This article is not a substitute for the advice or services of an attorney. We recommend you consult a lawyer or other appropriate professional if you want legal or immigration advice.
You’ve gotten into the school of your dreams. What happens next? This is a time for celebration and preparation. For those looking to come over to the U.S. to study full time, you need to apply for an F-1 visa.
There are three different visas available for students coming to America: J-1, F-1, and M-1. The most popular is the F-1 visa. This visa is for nonimmigrant students coming to the U.S. for academic and language training purposes. You must be coming as a full-time student in either middle school, high school, or for university with an end goal of a degree. You should consider the F-2 visa for any dependents that may be accompanying you.
Applying for an F-1 Visa
There are several steps involved in the F-1 visa process. You will begin by applying to the school of your choice. Once you receive confirmation of acceptance, the school will issue form I-20. Schools that issue I-20 forms are recognized as education institutions by the U.S. and confirm your full-time student status.
The I-20 form is an eligibility certificate for nonimmigrant student status. You will need to complete this document and pay a $350 I-901 service fee, which covers administrative costs for the visa processing. Typically, your school will help you with the required documents for your visa. These include your active passport, school acceptance letter, and a financial statement. You will need to prove that either you, your family, or a sponsor can provide financial stability for a minimum of one full year to study in the states. If you chose to have a sponsor, you will need to include their bank statement. Make sure you bring these documents with you to your interview. Make sure you do not miss a step for applying for your F-1 visa by following up with the
Department of State.
F-1 Visa Interview
If you are between the ages of 14 and 79, you will need to set up an interview with the U.S. Embassy in your home country. In addition to your documents, you will need to show that you have an appropriate level of English-speaking proficiency. If you are coming to the U.S. for a language intensive course such as English as a second language (ESL), they will typically waive this requirement. Finally, you will need to show your intention to come back to your home country once you’ve met your educational goals. You can prove intent by showing property ownership, family in your home country, or a business. The U.S. wants to make sure you will not remain abroad when your visa expires.
F-1 Visa Length
Your visa is valid for the duration of your nonimmigrant student status. Once you have completed your goals, you have a 60-day grace period to apply for another visa, prepare to return to your home country, or transfer to another university. Once you are in the U.S., you will hear the term F-1 status being used instead of F-1 visa.
Do I Need Health Insurance with My F-1 Visa?
The U.S. Department of State does not require specific student health insurance for F-1 visa holders. However, most educational institutions have their own mandatory health insurance requirements. Some will recommend a university-sponsored health insurance plan that meets these requirements. For these schools that have their own sponsored plans, you may have the option to waive their offered insurance plan if you can show proof of another comparable coverage plan.
Choosing a health insurance plan may seem like another hoop to jump through, but your health care and the financial implications of it are very important. In the U.S., you are required to pay for medical expenses out of pocket. Protect yourself from a financial headache with one of our student plans:
Keeping your F-1 Status
There are certain rules you must follow when studying abroad with an F-1 visa. The following are ways you may violate your visa rules or even be terminated from your program:
- Unauthorized employment. F-1 visa holders may only work 20 hours per week on campus during the school year. You can work 40 hours during school breaks. You are not allowed to work off campus.
- Failure to enroll. If, for any reason, you do not enroll in the following semester, you must immediately notify the school and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
- Failure to complete transfer. If you do not complete your transfer, you must notify your original school and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
- Unauthorized schedule change. You must be a full-time student to keep your F-1 status. If you drop below the guidelines and course load of a full-time student, you will lose your status. This is the most common way that F-1 statuses are violated.
- School expulsion or suspension
- Change of address without notification. You must notify the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services of any address change. This includes switching dormitories, apartments, and housing units.
If you have violated any of these terms, don’t wait until you receive a notice from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. You should be proactive by applying for reinstatement before you are notified.