Student Visas (F1, M1)

If you want to study in the United States, the first step is to find a school that offers the kind of program you need, apply for admission and be accepted. You can find more official information about studying in the United States here, and almost all U.S. universities and colleges also maintain their own websites where you can find information on your own.

There are two types of student visas: F-1 visas are for students in an academic program, and M-1 visas are for students in a non-academic program, such as vocational training. Your school in the United States will let you know whether you need an F-1 or M-1 visa. The application procedures are the same for both.

Requirements for Getting a Student Visa

To qualify for a student visa, applicants have to demonstrate that they:

• are entering the United States for a temporary period only for the purpose of pursuing a full course of study at a recognized institution of learning;
  
• have a residence outside the United States to which they intend to return following their studies;
  
• have sufficient resources available to provide for the total cost of their education; and
  
• have sufficient command of the English language or will enroll in English language courses in the United States.

In addition, your school must report to the Department of State that you have been accepted to study there by entering your data into the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). See this page for more information about SEVIS.

Required Documents

In addition to the documents listed in How To Apply, applicants for Student visas must also provide an I-20 Certificate of Eligibility from the U.S. school or university they plan to attend.

Recommended Supplemental Documents

To qualify for a student visa, applicants have to demonstrate that they have financial resources sufficient for their studies. For F-1 applicants, this means you or your sponsors have sufficient funds immediately available to meet all expenses of the first year of study, as well as a sufficient income to provide funds for subsequent years of study. M-1 applicants must prove they have sufficient funds immediately available to cover the entire course of study, not just the first year.

There are no fixed rules for what kind of financial documents you need—you can submit anything that you think will help show that you have enough funds for your studies. Some examples include:

• Scholarships: Evidence from the school or organization providing the scholarship of any scholarship funds you are to receive, and any limitations or obligations related to those funds.
  
• Bank Documents: Passbooks or statements showing your current assets and recent transactions for at least the past several months.
  
• Evidence of Family Income: Letters or other documents from your parents’ employers showing their salary levels and any other income they receive.
  
• Evidence of Property Ownership: Original housing documents.
  

Recommended Supplemental Documents Science and Technology Students

Applicants who hope to pursue a course of study in the United States related to science or technology should also bring the following additional documents with them to the interview:

• Résumé or CV
  
• Complete list of publications, if applicable
  
• Letter of acceptance from the school, preferably from the department where you will study
  

Visas for Spouses and Children of Students

Spouses and children of F-1 or M-1 student visa holders may apply for derivative (F-2 or M-2) visas. Parents and other family members are NOT eligible for F-2/M-2 visas. They may visit a student for a temporary period if they apply for and receive a tourist visa.

Spouses and children, whether accompanying or following to join a student, should submit a visa application and recent photograph for each person. Spouses and children should present a copy of their marriage certificate or birth certificate, respectively. Dependents joining a student already in the United States should all have their own I-20 forms and should all be entered in SEVIS.

Frequently Asked Questions About Student Visas

How Long Will the Process Take and When Should I Apply?

If your application is approved, your visa can normally be printed and returned through the EMS passback service the next business day after your interview. Depending on your nationality and course of study, however, we may need to get special clearances, and this can take some additional time. To make sure that you can arrive on time if your visa is approved, you should apply for your visa early. You are allowed to apply as soon as you have received your I-20 form from your school. Note that we are only allowed to issue a student visa—that is, actually print it and put it in your passport—120 days or less before the date that you are supposed to report to your school. This date is printed on your I-20.

How Soon Can I Arrive in the United States?

If you are an initial or beginning student, you can arrive no earlier than 30 days before the start/report date as shown on the I-20 form . Please consider this date carefully when making travel plans to the United States. The 30-day limitation does not apply to students returning to resume studies; they may enter the United States at any time.

How Long May I Stay in the United States? Do I Have to Leave When my Visa Expires?

When you enter the United States on a student visa, you will usually be admitted for the duration of your student status—this is often abbreviated "D/S" in your passport. This means you may stay as long as you are a full-time student, even if the F-1 or M-1 visa in your passport expires. If your visa has expired and you need to travel abroad, you will need to apply for a new visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate while you are abroad so that you can re-enter the United States and continue your studies.

After you complete the course of studies shown on your I-20 and any authorized practical training, you will have a "grace period" to wrap up your affairs. For F-1 students, you have 60 days to depart the United States or transfer to another school. For M-1 students, you have 30 days past the completion date shown on your I-20 to leave the United States or a total of one year, whichever is less.

What do Returning Students Need to Re-enter the United States After a Trip Abroad?

As a returning student, you must present a valid passport, student visa, and I-20 form at the U.S. port of entry. The valid student visa can be in an expired passport as long as the expired passport and your current passport are both from the same country.

Where Can I Get More Information?

For information about non-immigrant visas, please see the non-immigrant visa section of the U.S. Department of State's Consular Affairs website.

For general information about study in the U.S., please visit Education USA.

If you have a specific question about your case, please e-mail the Chengdu consular section.