Student Visa Law

There are two types of visas for educational purposes:

• student visas: F-1 Academic or M-1 Vocational
• exchange visas: J-1

The F-1 student visa is for academic and language programs. To be eligible for this temporary, non-immigrant visa, you must apply to an accredited college or university that awards bachelor's, master's, doctorate or professional degrees; an accredited community or junior college that provides instruction in the liberal arts or the professions, and awards associate degrees; a seminary; a conservatory; or an institution that provides language training, instruction in the liberal arts, the fine arts or the professions, or instruction in one or more of these disciplines.

The M-1 student visa is for vocational students (in non-academic programs). To be eligible for this temporary, non-immigrant visa, you must apply to a community college or junior college that provides vocational or technical training and awards associate degrees; a trade school; or a school of nonacademic training other than language training.

The J-1 educational and cultural exchange visa is designed to promote the interchange of people, knowledge and skills in the fields of education, sciences and the arts. Participants include students at all academic levels; people coming to on-the-job training with firms, institutions and agencies; teachers of primary, secondary and specialized schools; professors coming to teach or do research at a college or university; research scholars; professional trainees in the medical and allied fields; and international visitors coming for the purpose of travel, observation, consultation, research, training, sharing or demonstrating specialized knowledge and skills, or participating in organized people-to-people programs.