International Student Info | Graduate

F-1 (Student Visa). The F-1 visa is for full-time students enrolled in an academic or English language program. F-1 students may stay in the US for the full length of their academic program plus 60 days. F-1 students must maintain a full-time course load and complete their studies by the expiration date listed on the Certificate of Eligibility (I-20 form(.

J-1 (Exchange Visitor Visa). The J-1 visa is issued for students needing practical training that is not available in their home country to complete their academic program. The training must be directly related to the academic program.

M-1 (Vocational Student Visa). The M-1 visa is issued for students attending non-academic trade and vocational schools. The M-1 visa is valid for at most one year.

Obtaining Your Student Visa

Once you have been admitted into a college or university, you will need to obtain your student visa to enter the U.S. The visa can be obtained at a U.S. embassy or consulate in your country. You will need to obtain a form I-20 or IAP-66, "Certificate of Eligibility", from your school in order to apply for your visa. This certificate confirms you have met the school�s requirements for admission and have shown proof of sufficient funds to cover your education in the U.S.

When applying for your visa, the U.S. consular officer who interviews you assumes that you plan to stay permanently in the U.S. until you prove otherwise. You will not get a visa if you do not prove to the consular officer that you plan to return to your home country when you complete your studies in the U.S. In order to demonstrate that you will return to your country, you must show that:

a) You have sufficient funds to cover all your expenses for the duration of your stay in the U.S. If sponsored by an agency, be prepared to show a letter of award. If your support is from personal and/or family funds, be prepared to show bank statements, certified letters of credit, and proof of your annual salary and/or your total available or anticipated assets or that of your immediate family. If you are receiving a scholarship from your school, be prepared to show a letter of award. At a minimum, you must prove to the satisfaction of the consular officer that you have sufficient funds for your first year of study and the ability to pay for the subsequent years.

b) You have a good reason to return home when you finish your studies, such as all your family is in your country and not in the U.S.; you have a job awaiting you in your country; all your assets are at home and not in the U.S., etc. You must show that you have strong ties (professional, family, financial, etc.) to your country and that you will return home upon completion of your studies.

If you cannot prove these points to the consular officer, you may be denied a visa. If you are denied a visa, contact your school immediately. They may be able to contact the U.S. Consulate on your behalf.

Travel Information

If this is your first extended trip to another country, you may be a little nervous. Here are some tips to help calm your nerves:

Let the international student advisor at your school know about your travel plans and expected arrival date. If you have arranged for housing, give your family members your contact information in the U.S.
Attend the U.S. Information Service's pre-departure orientation session. It will provide a lot of helpful information.
Visit your doctor and/or dentist before you leave. Tell your doctor about your trip, so he or she can give you any required inoculations. Also arrange for an eye examination, so you can carry an up-to-date prescription in case you need to replace your glasses or contact lenses. Waiting to get to the U.S. before doing this is unwise. Medical care in the U.S. is expensive!
Buy your ticket early so you can get good fares. Also don't forget to reconfirm your reservations 72 hours before departure, and to arrive at the airport early.
Take important documents such as academic diplomas, birth certificates, financial documents, medical records, etc.
Be prepared to answer questions from a custom's official at your port of entry. They will ask you questions about your purpose for visiting the U.S. Your answer should be "Student". If they want to know the name of the school, tell them, but keep your answers simple and direct. If they want more information, they will ask! Visit the U.S. Customs website for more information about entering to the U.S.

Temporary Accommodation

If you have not secured permanent accommodation before you leave home, then you'll need to make arrangements for a temporary accommodation when you arrive in the U.S., or better still, before you leave home. There are a wide range of options for you to choose from, including, youth hostels, hotels, motels, homestays and bed&breakfasts. These options vary by cost and the services they provide. See the following links to learn more about each option.

You may also consider sharing an apartment with other people. This is what most single people and college students in the U.S. do to lower their living expenses. Some websites offering roommate matching services include:

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