Student Visa (F-1)

People who are coming to the United States to pursue full-time academic or vocational studies are usually admitted in one of two nonimmigrant categories. The F-1 category includes academic students in colleges, universities, seminaries, conservatories, academic high schools, other academic institutions, and in language training. The M-1 category includes vocational students.

How Can I Change My Nonimmigrant Status to Become a Student If I Am Already in the United States?
You first must apply to study at a USCIS-approved school in the United States. When you contact a school that you are interested in attending, you should be told immediately if the school accepts foreign national students. If you are accepted, the school should send you USCIS Form I-20 A-B/IID (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status - for Academic and Language Students). You must submit this form and a USCIS Form I-539 (Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status) to the USCIS. You must also prove that you have the financial resources required for your education and stay in the United States.

Can I Bring My Spouse and Children with Me to the United States?
Your spouse and children may come with you to the United States in F-2 status. They should go with you to the U.S. embassy or consulate when you apply for your student (F-1) visa. They should be prepared to prove their relationship to you. If your spouse or children are following to join you at a later date, they should provide the U.S. embassy staff with a copy of your USCIS Form I-20 ID (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status - for Academic and Language Students) and proof of their relationship to you. The F-2 status of your family will be dependent upon your status as the F-1 academic student. This means that if you change your status, your family must change their status. If you lose your status, your family will also lose their status.

Types of Employment Available to the F-1 Student
First of all, all categories of employment for F-1 students require the cooperation of the college or university’s international student advisor.
Working allows students the opportunity to gain experience, interact with American business, and where necessary, supplement family support or personal resources due to changed financial need.

On-Campus Employment
On-campus employment by F-1 student is permitted as long as the student works no more that 20 hours a week while school is in session. Students may be employed full-time during vacations and recess periods as long as they intend to register for the next term.
On-campus employment means employment performed on the premises of the school or at an affiliated off-site location. It may mean employment of a type normally performed by students, such as work in the school library, cafeteria, or in a student store, or employment which is part of a student’s scholarship, fellowship or assistantship.

Off-Campus Co-Op Programs and Internships
Co-op or cooperative training programs and internships (called curricular practical training by the INS) are work-study programs required as part of a student’s work towards a degree. A student cannot qualify for curricular practical training until the student has been enrolled in the school or at least nine months, although students enrolled in graduate studies that require immediate participation in curricular practical training can begin immediately.
The maximum amount of curricular of post-completion practical training is 12 months. Thus, if the curricular practical training is 12 months in length (on a full-time basis), the student will be ineligible for post-completion practical training.

Pre-Completion Practical Training
Off-campus pre-completion practical training in a field related to studies is permitted for F-1 students as long as the work is for no more than 20 hours a week while school is in session. Full-time employment under this category is allowed during vacations and recess periods as long as the student intends to register for the next term. Time spent in pre-completion practical training will be deducted from the 12 months full-time employment available for post-completion practical training.

Employment Authorization Based on Severe Economic Hardship
Any unexpected circumstances that may lead to a change in the student’s economic situation, may render the student eligible to obtain permission to work off-campus in any job of the student’s choosing 20 hours per week, full-time when school is not in session. Employment based on economic necessity is not deducted from time allowed for post-completion practical training, but the student must have completed one academic year in F-1 status to qualify. And, the student must be in good academic standing.