F-1 Student Visa

Description

The F-1 student visa allows foreign nationals to enter the United States for the purpose of pursuing a full-time course of academic study at an approved school, college, or university.

For a personal and confidential consultation, by phone or in person, call Jon M. Haynes, Haynes Immigration Law, P.C., at (210) 222-VISA (8472). You may also email Jon M. Haynes directly at: . Credit card payments are accepted.

Advantages

Residence

Students may live in the United States while pursuing an approved full-time course of study.

Flexibility

Permits students to change to other non-immigrant or immigrant classifications as eligibility arises.

Work Experience

Allows qualified students to participate in post graduate practical training work experience or curricular practical training programs.

Allows students to work 20 hours per week in qualified on-campus employment.

Requirements

Acceptance

Proof of acceptance for admission by an approved academic institution.

Financial

Proof of financial support sufficient to allow student to reside and study in the United States without working.

Non-immigrant Intent

Proof that student intends to depart the United States upon the completion of study.

Limitations

Issuance

Depending upon the economic circumstances of the student’s home country, Consular officers abroad may be reluctant to issue student visas for fear the student will not return abroad upon the completion of studies.

The Immigration Service is often reluctant to change the classification of a tourist to that of academic student should it appear that the tourist had the intent to study in the United States at the time of entry as a tourist.

Consular officers abroad and Immigration Service officers may deny requests for student visas where:

• It appears there is insufficient financial support to allow the student to meet living and school expenses without seeking work.
• There is little or no relationship between the student’s course of study and career opportunities in the home country.
• There are insufficient ties to the home country to compel the student to return upon the completion of studies.

Maintenance

Students must properly maintain their student visa status at all times. Maintaining F-1 visa status includes:

• Maintain a “full course of study” at all times. The term “full course of study” is defined according to the level of academic study at which the student is enrolled.
• Postgraduate study or postdoctoral study or research at a college or university, or undergraduate or postgraduate study at a conservatory or religious seminary, certified by a designated school official as a full course of study.
• Undergraduate study at a college or university, certified by a designated school official to consist of at least 12 semester or quarter hours of instruction per academic term, except when the student needs a lesser course load to complete the course of study during the current term.
• Study for at least 12 hours weekly, or its equivalent, in a post secondary language, liberal arts, fine arts, or other nonvocational program at a school that confers associate or other degrees or whose credits are accepted unconditionally by at least three institutions of higher learning.
• Study in any other language, liberal arts, fine arts, or other nonvocational training program, certified by a designated school official to consist of at least 18 hours of classroom attendance a week if the dominant feature of the course is classroom attendance, and 22 hours weekly if the dominant feature is laboratory work.
• Study in a primary or secondary school for not less than the minimum number of hours prescribed by the school for normal progress towards graduation.
• Satisfactorily pass minimum course work each academic term.
• Do not accept unauthorized employment at any time.
• Do not violate local, state or federal laws.
• Receive permission of the Immigration Service before changing academic institutions.
• Receive permission of the Immigration Service before pursuing a new level of academic study.
• Pay required tuition to the approved academic institution for course of study.
• Students must depart the United States or seek a new visa classification upon the completion of study and any period of practical training.

For a personal and confidential consultation, by phone or in person, call Jon M. Haynes, Haynes Immigration Law, P.C., at (210) 222-VISA (8472). You may also email Jon M. Haynes directly at: . Credit card payments are accepted.