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The F-1 and M-1 visas are nonimmigrant visas for foreign nationals. Both the F-1 and M-1 visas allow individuals to temporarily come to the United States of America for their studies. The F-1 visa is for academic students pursuing a full course of study at a college or university approved by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). Meanwhile, though similar, the M-1 visa is for vocational students pursuing a full course of study at a vocational school or non-academic institution, also approved by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).
Visas in the F and M program are administered by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and not by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). These visas are administered by designated school officials (DSOs), who must be employees of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-approved school. Institutions must keep specific data on students, visitors, as well as their families with F-2 and M-2 visas, such as up-to-date addresses and student statuses. The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), run by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, known as SEVP, manages student records and visa eligibility. Institutions are required to report student information to the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) including when students begin a full course of study or are below the requirements for a full course of study. Also reported are school transfers, extensions to visits, status reinstatements, whether or not students report to the institution within 30 days of the program or new session start dates, and employment. It is not necessary for institutions to report students’ on-campus employment to the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).
There are many requirements for the F-1 and M-1 visas. Applicants for these types of visas must adhere to the following requirements and criteria:
Applicants for an F-1 visa must be international students. They must intend to only stay in the United States on a temporary basis for the duration of their studies.
All applicants for the F-1 visa must be academic students. Applicants must have sufficient credentials for their studies and must plan to study at a Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-approved institution.
Applicants must engage in a full course of study while in the United States. A full course is defined as 12 credit hours for each semester for undergraduate college/university students and 12 credit hours per semester for post-secondary and non-vocational institutions. For other programs, including language and fine arts programs (non-vocational), 18 credit hours are the minimum amount for a full course of study and 22 credit hours are required if classes include more lab time. In each term, only one online class (or 3 distance learning credits) may be used to satisfy a full course load (with the exception of English language programs) (Kurzban's Immigration Law Sourcebook, 5.41). If approved by a designated school official (DSO), students can take 6 credit hours or half of the full course load requirement. In their final term, students may also lower their course load. For medical reasons, they may take no course load or reduce their credit hours for up to a year.
With an F-1 visa, students may not attend public schools or any publicly funded education program unless they reimburse the school board or program the unsubsidized cost of attendance and remain in the school for no longer than a year.
All applicants must have proficiency in English or partake in lessons in order to achieve proficiency.
Applicants must have adequate financial means to support themselves for the duration of their studies (40). They must also pay the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee and complete the Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status I-20 form.
The criteria for the M-1 student visa is very similar to that for the F-1 student visa. International applicants are required to study a full course load at a Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-approved vocational or non-academic institution, plan to stay in the United States temporarily, hold English language proficiency and financial means for studies, and complete the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) paperwork and fee. However, as the M-1 student visa is for vocational students, there are differences in full course load requirements.
Under the M-1 visa, 12 credit hours a semester at community colleges and junior colleges constitute a full course load, whereas, at post-secondary schools and business schools, a full course load is considered to be 12 hours of class per week or the equivalent. In vocational and non-academic high schools, students must take the minimum course load required to complete their degree in the average amount of time. For vocational and non-academic programs, including language programs and cooking schools, a full course load ranges from 18 to 22 hours per week depending on the amount of classroom and lab time.
With the M-1 student visa, unlike the F-1, online classes may not contribute to a course load at all. Likewise, students with an M-1 Visa can drop below a full-time course load if it is medically necessary, and only for up to 5 months.
Students must remain in status for the duration of their stay in order to maintain their visa. Individuals may fall out of status if they do not take a full course of study, are unable to complete their program on time and cannot apply for an extension, transfer to a new school without authorization, or work without authorization. In the case a student is found to be out of status and is reported to the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), the student’s SEVIS record is terminated and the individual is required to leave the United States.
If an F-1 student falls out of status, the student may apply for reinstatement with an Application To Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, or, I-539 form along with a recommendation from a designated school official (DSO) and a current I-20 form. Reinstatement is permitted as long as the individual meets specific requirements; they must not have been out of status for a period greater than 5 months, have not intentionally nor repeatedly violated their visas, and will not work without authorization nor drop below a full course load. Likewise, there must not be any other reason to deport the student and the student must prove that uncontrollable circumstances led to the previous violation. The F-1 visa remains valid if the student is able to reinstate their status. If the student’s visa becomes invalid, the student can still apply for visas in the future.
There are many steps an individual must take in order to successfully apply for an F-1 or M-1 visa. To begin the process, you must search and apply for a Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-approved school. A tool to search for schools is available through the Department of Homeland Security at this link. Institutions may require standardized test scores, essays, and other documents in order to apply. When you begin your search, you should keep the school’s requirements in mind.
Once you have found a school and been accepted into a program, you must begin to complete your I-20 form issued to you by your school. This form, otherwise known as the Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status, records the information that will be reported to the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). You must also be sure to pay the I-901 Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee before beginning to apply for your visa, which typically costs $350. The I-901 Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee may need to be paid more than once depending on the student’s situation. If you are out of status and need to be reinstated, you may need to pay the fee again. Your Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee may be paid online or through Western Union Quick Pay. In any case, it is critical that you keep your receipt to prove that you have successfully paid the fee for when you begin to apply for your visa.
Once these first steps have been completed, you may begin to apply for your visa. Depending on the United States Embassy or Consulate you apply through, some of the steps may differ, so it is a good idea to view any instructions they may provide beforehand. Generally, you must first complete the Nonimmigrant Visa Application DS-160 form online as well as upload your own photo. Once this form is complete, print and save the confirmation page—you will need it for your interview.
The next step is scheduling an interview at the Embassy or Consulate in your home country, a requirement for most applicants. If you are 13 and under or older than 80, you typically do not have to complete an interview. The purpose of the interview is to make sure that you fit the criteria of the visa you are applying for. For F-1 and M-1 students, your visa can be issued 120 days before your program state date. As wait times for interviews fluctuate depending on the location, type of visa, and time of year, you should begin to complete the application process early. You must also remember to pay your visa application fee of $160, sometimes this will need to be paid before your interview.
For your interview make sure you have gathered all of the required documents, including your valid passport, your I-20 form, and any other documents they may request. During the interview process, you will have your fingerprints scanned. Once you have completed your interview and your visa has been approved, you may have to pay an issuance fee based on your nationality. Finally, your passport and new visa will be returned to you through a mailing service.
Before leaving your country for the United States, make sure you and your family have copies of your passport, I-20 form, and visa, which you will need to present at the port-of-entry. You should also have evidence of adequate financial means for your stay and evidence of your enrollment in school. Make sure these documents are on your person at all times and not in your checked bags. A Customs and Border Protection Official will give you a paper Arrival/Departure Record I-94 form or an admission stamp. Once you have arrived, contact your school to confirm your arrival. Students who fail to report to their school before their program’s start may have their Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) record deleted by their designated school official (DSO).
If you arrive in the United States and do not have your I-20 form with you or haven’t paid your Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee, Customs and Border Protection may issue you a Notice to Student or Exchange Visitor, known as an I-515A form. With an I-515A, you are allowed to stay in the United States for 30 days on the grounds that you supply the missing information indicated on the form. You must submit any information necessary to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) before the end of the 30 day period, otherwise, they may terminate your status. In that case, you would need to apply to be reinstated.
Following the completion of your program, F-1 students have a period of 60 days to leave the country while M-1 students have 30 days. It is important to keep these lengths in mind so you do not leave after the end of your grace period, otherwise, you will become out of status and your visa voided. However, you may also apply to change your status or partake in training, apply for an extension, or transfer schools.
Your spouse and children may apply for F-2 or M-2 visas as well. In order to do so, they must complete their own I-20 form, sent to them by your school, although they do not need to pay their own Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee. Each family member must go through the same visa application process and pay the required fee.
In order to apply for an F-1 or M-1 student visa, there are many documents that an individual must present.
Other documents you may be asked to present at your interview include:
The timeline for an F-1 or M-1 visa is dependent on your institution and their processing times, which can range from a few weeks to months. Likewise, the visa timeline is also dependent on when you are able to schedule your visa interview. Wait times for interviews fluctuate depending on the type of visa, the location, and time of year. In some cases, it may take even 2 months to successfully schedule an interview. Following the visa interview, applications may have to face further administrative processing. Finally, the timeline may vary depending on the service used to return your passport and completed visa. Typically, you should expect the process to take at least 6 weeks and should begin your visa application process as early as possible.
Total: $510
While the F-1 and M-1 student visas are similar in many respects, there are key differences between the two that applicants must be aware of. The following elements should be taken into consideration when choosing between the F-1 and M-1 student visas.
Students with an F-1 visa must attend an academic institution, including elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, colleges, and universities. Meanwhile, students with an M-1 visa must attend a vocational or non-academic institution. All institutions must be approved by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). While the F-1 and M-1 student visas typically require students to take a full course load, requirements and rules differ by visa.
The earliest an F-1 visa can be issued is 120 days before the start date of the student’s program. With the F-1 visa, individuals may enter the United States 30 days before their program begins at the earliest. Students can remain in the country for the complete length of their program, or, duration of status (D/S). F-1 students may also stay in the United States over the summer if they will be partaking in a program of study in the next term. Following the completion of the program, or Optional Practical Training (OPT), individuals have a departure period; they may remain in the country for up to 60 days. If an F-1 student must drop from a full course of study due to medical reasons, they will remain in status as long as they restart their studies when they have recovered.
As with the F-1 visa, the M-1 visa may be issued 120 days before the start date of the program and allows individuals to enter the United States at most 30 days before the start of their program. However, with the M-1 visa, individuals may only stay in the United States for up to a year (or, for the length of their program if it is shorter). Once their program or Practical Training (PT) has ended, they have a 30-day window to leave the country.
With an F-1 visa, students may take an annual vacation after 1 full academic year or 26 weeks of an English language program. An academic year for programs measured in credit hours is considered to be 30 weeks of classes as well as 24 completed credits for semester and trimester schedules, or 36 credits for quarter schedules. For programs measured in hours, 36 weeks of classes and 900 clock hours represent a full year. For programs measured in both credit and clock hours, an academic year is considered to be 30 weeks of classes.
Meanwhile, students with M-1 visas are not allowed to take an annual vacation while studying. If they do, they must complete the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) I-20 and pay the required fee again.
F-1 and M-1 students should speak with their designated school official (DSO) about any plans to travel outside of the country. In order to leave and re-enter the country, your designated school official (DSO) must confirm that your record on the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is current. You also must make sure that you have your I-20 form, which also must be endorsed for travel. Students may only leave the United States for a period of no longer than 5 months and must be prepared to reenter with their I-20 form, passport, visa, and proof of financial means for your stay.
For their first academic year, F-1 students may only work on campus. On-campus employment includes work on campus grounds and other affiliated locations. If classes are running, students may only work a maximum of 20 hours per week, otherwise, they are allowed to work on a full-time basis. Students may not work on campus if they have finished their program of study, with the exception of Practical Training (PT).
After a successful first academic year, F-1 students may find off-campus employment. A designated school official can authorize employment under a few specific conditions:
F-1 students may also engage in Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT) after 1 full academic year as long as they are for training purposes, are related to the student’s studies, and are not English courses. Curricular Practical Training includes work-study and required internships related to the curriculum of the school and the student’s studies. CPT may be full-time or part-time, however, students who work full-time for one year will not be eligible for OPT after their program ends. To complete CPT, a designated school official (DSO) must give their approval in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is another option for F-1 students and may take place during their studies as well as after they have completed their studies. A student may partake in OPT in each level of education Pre-Completion OPT can be completed while classes are running with a 20 hour per week limit and while classes are out of session. A student can begin Post-Completion OPT after they have completed the requirements for their degree or have finished their course of study. Students must finish their OPT within 14 months of graduating and are limited to one year of training.
STEM OPT (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics) is subject to different regulations. An F-1 student may be eligible for STEM OPT if they have majored in a STEM field (students who only minor in a STEM field are not eligible). In this case, training may be extended from the first year for up to 2 years, and students may be eligible for another 2-year extension if they complete a higher degree. Students who wish to apply for the STEM extension must do so at least 90 days before their OPT end date.
If you wish to engage in OPT, you must request to do so at most 90 days before the completion of your academic year and up to 60 days after your program ends. You must request a recommendation from your designated school official (DSO), who will then endorse your I-20 form. You then must file an Application for Employment Authorization I-765 form and pay the fee, after which you will receive your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and can begin work.
M-1 students are not allowed to work while studying, but individuals may engage in Practical Training (PT) after their program ends. Students must not be able to complete a similar PT in their home country and must receive approval by their designated school official (DSO). For every 4 months of their full-course program, individuals may work for 1 month for a maximum of 6 months. M-1 students also must file an I-765 form in order to receive their Employment Authorization Document (EAD).
Students with an F-1 visa can transfer schools as long as they have been and plan to continue a full course of study and have the financial means to attend the new school. Within 5 months of leaving their previous school or their program end date, individuals must begin classes at their new institution. To begin the transfer process as an F-1 student, a student must bring to a designated school official (DSO) proof of acceptance to a new school approved by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), information on how to contact the new school’s designated school official (DSO), and the new school’s Student and Exchange Visitor Information System code. Both designated school officials (DSOs) will work together in order to pick a transfer release date, after which you will receive a new I-20 form.
F-1 students who withdraw with approval from their institution will receive a grace period of 15 days to leave the United States. However, if a student wishes to return to school, the student must complete an I-20 form and pay the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee again. F-1 students may also change their program of study (DHS).
Students with an M-1 visa can transfer schools only within the first 6 months of their stay. Students may transfer schools past this date if they can no longer continue studying at their current school due to an uncontrollable situation. The process to transfer schools for an M-1 student is similar to that of an F-1 student. The student must meet with and show their current designated school official (DSO) evidence of acceptance in order for the designated school official (DSO) to change the student’s status on the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) record. Once a student’s status has been changed, the designated school official (DSO) of the new school will create an updated I-20 form for the student. Next, the student must complete an Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status I-539 form. The I-539 form along with the new I-20 form must be submitted to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for authorization to transfer.
M-1 students are not allowed to change their program or educational objective, nor do they receive the same 15 day grace period in case of an authorized withdrawal.
As long as F-1 students are progressing in their education and are in status, they do not need to apply for an extension of status. Therefore, when moving to a new degree at the same level or higher, students do not need to file for an extension of stay as long as they follow the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) transfer process (Kurzban's Immigration Law Sourcebook, 5.42-50). If a student does not finish their program within the typical time, they must request an extension. Students who fail to apply for an extension of status before their program ends will become out of status. In this case, F-1 students must apply to be reinstated.
In order to complete their program, holders of an M-1 visa may extend their stay from their program’s initial start date for a maximum of 3 years. M-1 students cannot apply for a change of status to an H visa if the education received under their M-1 was to help them achieve H status. Changing status from M to F is also not permitted.
Students with an F-1 visa, after completing their studies or OPT may apply for a change of status to an H-1B visa for temporary employment with a petition from an employer. F-1 students may be eligible for a Cap Gap Extension, which extends their status (as well as employment authorization if engaging in OPT) through September 30 of the fiscal year, until their H-1B status begins on October 1.
Currently, H-1B visas have been suspended by the United States Government in response to COVID-19. Individuals who already hold a visa are not affected.
F-1 visa holders may have their family join them in the United States 30 days before the start of their program at the earliest. The family (the children and spouse of the F-1 individual) with an F-2 visa may study in school full-time if children, or part-time if above a high school level as long as the school is approved by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). If a family member wishes to study full-time, they must apply for a change of status to an F-1, M-1, or J-1 visa.
Like with the F-1 visa, the children and spouse of the M-1 visa holder may come to the United States with an M-2 visa. The rules regarding part-time and full-time study remain the same with the exception of if a family member decides to pursue a full course of study, they can only apply for a change of status to an M-1 or J-1 visa. M-2 family members cannot extend their stay unless the M-1 visa holder is approved for an extension.
Yes, holders of F and M visas, including F-2 and M-2, may drive if they meet the requirements of the state. To apply, you must go to the Department of Motor Vehicles with the necessary documents. Depending on your state and on whether or not you hold a driver’s license in your home country, you may have to take a written exam as well as a driving test.
F-1 students may travel outside of the United States while on the Cap Gap Extension as long as they meet certain requirements. One requirement is that United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) must have already approved the student’s H-1B change of status petition. If a student leaves the United States and their petition has not been approved, the student’s petition will consequently be abandoned. On top of this petition approval requirement, students must return to the United States before the start of their H-1B work and must have the required documentation to be readmitted.
No, family members with F-2 or M-2 visas are not allowed to work. They are, however, allowed to study part-time (or full time if below grade 12) at an approved school.
COVID-19 has drastically changed the way schools operate their classes, as many institutions have chosen to move their instruction fully online. The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) has announced that they intend to be flexible with any accommodations and changes schools may introduce, as long as they are informed of changes within 10 business days of them taking place.
Yes, you may. Individuals with B-1 or B-1 visas must either apply for a change of status or apply for an F-1 or M-2 visa while abroad in order to begin their studies. They must not begin classes before acquiring a change of status.
Yes, you can apply for a social security number with an F-1 and M-1 visa and are required to do so if you receive employment authorization from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). To do so, you must submit your I-20, I-94, proof of identity, age, work authorization, and full course of study at a school.