Non-Immigrant Visas

Student Visas F-1 & M-1 Visas

• SEVIS Fee for J, F and M visa applicants (as of September 1, 2004).
• Students and exchange visitors should use the on-line, electronic application form available at http://evisaforms.state.gov/.

APPLY EARLY! Every effort will be made to schedule students and exchange visitors within seven working days of the receipt of the appointment request, but this may not always be possible.

PLAN AHEAD based on your anticipated departure date and program start date. When requesting an appointment, please alert us that you are a student or exchange visitor, and include your anticipated departure date in your appointment request.

A student wishing to attend a university or other academic institution in the United States requires a student (F-1) visa; those wishing to attend a vocational or non-academic institution require an M-1 visa. Holders of visitor (B-2) visas are prohibited from entering into full-time study. Contact the Fulbright Commission's U.S. Educational Advisory Service for information about studying at colleges and universities in the United States.

Academic (F-1) Visa: A student wishing to attend a university or other academic institution in the United States, including primary and secondary schools, or a language-training program requires an F-1 visa. A change in United States visa law, Section 214(l) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), prohibits the issuance of F-1 visas to students who are going to the United States to attend public elementary schools (grades K through 8, approximately ages 5 to 14) and publicly funded adult education programs such as foreign language classes. Students applying for F-1 visas to attend public secondary schools (grades 9 through 12, approximately ages 14 to 18) are limited to a maximum of 12 months of public high school in F-1 status and must show proof that payment has been made for the full, unsubsidized cost of the education before a visa can be processed. Students attending private elementary and secondary schools are not affected by this ruling.

Nonacademic (M-1) Visa: A student wishing to pursue a course of study which is not principally academic in nature at an established vocational or other recognized nonacademic institution such as a post secondary vocational or business school requires an M-1 visa.

How to apply: The first step is to obtain from the school or academic institution the Form I-20A-B entitled Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status or the Form I-20M entitled Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (M-1) Student Status. Schools and academic institutions, which have received United States Government approval to enroll foreign students, have the authority to issue these forms. A student visa cannot be processed without this form. Item 11 at the bottom of page one of the form I-20 must be completed and signed by the applicant and submitted together with the following:

• a passport or other travel document valid for at least six months beyond the period of stay in the United States and with at least one blank page.
• one color passport type photograph; 
• evidence to show that the applicant has sufficient funds to cover all expenses including tuition while in the United States. Such evidence may include detailed bank statements of the student's and/or parents' accounts showing that adequate funds are available for transfer, evidence of scholarships and/or combination of finances which will meet the estimated total expenses, including tuition, of the student's proposed stay in the United States; 
• evidence to show that the applicant has a residence abroad to which he/she intends to return at the end of the stay in the United States. This is generally established by evidence of family, professional, property, employment or other ties and commitments to some country other than the United States sufficient to cause the applicant to return there at the conclusion of his/her stay; 
• applicants may be required to furnish detailed information concerning their academic qualifications. Such evidence may include complete transcripts of grades (marks) and test records for the last four years of school and evidence of TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) scores. 
• completed visa application forms DS-156 & DS-157 for each person traveling which has been endorsed by a bank showing payment of the visa application fee. 
• a completed Contact Information and Work History For Nonimmigrant Visa Applicant, Form DS-158). 
• completed supplemental visa application forms DS-156 & DS-157 (completed by males aged between 16 and 45 only).

Reminder: No assurances regarding the issuance of visas can be given in advance. Therefore final travel plans or the purchase of nonrefundable tickets should not be made until a visa has been issued.

Work: It is possible in certain limited circumstances for the holder of an F-1 visa to obtain permission to work in the United States. Holders of M-1 visas may only engage in employment if it is a required part of their practical training and the employment has been approved in advance by the office of the Immigration and Naturalization Service. The spouse and/or children of the holder of an F-1 or M-1 visa may not work on derivative F-2 and M-2 visas; they may, however, study at an academic institution.

Entry & Length of Stay: The holder of a student F-1 or M-1 visa may enter the United States up to 90 days before the designated registration date on the the I-20A-B or I-20M. The holder of an F-1 visa may remain in the United States for up to 60 days following the completion of the course. The holder of an M-1 visa may remain in the United States for the period of time it will take to complete the course of study as indicated on the I-20M plus 30 days, or for one year, whichever is less.

Spouses, and Children: Spouses and/or children under the age of 21 who wish to accompany or join the principal visa holder in the United States for the duration of his/her stay require derivative F-2 or M-2 visas. The application procedure is the same; the I-20A-B or M covers dependents. If the spouse and/or children apply for visas at a later date, a copy of the principal visa holders F-1 or M-1 visa must be furnished with the application. The holder of an F-2 or M-2 visa may not work on a derivative visa; he or she, however, may study at an academic institution.

Spouses and/or children, who do not intend to reside in the United States with the principal visa holder, but visit for vacations only, may be eligible to apply for visitor (B-2) visas.

F-2/M-2 versus F-1: There is no requirement that the spouse and/or children of an F-1 or M-1 visa holder apply for an F-1 visa if they wish to study in the U.S.; they may study on an F-2 or M-2 visa. However, if they are qualified, they may apply for the F-1 visa. If you have school age children, you should refer to the regulations governing the issuance of F-1 visas.

Do you have a valid F-1 visa? If you have a valid F-1 visa you may continue to use it provided you will arrive in the United States before the expiration date shown on your visa and you will carry with you a valid I-20A-B, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant F-1 student status from an educational institution. If the educational institution, to which you are destined, differs from that for which the F-1 visa was originally issued, you may still travel, provided the I-20A-B is valid. The visa cannot be used if you are traveling as a tourist.

J-1 - Exchange Visitor

Anyone wishing to take up prearranged employment, training or research in the United States under an officially approved program sponsored by an educational or other nonprofit institution requires an exchange visitor (J-1) visa. Persons covered by these programs include post graduate students, medical students coming to the United States as residents or interns, foreign scholars sponsored by universities as temporary faculty, and some business trainees. In addition, there are several exchange visitor programs for young people, including summer employment programs, intern programs for university students, and au-pair programs. Contact the Fulbright Commission Educational Advisory Service for further information.

How to apply: The first step is to obtain from the sponsor of the exchange visitor program the Form DS-2019 entitled "Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status." An exchange visitor visa cannot be processed without this form. All four copies of the DS-2019 must be furnished together with the following:

• A passport or other travel document valid for at least six months beyond the period of stay in the United States and with at least one blank page.
• one color passport type photograph;
• evidence to show that the applicant has sufficient funds to cover all expenses including tuition while in the United States. If the terms of the exchange visitor grant will cover the living expenses and other costs, the fully completed DS-2019 will be sufficient;
• evidence to show that the applicant has a residence abroad to which he/she intends to return at the end of the stay in the United States. Evidence of family, professional, property, employment or other ties and commitments to some country other than the United States sufficient to cause the applicant to return there at the conclusion of his/her exchange program generally establish this.
• completed visa application forms DS-156 & DS-157 for each person traveling which has been endorsed by a bank showing payment of the visa application fee.
• completed Contact Information and Work History For Nonimmigrant Visa Applicant, Form DS-158 
• completed supplemental visa application forms DS-156 & DS-157. (completed by males aged between 16 and 45 only).
• A Training/Internship Placement Plan, Form DS-7002. All exchange visitor (J visa) trainee or intern visa applicants with DS-2019 forms dated on or after July 19, 2007 (based on Box 7 on form) must also present Training/Internship Placement Plan, Form DS-7002 when applying for your visa. If your Form DS-2019 is issued prior to July 19, 2007 a Form DS-7002 is not required. For more information about the new rules for trainee and intern programs, see the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Exchange Visitor Program, Private Sector Programs. 
   

Reassurance: If applying for the reassurance of a J visa, only page three of the DS-2019 endorsed by the issuing school official or program sponsor need be presented. Pages one and two are surrendered to the immigration official on your initial arrival in the United States.

Reminder: No assurances regarding the issuance of visas can be given in advance. Therefore final travel plans or the purchase of nonrefundable tickets should not be made until a visa has been issued.

Doctors of Medicine: In order to perform services as a member of the medical profession or to receive graduate medical education in the United States, certain alien physicians are required to pass the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) Parts I and II, or an examination determined to be equivalent

Important Notice: A former exchange visitor may not be issued an immigrant, fiancé(e), temporary worker or intracompany transferee visa until he/she has resided and been physically present in the country of his/her nationality or last residence for at least two years following the termination of exchange visitor status if one or more of the following conditions applies:

• The program was financed in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, by an agency of the United States government or by the country of exchange visitor's nationality or last residence;or
• The exchange visitor was a national or resident of a country which the Secretary of State has designated as clearly requiring the services of persons engaged in the field of specialized knowledge or skills in which the alien was engaged during the exchange visitor program (no skills are listed as being required by Macedonia); or
• The exchange visitor was a physician who entered the United States to receive medical education or training (except those who participated in a program involving exclusively teaching research or consultation).

Entry & Length of Stay: The holder of an exchange visitor J-1 visa, may enter the United States up to 90 days before the designated start date on the DS-2019. He or she may remain for up to 30 days following the completion of the program.

Spouses, and Children: Spouses and/or children under the age of 21 who wish to accompany or join the principal visa holder in the United States for the duration of his/her stay require derivative J-2 visas. The application procedure is the same; the DS-2019 covers dependents. If the spouse and/or children apply for visas at a later date, a duplicate form DS-2019 must be obtained from the sponsor and furnished together with a copy of principal applicant's J-1 visa. The spouse of an exchange visitor may not work in the United States on a derivative J-2 visa unless permission has been obtained in advance from the office of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. An application for permission to work can only be made after the J-2 visa holder's arrival in the United States and will be considered in light of policies then in effect. The spouse and/or child, however, may study at an academic institution.

Spouses and/or children, who do not intend to reside in the United States with the principal visa holder, but visit for vacations only, may be eligible to apply for visitor (B-2) visas.

J-2 versus F-1: There is no requirement that the spouse and/or children of a J-1 visa holder apply for a student (F-1) visa if they wish to study in the U.S.; they may study on a J-2 visa. However if they are qualified, they may apply for the F-1 visa. If you have school age children, you should refer to the regulations governing the issuance of F-1 visas.

Do you have a valid J-1 visa? If you have a valid J-1 visa you may continue to use it provided you are going to participate in the same exchange visitor program for which your visa was originally issued, you will arrive in the United States before the expiration date shown on your visa and you will carry with you a valid DS-2019, Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status, showing the same exchange visitor program number as the one shown on the visa. If all three conditions are not met, you will require a new J-1 visa.

- For more information about Universities and different programs go to USG sites such as: http://www.exchanges.state.gov  | http://www.educationusa.state.gov  | http://www.ed.gov, and educational association sites such as: http://www.communitycollegeusa.com  | http://www.edupass.org  | http://www.iie.org .