| Many foreign students have questions regarding an | | | | of the United States. By obtaining this change students |
| education in the United States and have no idea how | | | | will be allowed to apply for an F-1 Visa if they obtain |
| to begin the process of immigrating to the U.S. and | | | | the issued I-20 and meet the following qualifications; 1) |
| applying to schools in the United States. To begin the | | | | students must prove they have the funding to attend |
| process there are several steps that need to be taken | | | | school in the United States; 2) students must not intend |
| by international students to attend a qualifying institution | | | | to remain permanently in the United States after their |
| of higher learning. Primarily, the school must be certified | | | | studies end; 3) students must be proficient in the |
| by the U.S. Investigations and Customs Enforcement | | | | English language. |
| (ICE) Student Exchange Visitor Program. A list of | | | | Students who are married and intend to study in the |
| qualifying school can be found on the ICE website. The | | | | United States will need their qualifying family members |
| student must apply and gain admission to an | | | | apply for F-2 status. Children of an F-1 student are |
| educational institution and be issued a SEVIS Form I-20. | | | | eligible to attend public elementary and secondary |
| Younger students who are elementary and secondary | | | | school. Spouses of F-1 students are allowed to live in |
| school aged will be issued H-4 or L-2 status by ICE. | | | | the United States but they are not allowed to work in |
| These are non-immigrant statuses but there are | | | | the U.S. A dependent child of a student under F-1 |
| elementary and secondary schools in the United | | | | status must be age 21 or younger. |
| States who issue I-20's with the approval of ICE. The | | | | Students who are under F-1 Visa status are not |
| schools are listed on the ICE website. An F-1 student | | | | allowed to work off campus for the first academic |
| visa holder may also attend a public secondary school | | | | year of their education. The United States Citizenship |
| in the United States for up to twelve months, but they | | | | and Immigration Services or (CIS) has specific rules |
| must reimburse the public school for the full cost of | | | | and guidelines for students under F-1 Visas working on |
| their attendance. The I-20 is the first step in obtaining | | | | or off campus. F-1 students are allowed to work |
| an F-1 Visa, but there are other important steps that | | | | on-campus during their first year of academic study. |
| must be taken for students wishing to attend school in | | | | F-1 students can begin working on campus as much |
| the U.S. | | | | as 30 days before the beginning of the school year. |
| Students who are currently in the United States under | | | | During their second and subsequent years, students |
| a different non-immigrant status must change their | | | | are allowed to work off-campus but only as part of |
| status to student before they attend school in the U.S. | | | | their educational affiliation or directly related to their |
| Students can apply for a student visa at the U.S. | | | | field of study. |
| Consulate in their country or another Embassy outside | | | | |