Student Visa Resources

Student Visa

Student Visa Attorney

Student Visa Forms & Fees

US Citizen & Immigration Service Offices

The U.S. has excellent academic institutions and facilities for research. The US every year attracts thousands of students wishing to study in the U.S. The Law Offices of Arjun Verma can assist and guide you in getting your F-1 Student visa.

The F-1 Student Visa

Students who wish to study in the U.S. can seek admission under the F-1 or M visa categories. F-1 status is given to students who come for higher studies such as Bachelors Degree, Masters Degree, Ph.D. or any other graduate/post graduate level courses as well as public high school (Grades 9-12) students. Students who want to enroll in vocational or non-academic courses must apply under the M visa category.

Basic Criteria for Obtaining F-1 Status

1. The Alien must be enrolled in a school, which is approved by the Attorney General for the admission of foreign students;
2. The Alien must possess proficiency in English language or he/she must be enrolled in an English language course, which enables him/her to become proficient at English;
3. The Alien has to prove that he/she has enough funds to support himself/herself through the entire course and adequate funds will be available to him/her, in case of change in any kind of circumstances:
   
   To prove financial stability Alien can show:
   1. Scholarship, fellowship, or assistantship grants;
   1. Funds from his/her Government;
   2. Funds from his/her family;
   3. Personal funds.
      
      
4. The Alien has to maintain his residence abroad and has to prove that he/she intends togo back to their home country after completing their studies in the U.S.;
5. The Alien must be enrolled for a "full course of study" at the school or university.

   Duration of Stay:

   Foreign students are given a permission to stay in the U.S. for as long as they complete their studies. It means his/her stay will be considered as valid during as any number of academic courses/programs (for example, bachelor’s degree followed by master’s degree). The Alien can also complete any kind of practical training if this type of training is not available in his/her own country and a grace period, which is of sixty days to depart the U.S.

   Application Procedure:

   No advance permission is required from the Immigration & Naturalization Service (CIS) to enter the U.S. on F-1 visa status. The student has to submit supporting documents together with CIS From I-20 A-B from the US educational institute in which he/she has been admitted to the nearest US Consulate. If an Alien is already in the U.S on a different status, he/she has to apply to the CIS to change his/her nonimmigrant status to F-1 status so that he/she can study in the U.S.

   The Alien has to prove that he/she has enough means to support himself/herself through the entire period of stay and studies. He/she must be enrolled in a full time program and not any part-time program of study. Spouses and other family members of Aliens can also enter the U.S. under the F-2 category, but they will not be granted permission to work. Normally F-1 students are allowed to work on campus for up to 20 hours per week. Student may be given permission to work for more than 20 hours per week on campus under special conditions such as- if a student financial support is no longer available to him/her, a student may request the CIS for permission to work for the purpose of financial support. There is a work relief program established for certain students from Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand and Philippines who may be allowed to work more than 20 hours per week while school is in session. This is because of the devaluation of their currencies. This applies only to persons in F-1 visa status as of June 10, 1998.

Please contact us today for assistance at (408) 436-1010 or email us at info@avlawoffice.com