Nonimmigrant Visas

Studying in the United States (F/J/M)

The United States welcomes foreign citizens who come to study. Most non-U.S. citizens who wish to study in the United States will seek an F-1 student visa, but there are other visa types that are sometimes used. Here is a short description of the different visa types that involve study.

F-1, or Student Visa This visa is the most common for those who wish to engage in academic studies in the United States. It is for people who want to study at an accredited U.S. college or university. If you are going to the United States to study and your course of study is more than 18 hours a week, you will need an F1 or M1 student visa.

M-1, or Student Visa This visa is for those who will be engaged in non-academic or vocational study or training at an institution in the United States.

J-1, or Exchange Visitor Visa This visa is for people who will be participating in an exchange visitor program in the United States. The J visa is for educational and cultural exchange programs. The Exchange Visitor Program is administered by the Office of Exchange Coordination and Designation in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Click here for more information. Before you can apply at the Consulate for a J visa you must apply, meet the requirements, and be accepted for one of the Exchange Visitor Program categories through a designated sponsoring organization. If you are accepted as a participant in an exchange program, the sponsor will provide you with information and documents necessary to apply for the J visa to enter the United States.

Additional application steps for F/J/M visa applicants:

1. Please follow the general application steps for all visa applicants. Click here for more information.

2. In addition, fill out the DS-158.

3. Check with your U.S. school to make sure your information has been entered into the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Click here for SEVIS information.

4. All new students and exchange visitors must pay the SEVIS fee of US$100 in addition to the regular application fee. For more information on the SEVIS Fee, click here.

5. Applicants for F, J and M visas do not need an appointment. You can apply Monday through Friday, 8:30-10:30 a.m. on any weekday that the U.S. Consulate is open (except U.S. and local holidays).

6. Bring the following documents (in addition to the general visa requirements): DS-158, I-20 or DS-2019 and SEVIS Fee receipt (if needed). Please check to ensure that the data on your I-20 or DS-2019 is correct. Click here for more information on the accuracy of your I-20 or DS-2019.

7. Bring documents to support your application:

• Credible documentary evidence that you have enough readily available funds to meet all expenses for the first year of study and that you have access to funds sufficient to cover all expenses while you remain in the U.S. Suggested documents include proof of your relationship to the sponsor (such as your birth certificate), the sponsor's most recent Inland Revenue Department tax form, and the sponsor's bankbooks and/or fixed deposit certificates. (Note: M-1 applicants must demonstrate the ability to pay all tuition and living costs for the entire period of their intended stay.)
• Documents that show scholastic preparation. Useful documents include school transcripts, public examination certificates (HKCEE and A-levels), standardized test scores (SAT, TOEFL, etc.), and diplomas. Returning students should bring official transcripts from their U.S. schools.

Click here for important information if you are a continuing student who has been out of school for more than five months.

Frequently Asked Questions About Student Visas

What are the basic requirements for a student/exchange visitor visa?

You must convince the consular officer that you are a bona fide student/exchange visitor, have a residence abroad that you have no intention of abandoning, and that you will depart the U.S. at the end of your studies or program. Information to support your application can include evidence of your immediate family's social and economic situation (proof of employment, property ownership, savings, and previous U.S. visa issuance).

When can I apply?

F and M visas will NOT be issued more than 120 days prior to the start date indicated on the form I-20. The Consulate cannot issue a student F-1 or M-1 visa after the reporting date listed on your I-20 has passed or if it appears you will not be able to enter the United States before the reporting date. J visas can be issued to exchange visitors at any time before the beginning of their programs, as indicated on the DS-2019 form.

When can I enter the United States?

U.S. Department of Homeland Security regulations state that holders of F, M, or J nonimmigrant visas will not be admitted to the United States until a date thirty (30) days or less prior to the beginning of your program start date (listed on your I-20 or DS-2019). You may be denied entry into the United States if you use the visa earlier than this thirty-day period. Please consider that date carefully when making your travel plans to the United States.

If I am a returning student/exchange visitor, what do I need to re-enter the U.S. for study after any trip abroad?

As a returning student/exchange visitor, you must present a valid passport, valid student/exchange visitor visa, and a properly endorsed, valid I-20/DS-2019 form at the U.S. port of entry. The valid student/exchange visitor visa can be presented in an old or expired travel document.

If I am transferring from one U.S. college, university or school to another, does my current student visa remain valid?

If you are transferring from one U.S. learning institution to another and less than 5 months pass between your enrollment in classes at each institution, your student visa remains valid with the new, valid I-20 you received from the new institution. You do not need to apply for a new student visa at an embassy or consulate abroad. If 5 months or more pass before you begin classes at the new learning institution, please click here for more important information on the validity of your visa.

If I am in the United States studying and my visa has expired, do I need to leave?

If you are a student/exchange visitor whose visa has expired, you may remain in the United States as long as you are in full-time student/exchange visitor status. On your next trip outside the United States, you will need to apply for and receive a valid F-1, J-1, or M-1 visa to re-enter the U.S.

How do I "transfer" my valid student/exchange visitor visa into my new passport?

You do not need to replace a valid student/exchange visitor visa in an expired or expiring passport. When applying to re-enter the United States after a trip abroad, you should carry two passports (of the same nationality) - one that is valid and the other with a valid student/exchange visitor visa - along with a valid form I-20/DS-2019. If you find it inconvenient to travel with two passports, you may apply to have a visa issued in your new, valid passport. Please note that this will be a new application and so an application fee must be paid. The visa in the old passport will be cancelled. There is no provision in U.S. visa regulations for the transfer of a visa. Students/exchange visitors applying for a new visa should present a valid form I-20/DS-2019 and proof that they are continuing, full-time students/exchange visitors in the United States.

Can I study in a U.S. public school?

Your attendance in a public secondary school (grades 9 through 12) is limited to a maximum of 12 months and you are required to reimburse public schools for the full, unsubsidized per capita cost of education for the intended period of study. You are not allowed to attend a public elementary school (grades K through 8) or a publicly funded adult education program. Click here for further information.

Why is my student visa application subject to additional administrative processing?

The Consulate may need extra time to process the visa applications of some students going to the U.S. for post-graduate degrees or research in certain advanced technology fields. This extra processing time usually takes 2-4 weeks. We strongly advise students in the sciences or other advanced technology fields to apply for their F, M or J visas as early as possible, considering the extra processing time that may be required.

What happens if I leave the United States for a break in my studies?

If an F-1 or M-1 student leaves the United States for a break in studies of five months or more, the student may lose their F-1 or M-1 status if their time outside the United States is not related to their course of study. As such, any F-1 or M-1 student who has left the United States for a break in studies of five month or more for a reason not related to their course of study should apply for a new F-1 or M-1 visa in the manner described above. On the other hand, if the F-1 or M-1 student is outside the United States for reasons for more than five months related to their course of study (for example, archaeological field school, research, etc.), then no new application is required. F-1 or M-1 students outside the United States for less than five months do not need to apply for a new F-1 or M-1 visa.

The consular officer told me that my visa application requires additional administrative processing because I plan to study in a high technology field. Why?

Visa applications for persons to study in certain sensitive scientific and technical fields are also subject to an interagency clearance in Washington, D.C. Since 1998, this clearance process has been used to screen against the illegal transfer of technology. Once the clearance process is complete and a visa is issued, the individual may apply for admission at a U.S. port-of-entry.

The Departments of State and Homeland Security have made steady progress in improving the clearance process for technology-related visa cases throughout the past year. We have added staff, invested in systems, and improved interagency cooperation, which has resulted in significant declines in processing times. Most cases are processed in two to four weeks, although clearance time varies from case to case. The Department of State also recently extended the validity of these clearances, reducing the number of times a visa applicant is subject to this process. More information may be found at http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2005/42212.htm.

We will contact you at the telephone numbers you listed on your application as soon as we receive notification that we can issue you a student visa. Please understand that this waiting period is necessary as we strive to make every effort to ensure the safety and security of the United States for all, including foreign students.

 

Please click here for further information on Student (F-1 and M-1) Visas and here for further information on the Exchange (J-1) Visas.

Click here to go back to the application instructions.

 

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Last modified: May 31, 2007