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Visa for Students

Visa for Students

A visa for students is issued only to those who meet the required regulations for this visa.

The F-1 Visa (Academic Student) allows you to enter the United States as a full-time student at an accredited college, university, high school, elementary school, or other academic institution or in a language training program. Your school must be authorized by the U.S. government to accept international students.

The M-1 visa (Vocational Student) category includes students in vocational or other nonacademic programs, other than language training.

You may enter in the F-1 or M-1 visa category provided you meet the following criteria:

You must be enrolled in an “academic” educational program, a language-training program, or a vocational program
Your school must be approved by the Student and Exchange Visitors Program, Immigration & Customs Enforcement
You must be enrolled as a full-time student at the institution
You must be proficient in English or be enrolled in courses leading to English proficiency
You must have sufficient funds available for self-support during the entire proposed course of study
You must maintain a residence abroad which you have no intention of giving up.
F-1 students may not work off-campus during the first academic year but may accept on-campus employment subject to certain conditions and restrictions. After the first academic year, F-1 students may engage in three types of off-campus employment:

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
Optional Practical Training (OPT) (pre-completion or post-completion)

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