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Student Visa

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Overview (#Overview)Visa Descriptions and Qualifications(#VisaDescriptionsandQualifications)U.S. Public Schools (#U.S.PublicSchools)Application Items (#ApplicationItems)How to Apply (#HowtoApply)Supporting Documents (#SupportingDocuments)Dependents (#Dependents)Other Information (#OtherInformation)

Overview

The United States welcomes foreign citizens who come to the United States to study. Before applyingfor a visa, all student visa applicants are required to be accepted and approved by their school orprogram. Once accepted, educational institutions will provide each applicant the necessary approvaldocumentation to be submitted when applying for a student visa.

Visa Descriptions and QualificationsF­1 Visa

This is the most common type of student visa. If you wish to engage in academic studies in the UnitedStates at an approved school, such as an accredited U.S. college or university, private secondaryschool, or approved English language program then you need an F-1 visa. You will also need an F-1 visaif your course of study is more than 18 hours a week.

M­1 Visa

If you plan to engage in non-academic or vocational study or training at a U.S. institution then you needan M-1 visa.

More information about each of these visas and opportunities for studying in the United States can befound at the Education USA website (http://www.educationusa.info/pages/students/visa.php).

U.S. Public Schools

U.S. law does not permit foreign students to attend public elementary school (kindergarten to 8th grade)or a publicly funded adult education program. Hence, F-1 visas cannot be issued for study at suchschools.

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An F-1 visa can be issued for attendance at a public secondary school (grades 9 to 12), but the studentis limited to a maximum of 12 months at the school. The school must also indicate on the Form I-20 thatthe student has paid the unsubsidized cost of the education and the amount submitted by the studentfor that purpose.

For more information about F-1 legal requirements, visit the Department of State website(http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/study-exchange/student/foreign-students-in-public-schools.html).

Note: Holders of A, E, F-2, G, H-4, J-2, L-2, M-2 or other derivative nonimmigrant visas may enroll inpublic elementary and secondary schools.

Student Assistance, Finding a U.S. School

Students who hope to enroll in an American educational institution are encouraged to contact and visithttp://www.educationusachina.com/ (http://www.educationusachina.com/)

Application Items

To apply for an F or M visa, you must pay your $160 application fee (cn-niv-paymentinfo.asp) andsubmit the following:

A Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application (DS-160) Form. Visit the DS-160 web page (cn-niv-ds160info.asp) for more information about the DS-160.A passport valid for travel to the United States with a validity date at least six months beyond yourintended period of stay in the United States (unless country-specific agreements(http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/104770.pdf) provide exemptions). If more than oneperson is included in your passport, each person desiring a visa must submit an application.One (1) 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm) photograph taken within the last six months. This web page (cn-niv-photoinfo.asp) has information about the required photo format.If a visa is issued, there may be an additional visa issuance reciprocity fee, depending on yournationality. The Department of State's website(http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/fees/reciprocity-by-country.html) can help you find out ifyou must pay a visa issuance reciprocity fee and what the fee amount is.An approved original signed Form I-20 from your U.S. school or program.A Form I-901 SEVIS fee receipt indicating you paid the SEVIS fee (cn-niv-visafeeinfo.asp#OtherFees).The SEVIS website (http://www.ice.gov/sevis/index.htm) has more information.

In addition to these items, you must present an interview appointment letter confirming that you bookedan appointment through this service (cn-niv-appointmentschedule.asp). You may also bring whateversupporting documents you believe support the information provided to the consular officer.

How to ApplyStep 1

Complete the Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application (DS-160) form (cn-niv-ds160info.asp).

Step 2

Pay the visa application fee (cn-niv-visafeeinfo.asp).

Step 3

Schedule your appointment on this (https://cgifederal.secure.force.com/?language=English&country=China) web page. You need the following three pieces of information in orderto schedule your appointment:

Your passport number.The receipt number from your Visa Fee receipt. Click here (cn-niv-paymentinfo.asp) if you need helpfinding this number.The ten (10) digit barcode number from your DS-160 confirmation page.

Step 4

Visit the U.S. Embassy or Consulate General (cn-loc-post.asp) on the date and time of your visainterview. You must bring a printed copy of your appointment letter, your DS-160 confirmation page, onephotograph taken within the last six months, and your current and all old passports.. Applicationswithout all of these items will not be accepted.

Supporting Documents

Supporting documents are only one of many factors a consular officer will consider in your interview.Consular officers look at each application individually and consider professional, social, cultural, andother factors during adjudication. Consular officers may look at your specific intentions, family situation,and your long-range plans and prospects within your country of residence. Each case is examinedindividually and is accorded every consideration under the law.

Caution: Do not present false documents. Fraud or misrepresentation can result in permanent visaineligibility. If confidentiality is a concern, you should bring your documents to the Embassy or Consulate

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General in a sealed envelope. The Embassy or Consulate General will not make your informationavailable to anyone and will respect the confidentiality of your information.

You should bring the following documents to your interview:

Documents demonstrating strong financial, social, and family ties to your home country that willcompel you to return to your country after your program of study in the United States ends.Financial and any other documents you believe will support your application and which give credibleevidence that you have enough readily-available funds to meet all expenses for the first year of studyand that you have access to funds sufficient to cover all expenses while you remain in the UnitedStates. M-1 applicants must demonstrate the ability to pay all tuition and living costs for the entireperiod of their intended stay.Photocopies of bank statements will not be accepted unless you can also show original copies ofbank statements or original bank books.If you are financially sponsored by another person, bring proof of your relationship to the sponsor(such as your birth certificate), the sponsor's most recent original tax forms and the sponsor's bankbooks and/or fixed deposit certificates.Academic documents that show scholastic preparation. Useful documents include school transcripts(original copies are preferred) with grades, public examination certificates (A-levels, etc.),standardized test scores (SAT, TOEFL, etc.), and diplomas.Research/study plans with detailed information about your planned studies or research in the UnitedStates, including the name and e-mail address of your advising professor and/or the head of yourdepartment in the United States. Please click here (StudyPlan.pdf) for a sample research proposal /study plan.A resume/CV (in English) that provides detailed information about your past academic andprofessional experience, including a complete list of all publications to which you have contributed.Please click here(http://photos.state.gov/libraries/china/196482/PDF%20File/Resume%20Sample_English.pdf) for asample resume.Official transcripts covering coursework at U.S. institutions (for returning students).An advisors biography, CV, or webpage printout (for graduate students who have already beenassigned an advising professor at their U.S. institution).

Dependents

Spouses and/or unmarried children under the age of 21 who wish to accompany or join the principal visaholder in the United States for the duration of his or her stay require derivative F or M visas. There is noderivative visa for the parents of F or M holders.

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

Spouses and dependents may not work in the United States on a derivative F or M visa. If yourspouse/child seeks employment, the spouse must obtain the appropriate work visa.

Supporting Documents for Dependents

Applicants with dependents must also provide:

Proof of the student's relationship to his or her spouse and/or child (e.g., marriage and birthcertificates).It is preferred that families apply for their visas at the same time, but if the spouse and/or child mustapply separately at a later time, they should bring a copy of the student visa holder's passport andvisa, along with all other required documents.

Other InformationOptional Practical Training (OPT)

F-1 visa holders may be eligible for up to 12 months of optional practical training following completion ofall course requirements for graduation (not including thesis or equivalent), or after completion of allrequirements. OPT is separate from a student's academic work, and time for OPT will not normally bereflected during the student's academic program or in the completed study date. Students applying foran F visa to do OPT may present an I-20 with an original end of study date that may have passed.However, these I-20s must be annotated by the designated school official to reflect approval of an OPTprogram that extends beyond the end of the regular period of study. In addition, the student must haveproof that USCIS has approved their practical training program or that an application is pending, either inthe form of an approved Employment Authorization Card or a Form I-797 indicating that s/he has apending application for an OPT program.

Validity of Student Visas After a Break in Studies

Students who are away from classes for more than five months must apply for and receive a new F-1 orM-1 student visa to return to school following travel abroad, as explained below.

Students within the United States

A student (F-1 or M-1) may lose that status if they do not resume studies within five months of the date

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of transferring schools or programs, under immigration law. If a student loses status, unless USCISreinstates the student's status, the student's F or M visa would also be invalid for future travel returningto the United States. For more information see the USCIS website, and instructions for Application forExtend/Change of Nonimmigrant Status Form I-539 to request reinstatement of status.

Students ­ Returning to the United States from Travel Abroad

Students who leave the United States for a break in studies of five months or more may lose their F-1 orM-1 status unless their activities overseas are related to their course of study. In advance of travel,students may want to check with their designated school official if there is a question about whethertheir activity is related to their course of study.

When the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) immigration inspector at port of entry is presented apreviously used, unexpired F-1 or M-1 visa by a returning student who has been outside the UnitedStates and out of student status for more than five months, a CBP immigration inspector may find thestudent inadmissible for not possessing a valid nonimmigrant visa. CBP may also cancel the visa aftergranting the student permission to withdraw the application for admission. Therefore, it is prudent forstudents to apply for new visas at an Embassy or Consulate General abroad prior to traveling to theUnited States to return to their studies after an absence of more than five months that is not related totheir course of study.

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The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs website (http://travel.state.gov) and Consular Post websitesare the definitive sources of visa information. Should there be discrepancies in content, the Consular Affairs websiteand Consular Post websites take precedence.

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