Visa
News
F-1
Visa Information
 A.
"Am I Qualified?" -- Basic Requirements:
•
The foreign student must have completed the course of study required
of all students entering the program;
• The student must be proficient
in English (with the following exceptions):
• The student is coming to the
U.S. to participate in an English-training program;
• The school has made special
arrangements to teach the student English or to teach courses
in the foreign student's language;
• The student must prove that
identifiable funds are available to pay all expenses incurred
while studying in the U.S.;
• The student must be accepted
for a full course of study by a school specifically approved by
the INS; and
• The school must provide the
student with a Form I-20 A-B.
B.
"Okay, I Think I Am Qualified, Now What?" -- Applying
for the F-1:
•
The student should apply at the Consulate or Embassy located in
their place of permanent residence;
• Required Documentation (to
be brought along when you go for the visa):
• Non-refundable $45 application
fee (subject to change);
• Form OF-156, completed and
signed (available at the Consulate/Embassy);
• Passport valid for at least
six months beyond end of intended stay;
• One photograph 1« inches
square;
• Form I-20 A-B (from school);
• Evidence of sufficient funds;
• Evidence of ties to a residence
in a foreign country; and
• A statement/promise that the
student will depart the U.S. when they have completed their studies.
C.
"Can I Bring My Family With Me?" -- Visas For Your
Dependents
Dependents
are defined as only:
• Spouse; and
• Unmarried, minor children
(under 21 years old);
• Dependents may apply for a
visa to accompany the student;
• Dependents must meet all visa
eligibility requirements, including:
• Evidence of sufficient funds
for their support; and
• Evidence that they will depart
when the student's education is completed.
• Dependents may not work while
in the United States.
D.
"Can I Work While In the U.S. ?" -- Employment While
in F-1 Status
•
The student may not work off-campus at anytime during the first
year;
• The INS may allow off-campus
employment after the first year; and
• The student may work on-campus
without INS permission, however, all questions or concerns regarding
this should be directed to your school before beginning employment
of any kind;
• To apply for either off-campus
employment or optional practical training, the student must submit
• Form I-201D which is
provided by the school and Form I-765.
E.
"What Else Should I Know?" - Special Considerations
•
The Form I-94, issued at the port of entry into the U.S., dictates
the length of permitted stay which must be adhered to;
• Form OF-156 lists persons
ineligible to receive visas, however, in some cases, an ineligible
person who is a student may apply for a waiver of ineligibility
and receive a visa upon approval of the waiver; and
• A student who wishes to use
an F-1 visa to attend public high school must:
• Submit evidence that the school
district has been reimbursed, in advance, for the cost of the
education; and
• Not attend the school for
more than 12 months.
F.
"Optional Practical Training -- What's the Story?"
•
OPT can be taken either while in school (curricular) or after
graduation;
• Curricular OPT can only be
taken by F-1 students and is coordinated with your school - not
the INS;
• A student may spend a total
of one year in OPT (curricular and post-graduate periods spent
in OPT should be added together for these purposes);
• Speak to your school for further
information on OPT.
G.
"How Do I get Out of Here? -- Transferring to a New School
• To transfer, you must:
• Be maintaining status; and
• Go through the following notification
procedure:
• Notify your current school
of the intent to transfer;
• Obtain Form I-20A-B from the
new school;
• Complete and return the Form
I-20A-B to the school within 15 days of starting classes.
H.
"I Need An Extension, What Do I Do?" -- Extension Procedure
• The initial period of admission
on the I-94 allows for: the completion of the academic program,
any authorized practical training and sixty days grace period
to leave the United States.
• An extension may be obtained
if:
• The student has maintained
status;
• Delay in completion is due
to:
• Compelling academic reasons
or
• Compelling medical reasons.
• To apply, the student must:
• Submit completed form I-20A-B
to their school;
• Submit an I-538 to their school;
and
• Do this within 30 days before
the date noted on the original I-20A-B.
• The student does not need
to notify the INS.
• The Department of State does
not renew or issue F-1 visas in the United States.
This
Visa News is in collaboration with www.usvisanews.com.This
monthly bulletin will bring you the latest on Visa and immigration
news which will be India-specific.
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