Urgent Travel
If your school is going to begin before you can schedule an interview with our online service, please explain your situation in an email to: HelsinkiNIV@state.gov so we can arrange a suitable time.
Non-Immigrant Visas
Full-time Student Visas
U.S. immigration law provides two nonimmigrant visa categories for study in the United States. The "F" visa is for academic studies, and the "M" visa is for nonacademic or vocational studies. In order to obtain a student visa, you must first apply to and be accepted at a school in the U.S. Once you have been accepted, the school will forward you a form called the I-20 or I-20M. This form must be presented along with the other requirements for a visa application.
SEVIS Fee
F and M visa applicants must pay a SEVIS fee, which covers the cost of administering the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). This fee must be paid before the visitor applies for a visa. Derivative applicants (F-2 and M-2) do not have to pay a SEVIS fee. For further details and information on how to pay the fee go to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) web page.
Other Documentation
Student visa applicants must establish to the satisfaction of the consular officer that they have binding ties to a residence in a foreign country that they have no intention of abandoning, and that they will depart the United States when they have completed their studies. They also must show evidence of their financial means to support themselves in the US while studying (e.g. bank statements, affidavits of support with the sponsor’s bank statements, etc).
Initial Entry into the US
Please be aware that United States Department of Homeland Security regulations state that first-time holders of F or M 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 your Form I-20 (for F or M visas). An immigration inspector at the airport may deny you entry into the United States if you use this visa earlier than this thirty-day period. Please consider that date carefully when making your travel plans to the United States. This rule does not apply to returning students, who may resume their studies at any time during the validity of their visas.
Employment
During the first year of study, an F-1 student may only accept on-campus employment; in subsequent years, limited off-campus employment may be granted. Except for temporary employment for practical training, an M-1 student may not work while in the United States.
Family Members
A spouse and/or unmarried minor children who plan to accompany or follow-to-join students need to apply for a derivative visa (F-2 or M-2). Family members must present their own I-20 and meet all non-immigrant visa eligibility requirements. Spouses and children of students may not accept employment at any time, but they are eligible to attend school as long as they are not seeking a degree in higher education.
Legal Requirements for F-1 Foreign Students in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools
Certain limitations apply to foreign students planning to study in U.S. public elementary and secondary schools. Section 625 of Public Law 104-208 places the following restrictions on foreign students in F-1 immigration status:
Prohibits their attendance in public elementary schools (grades K through 8) or publicly-funded adult education programs;
Limits their attendance in public secondary schools (grades 9 through 12) to a maximum of 12 months; and
- Requires them to reimburse public secondary schools for the full, unsubsidized per capita cost of education for the intended period of study.
- These provisions affect only foreign students in F-1 visa status, or who obtain F-1 student visas - in other words, those to whom Form I-20 would be issued. The provisions do not affect foreign students in any other immigration status, for example J-1 exchange visitors, or dependents of foreign nationals in the United States on long-term visas.
- Likewise, the provisions do not affect foreign students attending private schools or private training or language programs. F-1 students who wish to transfer from private schools or programs into public schools or programs must meet the public school requirements. (more info...)