20” form will be provided by your institution or educational program. This form will allow you to schedule an interview appointment with a local US embassy or consulate to be granted an F1 visa and officially become an international student!
All OPT must be directly related to your major area of study. If you are an F-1 student, you may be eligible to participate in OPT in two different ways:
- Pre-completion OPT: You may apply to participate in pre-completion OPT after you have been lawfully enrolled on a full-time basis for one full academic year at a college, university, conservatory, or seminary that has been certified by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) to enroll F-1 students. You do not need to have had F-1 status for the one full academic year; you can satisfy the “one full academic year” requirement even if you had another nonimmigrant status during that time.
If you are authorized to participate in pre-completion OPT, you may work part time (20 hours or less per week) while school is in session. You may work full time when school is not in session.
- Post-completion OPT: You may apply to participate in post-completion OPT after completing your studies. If you are authorized for post-completion OPT, you may work part time (20 hours or less per week) or full time.
If you participated in pre-completion OPT, USCIS will deduct that amount of time from your post-completion OPT authorization period. For example, if you participated in 10 months of pre-completion OPT, you would be eligible for only up to 2 months of post-completion OPT.
To be eligible for OPT, you must:
- Maintain valid F-1 student status at the time of application
- Be enrolled full-time for at least one full academic year in the U.S.
- Be physically present in the U.S. when you mail your application
- Intend to work or volunteer in a professional development opportunity directly related to the major field of study
Additional Considerations
- You do not need to have a job in order to apply for OPT.
- All work must directly relate to your field of study.
- Students with degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) may be eligible for a 24-month extension to their 12 month post-completion OPT.
- You do not need paid employment (volunteering is ok).
- You can work on multiple opportunities at one time.
The M1 visa is for students who want to enroll in vocational studies in the United States. Cooking classes, technical courses, mechanical classes, flight school, cosmetology are considered vocational studies.
The M1 does not have a cap so any student who meets the requirements could be granted a visa without any restrictions on the number of people.
As already mentioned, M1 visas are issued to a certain category of foreign students. Here are the requirements for applying for this visa:
- You are applying to nonacademic or vocational training courses only in the United States.
- You meet the minimum education qualification required by the vocational course you are applying for.
- You have been accepted by a U.S.-based vocational institution and have received the Form I-20.
- You possess the required level of English proficiency, both written and verbal.
- You have demonstrated that you have sufficient funds to cover your expenses while you’re in the U.S.
- You have a permanent residence in your home country and have no intention of abandoning it.
- You have no intention of staying in the U.S. and will leave after the completion of your education unless you become eligible to change your visa status.
- The institution is convinced that the education you receive in the U.S. will be beneficial to your homeland and hence induce you to leave post-completion.