Non-immigrant Visa Services

Student and Exchange Visas

The Immigration and Nationality Act provides two nonimmigrant visa categories for persons wishing to study in the United States. The "F" visa is for academic studies, and the "M" visa is for nonacademic or vocational studies.

To apply for a student visa for academic or language study, an alien must have been accepted for the purpose of pursuing a full course of study in an academic institution approved by the U.S. Attorney General. The student must present to the Consular Officer the original Form I-20, "Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status for Academic and Languages Students" properly completed and signed by the alien and the designated school official. To apply for a student visa for vocational studies, an alien must have been accepted for the purpose of pursuing a full course of study in a nonacademic institution approved by the Attorney General. The student must present a form I-20M-N, "Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (M-1) Student Status - for Vocational Students" properly completed and signed by the alien and the designated school official. The issuance of an I-20 is not a guarantee that the prospective student will qualify for the visa; the prospective student must also meet all of the requirements of U.S. immigration law to qualify for a student visa. The Consular Officer determines whether the prospective student qualifies for a visa. In addition to the forms required of all applicants, those persons applying for student visas must also submit a completed form DS-158.

The F-1 student visa applicant must present documentary evidence that sufficient funds are, or will be, available from a specifically identified and reliable financial source to defray all living and school expenses during the entire period of anticipated study in the United States. Specifically, the applicant must present credible documentary evidence that he or she has enough readily available funds to meet all expenses for the first year of study and that, barring unforeseen circumstances, adequate funds will be available for each subsequent year of study. The M-1 student visa applicant must have evidence that sufficient funds are immediately available to pay all tuition and living costs for the entire period of intended stay.

The student visa applicant must have completed successfully a course of study normally required for enrollment at the level of study contemplated. The student, unless coming to participate exclusively in an English language training program, must either be sufficiently proficient in English to pursue the intended course of study, or the school must have made special arrangements for English language courses or instruction in the student's native language.

Student visa applicants must establish to the satisfaction of the Consular Officer that they have a residence in a foreign country, which they have no intention of abandoning, and that they will depart the United States upon termination of their student status.

A spouse or dependent child of a student may be eligible for a nonimmigrant visa to accompany or follow the principal applicant. Family members must meet all visa eligibility requirements, including evidence of relationship to the primary applicant; proof that they will have sufficient funds for their support, and that they will depart the United States upon termination of the student's program.

An F-1 student may not accept off-campus employment at any time during the first year of study. Under certain circumstances, the permission to accept off-campus employment after one year may be granted. F-1 students may accept on-campus employment from the school without this permission. Except for temporary employment for practical training, an M-1 student may not accept employment. Spouses and children of students may not accept employment at any time.

Additional required documentation for student visa applications:

Form DS-158 completed and signed. Note: This PDF form can be downloaded using Adobe Reader. If you do not have Adobe Reader, download the latest version.
Valid form I-20 for academic studies or I-20M-N for vocational studies issued by the school. Check your I-20 to make sure that: (a) your name, date and place of birth, and country of citizenship are correct and the same as they appear on your passport; (b) all spaces are filled in; and (c) the designated school official has signed it. Any errors or omissions on the I-20 make it invalid and unable to be used for the issuance of a visa. If the reporting date in #5 on the form will have passed before your visa is issued or before you travel to the United States, the I-20 is invalid.
Your name must appear in the "Student and Exchange Visitor Information System - SEVIS," a DHS (ex-INS) database from which the new I-20s are generated and issued.
Evidence of financial resources. Applicants must present evidence that sufficient funds are, or will be, available from a specifically identified and reliable financial source to defray all living and school expenses during the entire period of anticipated study in the United States. Documentation of income might include salary receipts, contracts, financial statements, or letters from sponsors, specifically explaining how they are going to finance the education.
Evidence that you are a bona-fide student, that your sole purpose for traveling to the United States is to study and that you are not likely to drop out of school for academic or personal reasons. You must demonstrate that you are qualified to undertake your proposed course of study. You should bring academic records/documents such as: transcripts, degrees, diplomas, and other certificates, test score reports (TOEFL, SAT, GRE, GMAT etc.) and any other academic documentation pertinent to your case. You should be able to demonstrate your reasons for studying in the United States, your reasons for selecting the institution you are going to, your intended field of study, and your career plans. If you have been out of school, be prepared to demonstrate your continuing ties to education.
Demonstration of sufficient knowledge of the English language to allow you to undertake an academic program. Visas usually will only be issued for English language training to those individuals bearing an I-20 form that shows acceptance in an academic program that will result in an internationally recognized degree (BA, MA, Ph.D).
Evidence that you have a home abroad (i.e., in Angola) to which you will return following your stay in the United States: evidence of social, economic, and family ties in Angola plus evidence of viable career plans that will bring you home. United States visa law requires the Consular Officer to assume that you intend to immigrate to the U.S., unless you prove otherwise.

NOTE: It is illegal for student visas to be used for primary or elementary school education in U.S. public schools.

Travel Plans

Recipients of F, J, or M student or exchange visitor visas should be aware that the United States 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 days or less prior to the beginning of your program date, or start date, as given on Form I-20 (for F or M visas) or DS-2019 (for J visas). Please consider that date carefully when making your travel plans to the U.S.

Exchange Visitors (J & Q Visas)

The Immigration and Nationality Act provides two non-immigrant visa categories for persons to participate in exchange visitor programs in the United States. The "J" visa is for educational and cultural exchange programs designated by the U.S. Department of State, Exchange Visitor Program and Designation Staff, and the "Q" visa is for international cultural exchange programs designated by the Bureau of Citizenship and Naturalization (BCIS).

The "J" exchange visitor program is designed to promote the interchange of persons, knowledge, and skills in the field of education, arts, and sciences. Participants include: students at all academic levels; trainees obtaining on-the-job training with firms, institutions and agencies; teachers of primary, secondary, and specialized schools; professors coming to teach or do research at institutions of higher learning; research scholars; professional trainees in the medical and allied fields; and international visitors coming for the purpose of travel, observation, consultation, research, training, sharing, or demonstrating specialized knowledge or skills, or participating in organized people-to-people programs.

The "Q" international cultural exchange program is for the purpose of providing practical training, employment, and the sharing of the history, culture, and traditions of the participant's home country in the United States.

Financial Resources

Participants in the "J" exchange visitor program must have sufficient funds to cover all expenses, or funds must be provided by the sponsoring organization in the form of a scholarship or other stipend. "Q" exchange visitors will be paid by their employing sponsor at the same rate paid to local domestic workers similarly employed.

Scholastic Preparation

"J" exchange visitors must have sufficient scholastic preparation to participate in the designated program, including knowledge of the English language, or the exchange program must be designed to accommodate non-English speaking participants. The "Q" exchange visitor must be 18 years old and be able to communicate effectively about the cultural attributes of his or her country.

Medical Education and Training

Exchange visitors coming under the "J" program for graduate medical education or training must meet certain special requirements. They include having passed the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination in Medical Sciences, demonstrating competency in English, being automatically subject to the two-year foreign residence requirement (later), and being subject to time limits on the duration of their program. Physicians coming to the United States on exchange visitor programs for the purpose of observation, consultation, teaching, or research in which there is little or no patient care are not subject to the above requirements.

Forms/Petitions

Participants in the "J" program must present an original DS-2019 prepared by a designated sponsoring organization. Participants in the "Q" program must have the designated sponsoring organization file Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker, with the Bureau of Citizenship and Naturalization (BCIS).

The BCIS will notify the sponsor on Form I-797 when the petition is approved. It should be noted that the approval of a petition does not guarantee visa issuance to an applicant found to be ineligible under the Immigration and Nationality Act. All J visa applicants are required to pay the SEVIS fee prior to submitting their application. Details on I-901 SEVIS Fee for F, M, & J Nonimmigrant Students & Exchange Visitors.

Employment

Employment while in "J" exchange visitor status depends upon the terms of the program. Participants in programs, which provide for on-the-job training, teaching, research, or other activities, which involve paid employment, may accept such employment. Participants in programs that do not involve work may not accept outside employment. The "Q" international cultural exchange program specifically authorizes paid employment as part of the program.

Foreign Residency Requirement

Certain "J" exchange visitors who participate in programs which were financed in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, by an agency of the U.S. Government or by the exchange visitor's government, or who are national or residents of a country which have been designated by USIA as requiring the skills of the exchange visitor, must return to their country of nationality or last residence after completing their program in the United States, and reside there physically for two years before they may become eligible to apply for an immigrant or temporary worker visa. "Q" exchange visitors may not participate in another "Q" program until they have been abroad for one year.

Family Members

The spouse and minor children of participants in "J" exchange programs may apply for derivative "J-2" visas to accompany or follow to join the principal alien by presenting a copy of the principal's Form DS-2019. They must demonstrate that they will have sufficient financial resources to cover all expenses while in the United States. Dependents may apply to the INS for authorization to accept employment in the U.S. The "Q" exchange program does not provide for the admission of the spouse or children of a participant in a derivative status.

Further Inquiries

Questions about the "J" programs, Form DS-2019, and the ability to change programs or extend within a program should be made to the Department of State, Education and Cultural Affairs Bureau, Exchange Visitor and Program Designation Staff, Washington, D.C. Questions about "Q" petitioning procedures, qualifications for various classifications, and conditions and limitations on employment should be made by the prospective employer or agent in the United States to the nearest INS office. Questions on visa application procedures at the American consular office abroad should be made to that consular office by the applicant.