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Student Visa

Information about Student Visas for United States immigration.

 
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+ F-1 (Student Visa). Studying at a U.S. Academic Institution as a foreign national.

The F-1 visa is for foreign nationals of all ages who wish to study at a university, college, or other academic institution in the United States. This visa is necessary because those who enter the U.S. as tourists (either on a Visa Waiver Program such as the ESTA program, or a B-2 visa) are not permitted to study, unless the study is informal/recreational (does not hold any university credits, for example).

Requirements for an F-1 Visa

The academic institution you wish to study at must:

  • Be an accredited school, certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). Please feel free to ask us for advice about which schools are certified in the United States.

  • Accept your application for a particular course of study at their institution.

You, the applicant, must:

  • Be able to prove that you are able to afford your selected course of study and the cost of living in the United States for the duration of said course, or alternatively, provide proof of a sponsor.

  • Be able to provide a valid reason for choosing your specific course of study; for example, someone from an English-speaking country looking to study English would not necessarily be eligible.

Who Can Accompany Me?

An approved applicant’s spouse and any unmarried children under the age of 21 (dependents) are eligible to apply for an F-2 nonimmigrant Visa, to accompany the F-1 Visa holder. This Visa does not allow dependents to work or study themselves, apart from in the case of public elementary or high schools. Therefore, if two spouses both wish to study in the United States, each of them will need to apply for his or her own F-1 visa. Please feel free to contact us for more information about this.

Application Process*

*In ALL cases, for an F-1 Visa application, you should hire a qualified immigration attorney before beginning this process. It is essential that every step of the process is carried out and documented correctly.

The steps involved to obtain approval for an F-1 Visa are as follows:

  1. Check if you meet the requirements for an F-1 Visa (see above).

  2. Apply and be accepted by an SEVP-approved school.

  3. Receive a Form I-20 from your chosen, certified school. Our offices will assist you with paying the SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) I-901 fee, and preparing an F-1 Visa application which proves that you are eligible to obtain said visa, you have a valid reason to come and study in the U.S., you are able to financially support yourself during your selected course of study, and you have sufficient ties to your home country to prove that you will return after your studies.

  4. Our offices will send your application for either a Change of Status, if you are applying from within the United States, or a Consular process, if you are applying from outside of the United States.

  5. In the case of a Change of Status, it is essential for you to maintain legal status in the United States throughout the F-1 visa application process, including whilst you wait for a decision. Our offices will advise you on how best to do so, and will help you with any necessary extensions, such as B-2 (Tourist) Visa extensions.

  6. In the case of a Consular Process, after your application is completed and sent, our office will help you to schedule your F-1 Visa interview at your nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Your attorney will prepare an interview package for you to take along with you to the interview, with all of the necessary documents and proof of payments inside, and will then schedule a mock interview with one of our staff to help you to prepare, ensuring that you feel 100% confident and prepared. Once your interview is over, the immigration officer will usually tell you there and then whether or not your visa is approved. If approved, your passport will be taken and returned to you a few days later with the visa inside of it.

When receiving an F-1 visa approval, the most likely outcome is that you will be granted your visa for the duration of your course of study, rather than for a specified time period; hence, you will see “D/S” on your visa.

F-1 Visa holders, unless they qualify for certain exceptions, are not permitted to work during their time studying in the United States. Doing so can render your visa invalid.

Any further questions? Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us, we’ll be happy to help!

With exceptional knowledge and expert insight into US visa application protocol, Azadi Law P.A. provides prospective students with all of the legal services, advice and support they require when applying for an F-1 Visa. Contact us today for a consultation!