As quoted or based on information provided by the US Department of State and/or the USCIS. Updated 2007-05-23

The Immigrant 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. This section explains the basics for the F visa, although much of this also applies to the M visa.

Requirements for the F Visa

Scholastic Prerequisites for F Visa Candidates

The student visa applicant must have successfully completed a course of study normally required for enrollment. 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 teach the course in the student's native language.

Financial Prerequisites for Student Visa Candidates

Applicants must also prove that sufficient funds are or will be available from an identified and reliable financial resource to defray all living and school expenses during the entire period of anticipated study in the United States. Specifically, applicants must prove they have enough readily available funds to meet all expenses for the first year of study, and that adequate funds will be available for each subsequent year of study.

Required School Documentation

An applicant coming to the United States to study must be accepted for a full course of study by an educational institution approved by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The student visa applicant must have successfully completed a course of study normally required for enrollment. 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 teach the course in the student's native language. The school must send to the applicant a Form I-20A-B, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1 visa) Student Status for Academic and Language Students. Educational institutions must obtain Forms I-20A-B and I-20M-N from the USCIS.

F Visa Ineligibility Waiver

The nonimmigrant visa application Form DS-156 lists classes of persons who are ineligible under U.S. law to receive visas. In some instances an applicant who is ineligible, but who is otherwise properly classifiable as a student, may apply for a waiver of ineligibility and be issued a visa if the waiver is approved.

Applying for a Student Visa

Applicants for student visas should generally apply at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate with jurisdiction over their place of permanent residence. Although visa applicants may apply at any U.S. consular office abroad, it may be more difficult to qualify for the visa outside the country of residence.

Required Documentation for an F Visa

Each applicant for a student visa must submit:

• DS-156 Electronic Visa Application Form (EVAF) for each applicant, regardless of age, completed online at http://evisaforms.state.gov, and signed by the applicant.
• all applicants seeking F visas, J visas, and M visas must complete and submit a form DS-158 (Contact Information And Work History for Nonimmigrant Visa Applicant), in addition to form DS-156 and, if necessary, form DS-157 (Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application)
• a passport valid for travel to the United States and with a validity date at least for the duration of the applicant's intended period of stay in the United States for German citizens or six months beyond for some other nationalities. If more than one person is included in the passport, each person desiring a visa must make an application.
• one recent photograph for each applicant, including children.
• Form I-20A-B.
• visa payment confirmation: evidence of having paid the non-refundable visa processing fee for each application.
• evidence of your intention to leave the USA after a temporary stay.
• a self-addressed, stamped (EURO stamps only!) envelope large enough for your passport and all submitted documents (regular mail, please).

Additional Documentation Requirements

Student visa applicants must establish to the satisfaction of the consular officer that they have binding ties to a residence in a foreign country, which they have no intention of abandoning, and that they will depart the United States when they have completed their studies. It is impossible to specify the exact form the evidence should take since applicants' circumstances vary greatly.

No Guarantee of Entry

Applicants should be aware that a visa does not guarantee entry into the United States. The Bureau of Customs and Border Protection has authority to deny admission. Also, the period for which the bearer of a student visa is authorized to remain in the United States is determined by the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, not the consular officer. At the port of entry, a CBP official must authorize the traveler's admission to the U.S. At that time the Form I-94, Record of Arrival-Departure, which notes the length of stay permitted, is validated.

Student Visa Processing Procedure

All applicants for F Visa must submit their application and supporting documents in person to the appropriate embassy or consulate.

All applicants must will be required to call the Visa Information Service of the embassy or consulate in question to schedule an appointment to appear for administrative processing, biometric collection and a personal interview with a consul.

This allows us to better manage each day's workload and should create faster processing and a more efficient visit to the consulate.

Most embassies and consulates understand that in some cases applicants have a short period to report to their US exchange program, school, aircraft or vessel. To ensure that everyone meets their deadline, they reserve a significant number of appointments for J visas, F visas, M visas, C1 visas, and D visa applicants each day. However, since the number of applications is unknown, we encourage applicants to call for an appointment as early as possible.

How Long Will It Take to Get a Student Visa?

All Visa applicants should anticipate spending several hours at the consulate or embassy. If, at the conclusion of the interview, the consul determines that you qualify for a visa, your passport and visa will be processed and returned via German Post. Please bring a self-addressed, stamped envelope with you to the interview for this purpose. Processing currently averages 10 working days plus mailing.

How Far in Advance Should I Apply for an F Visa?

Given the processing times described above, please apply far in advance of your travel date. US law does not allow us to issue F or M visas more than 120 days before the applicant's program start date for students entering the United States for the first time.

Continuing students may apply for new F or M visas at any time, as long as they have been maintaining student status and their SEVIS records are current. Continuing students may also enter the United States at any time before their classes start.

J visas may be issued as soon as the DS-2019 is issued. Please note, however that United States Department of Homeland Security regulations state that holders of F, M and J Nonimmigrant Visas will not be admitted to the United States more than 30 days prior to the beginning of their program start date, as listed on their Form I-20 for students or DS-2019 for exchange visitors.

Security Notice for Visa Applicants

In order to ensure everyone's safety and to ensure that security screening does not delay visa interviews, electronic devices (cell phones, PDAs, Laptops, etc.), may not be brought into the consulate or embassy. Backpacks, suitcases, attaché cases, and strollers are also not permitted. However, you may bring in your wallet or purse. Security personnel cannot store items for visa applicants and will confiscate all weapons. We therefore suggest that all such items be left at home, in a locked car, or with a friend or relative who remains outside the premises. Documents relevant to the visa application are the only items that we encourage applicants to bring with them. Your cooperation will help to ensure everyone's safety and will help us to ensure that we are able to interview you as quickly as possible.

The SEVIS Program

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has introduced a SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor System) I-901 fee for all applicants applying for F, J and M visas with initial I-20 or DS-2019 forms issued on or after September 1, 2004. SEVIS is an internet-based system that will track F, M and J visa participants (and their family members) from the time they receive their initial documentation (either an I-20 or a DS-2019) until they graduate/leave school or conclude/leave program. A fee of $ 100 applies to most J or F/M visa applicants.

Employment on an F Visa

An F-1 visa student may not accept off-campus employment at any time during the first year of study; however, the USCIS may grant permission to accept off-campus employment after one year. F-1 visa students may accept on-campus employment from the school without USCIS permission. Except for temporary employment for practical training, an M-1 visa student may not accept employment.

Family Members on an F Visa

A spouse and unmarried, minor children may be classified for an F-2 visa or M-2 visa to accompany or follow the student. Family members must meet all visa eligibility requirements, including evidence that they will have sufficient funds for their support, and that they will depart the U.S. when the student's program ends. Spouses and children of students may not accept employment at any time.