USA Immigration

Services for Students
Studying in the USA

Student Visas

There are three types of student visa. However, the most common visa status for full time international students is the F-1 Visa. Information in this section therefore relates to the F-1 visa unless specified.

F-1 - Issued to students who are attending an academic program or English language program. F-1 students must maintain the minimum course load for full-time student status. For more information about the F-1 Visa, click here: www.immihelp.com/visas/student.html#F1

J-1 - A J-1 visa is issued to a student who needs to obtain practical training, which is not available in their home country, to complete their academic program. For further information click here: www.immihelp.com/visas/student.html#J1

M-1 - An M-1 visa is issued to a student who is going to attend a non-academic or vocational school. For specific requirements, click here:
www.internationalstudent.com/immigration/M1.htm

Before you apply

Before you apply for a student visa, you must apply to study at a USCIS-approved school in the United States. If you are accepted, the school should give you USCIS Form I-20 A-B/ID (Certificate of Eligibility for Non-immigrant (F-1) Student Status - for Academic and Language Students). If you require a visa, then you should take the USCIS Form I-20 from the school you plan on attending to the nearest U.S. consulate to obtain a student visa. For a list of US consulates, click here: http://usembassy.state.gov/

You will have to prove to the consulate that you have the financial resources to cover your education and stay in the United States.

Arriving in the USA

When you arrive in the United States, you should receive a Form L-94 (Arrival-Departure Record) that will include your admission number to the United States.
An Immigration inspector will write this admission number on your USCIS Form L-20 A-B/ ID.
The Immigration Inspector will then send pages one and two of this form, known as L-20 A-B, to your school as a record of your legal admission to the United States.
You are expected to keep pages three and four, known as the L-20 ID. This document is your proof that you are allowed to study in the United States as an F-1 student.

How Long Can I Stay in the United States?

You can stay in the United States for as long as you are enrolled as a full-time student in an educational program and making progress toward completing your course of study.

If approved, you may be allowed to stay in the country up to twelve months after completing your studies to pursue practical training.

At the end of your studies or practical training, you will be given 60 days to prepare to leave the country. For more information, click here:
http://uscis.gov/lpBin/lpext.dll/inserts/slb/slb-

Extending your stay as a Student

You do not need to apply to extend your stay in the United States as long as you are maintaining your student status and making progress toward completing your course of study.

The designated school official (DSO) from your school will write down a completion date on your USCIS Form L-20 A-B (Certificate of Eligibility for Non-immigrant (F-1) Student Status - for Academic and Language Students).

If you need to extend your stay for compelling academic or medical reasons, then you and the designated school official (DSO) should fill out USCIS Form L-538 (Certification By Designated School Official) and send it to the USCIS student data centre at least 30 days before the completion date listed on USCIS Form L-20 A-B.

Becoming an academic student and studying English in the United States:
http://uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/academic.htm

Becoming a vocational student in the United States:
http://uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/vocation.htm

Immigration Agency:

www.immigrationagency.org/

Visa Services at Department of State Website:

http://161.214.241.146/graphics/exec/leaving.