US Student Visa For Expats

Looking to study in the USA? Not sure which school/university to choose?

Wondering what are USA visa requirements? And should you apply for a student visa to USA before you apply to the university?

What about work? Would you be allowed to work and support yourself while studying in the USA?

First thing you should do is decide what are you going to study, where, and in which university/school?

When choosing the school you must make sure that it is on the SEVP (student and exchange visitor program) approved list of the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Most US institutions of higher education have received the approval, but to verify this you can check the list of approved schools.

Only after you have been accepted as a full-time student at an academic educational program, and received from the school the I-20 form, you can apply for a US student visa.

You should apply for a US student visa at a USA Embassy or Consulate in your home country. It is recommended to apply early to provide enough time for the consular officer to review your application and to accomplish any special clearances that may be required.

However please take into consideration that:

• The Embassy is allowed to issue your US student visa 120 days or less, in advance of the course of study registration date. And,
• All beginning students are allowed to enter the US 30 days or less in advance of the course start date. If you are planning an earlier entry into the US you must obtain a visitor visa

In general there three student visa categories:

• F1 visa, Academic Studies For people who have been accepted into a program to study or conduct research at an accredited U.S. college or university.
• M1 Visa, Non Academic or Vocational Studies For people who have been accepted into a program to study or train at a non-academic institution in the US
• J Visa, Academic Studies as an Exchange Visitor For people who have been accepted into a program through a designated sponsoring organization to participate in an exchange visitor program in the US. The J visa is for educational and cultural exchange programs.

USA visa requirements for students applying for M1 and F1 visa

• Submit an I-20 form, which was provided to you by your school.
• A completed US visa application - Form DS-156, together with a Form DS-158. The requested forms can be found here.
• An interview at the embassy consular section is required for almost all US student visa applicants. The waiting time for an interview appointment varies, so early visa application is strongly encouraged.
• A passport valid for travel to the United States and with validity date of at least six months beyond your intended period of stay in the United States.
• One 2x2 size photograph.
• A MRV fee receipt to show payment of the US student visa application fee.
• Transcripts and diplomas from previous institutions attended.
• Scores from standardized tests required by the educational institution such as the TOEFL, SAT, GRE, GMAT, etc.
• Financial evidence that shows you or your parents who are sponsoring you have sufficient funds to cover your tuition and living expenses during the period of your intended study.
• Proof of your relationship with your spouse and children (e.g., marriage and birth certificates).
• It is preferred that families apply for F2 and F1 visa at the same time, but if your spouse and children must apply separately at a later time, they should bring a copy of your passport and visa, along with all other required documents.
• You must be proficient in English or be enrolled in an English course.
• You must maintain a residence abroad which you have no intention of giving up.

Are you or your spouse allowed to work with M1 and F1 student visa?

There are only certain types of employment legally available to F-1 or M-1 students in the United States.

M-1 students may not work, except for practical training. F-1 students, on the other hand, may accept practical training employment or off-campus part-time employment after the first 9 months as a foreign student in the United States.

In any case don't accept any off-campus or practical training employment unless and until you receive authorization from INS. If you are found working without permission, you are subject to deportation.

If you hold a F1 visa you may work on-campus without INS permission, however, all questions or concerns regarding this should be directed to your school before beginning employment of any kind.

Your spouse and unmarried minor children (under 21 years old) may not work while in the United States.

What about health insurance?

The US government has no specific health insurance requirements for students on M1 and F1 visa. However, most educational institutions have set their own health insurance requirements. International students usually are required to prove they have a certain amount of health insurance (determined by the university) before they will be allowed to enroll in classes.

If the university or college you attend does not offer a health insurance plan, it is extremely important that you obtain coverage of your own to protect yourself against potentially very high medical costs. You can find out more information about health insurance options at major medical coverage.

When choosing a health insurance company make sure to read your health insurance policy carefully, especially the section that deals with exclusions. Some areas that are generally not covered by basic health insurance plans are - maternity care, dental service, eyeglasses, existing conditions, and prescription medications.

How long can you stay in the USA on your M1 and F1 student visa?

You may stay in the USA as long as you are a full time student, even if the F-1 visa in your passport expires while you are in the US.

What if you completed your studies and any authorized practical training?

You are allowed to stay in the U.S. before departure according to the following:

• F-1 student - An additional 60 days, to prepare for departure from the US or to transfer to another school.
• M-1 student - An additional 30 days to depart the US (Fixed time period, in total not to exceed one year).

US student visa – exchange visitor, J visa

The J visa is for people who will be participating in an exchange visitor program in the US. It is aimed for educational and cultural exchange programs

Through the Exchange Visitor Program, foreign nationals may visit the United States temporarily to complete the objectives of one of the exchange visitor program categories, which are:

Au pair, camp counselor, student, college/university, student, secondary, government visitor, international visitor (reserved for U.S. department of state use), alien physician, professor, research scholar, short-term scholar, specialist, summer work/travel, teacher, and trainee.

Each category of exchange has specific requirements and regulations. Therefore before you apply at an American embassy or consulate for a J USA visa you must be accepted for one of the Exchange Visitor Program categories. Upon your acceptance you will be provided with information and documents necessary to apply for the J USA visa to enter the United States.

USA visa requirements for students applying for J1 visa

• DS 2019, certificate of eligibility for exchange visitor status which was provided to you by your program sponsor.
• A Training/Internship Placement Plan, Form DS-7002 (if applicable).
• An application, nonimmigrant US student visa application, forms DS-156, completed and signed. The form can be found here.
• A Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-157 provides additional information about your travel plans. Submission of this completed form is required for all male applicants between 16-45 years of age.
• A Contact Information and Work History, Form DS-158, completed.
• A passport valid for travel to the United States and with validity date of at least six months beyond your intended period of stay in the United States.
• One 2x2 size photograph.
• Pay the Nonimmigrant US student visa application processing fee.
• Pay the US student visa issuance fee – if the visa is issued, there may be an additional visa issuance reciprocity fee, if applicable.
• An interview at the embassy consular section is required for US student visa applicants from age 14 through 79. Persons age 13 and younger, and age 80 and older, generally do not require an interview.
• Applicants must demonstrate to the consular officer that they have binding ties to a residence in a foreign country which they have no intention of abandoning, and that they are coming to the United States for a temporary period.

Can your spouse and children accompany you?

Spouses and/or children under the age of 21 who wish to accompany you to the United States are required to apply for an exchange visitor visas (J2 visa). Spouses and/or children who do not intend to reside in the United States with you, but visit for vacations only, may be eligible to apply for visitor (B-2) visas, or if qualified, travel without a visa under the visa waiver program.

Work - Your spouse and/or children may not work in J-2 status. However if employment is desired, they must make an application to DHS, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and be approved for permission to work

Study - spouse and/or children of an exchange visitor visa holder who are in the U.S. on an exchange visitor visa may study in the US without also being required to apply for a student (F-1) visa or change to F-1 status.

Do you need health insurance?

The U.S. Department of State requires students on J-1 exchange visitor visas and their dependents to have insurance coverage that includes health and accident, medical evacuation, and repatriation of remains. Therefore you will have to search for a private health insurance that will cover all the above. You can find out more information about health insurance options at major medical coverage.

Disclaimer: The contents of the US student visa are provided as an information guide only. The use of this website is at the viewer/user's sole risk. While every effort is made in presenting up-to-date and accurate information, no responsibility or liability is accepted by the owner to this website for any errors, omissions, outdated or misleading information on these pages or any site to which these pages connect or are linked.

Source & Copyright: The source of the above visa and immigration information and copyright owner/s is the:

Education USA – URL: www.educationusa.state.gov

Destination USA – URL www.unitedstatesvisas.gov

Travel State – URL www.travel.state.gov

Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs – URL www.exchanges.state.gov

The viewer/user of this web page should use the above information as a guideline only, and should always contact the above sources or the user's own government representatives for the most up-to-date information at that moment in time, before making a final decision to travel to that country or destination.

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