"The Experience"



Student Visas and Passports

Author: petersons, Category: Getting Started for College

To attend college in the U.S., you must first get permission to enter the country. To do so, you must meet stated requirements, which include that you must be healthy, law abiding, financially self sufficient, and prepared to leave once you have completed your studies.

Applying for a visa
The rules and regulations governing the entrance of international students into the U.S. are somewhat complicated. If you are not a citizen or permanent resident of the United States, you must submit to the U.S.consular authorities Form I-20 for an F-1 or M-1 student visa, or Form DS-2019 for a J-1 exchange visitor visa. You must also provide a valid passport from your home country.

The F-1 and J-1 are the most commonly used visas by international students. F-1 visas are for full-time students in an academic or language program. J-1 visas are for people participating in an exchange visitor program (educational or cultural) in the U.S. M-1 visas are for students attending trade or vocational programs.

The I-20 or DS-2019 forms will be sent from your college after you have been admitted to a full-time academic program and have demonstrated that you have sufficient financial resources to cover all expenses. Before granting the entrance visa, American consular officers may request additional information. They must be convinced that you are a student who plans to return to your home country upon completion of the program.

About your passport
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the amount of time you plan to spend in the U.S. It is a good idea to keep a photocopy — having it will make it easier to replace your passport if you happen to lose it. If you do lose it, you should contact the police and your embassy immediately.

If you have any questions about matters related to immigration rules, work permits, health insurance, etc., you should check with the international student adviser at the college you plan to attend. It is your responsibility, however, to maintain your immigration status by obtaining your forms at the correct time, keeping your passport valid 6 months beyond the date of completion of your program, and maintaining enrollment with a full course load.

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