Immigration: What's an F-Visa?

F-visas are one of our most versatile and widely used visas.  This is the temporary (nonimmigrant) visa which allows foreigners to come to the US to attend school.  The F-visa is the Student Visa.

Foreigners may come to the US to attend private undergraduate schools, such as Exeter, Canterbury, Rumsey Hall, or to attend local religious schools such as Corpus Christi Catholic School, or to attend colleges and universities such as State University of New York (SUNY) or Middlebury College, etc.  The academic program pursued must be full time, according to the rules and regulations of each school.  Full time academic study may mean 12 credit hours per semester.  The F-visa is also used for post-graduate studies for master’s degrees, and PhDs. 

The Student Visa is a very useful visa.  Sometimes families want to bring their children to the US, and they can legally do so with the Student Visa.  Sometimes foreigners come to the US in Visitor Visa or Tourist Visa status and decide that they want to stay in the US to pursue an education, and Change their Status to a Student Visa.  Others may need to bridge a gap between two visas, and decide to obtain a Student Visa and return to school in order to “bridge a gap.”  The Student Visa is generally valid for Duration of Status (D/S), which means that as long as the foreigner maintains a full course of study, the visa is valid.  For instance, if a foreigner attends a private high school in the US, then a university or college then pursues post-graduate studies; the foreigner could remain legal almost indefinitely.  The Student Visa also allows the foreigner to travel in and out of the US; returning to his/her country for vacations, to visit family.

Although the Student Visa does not allow the foreigner to work in the US, the school may permit the student to work on campus, or to pursue credit courses through an off-campus work/study program which is part of the curriculum.   Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a type of temporary employment authorization for F-1 visa holders which is granted through the school’s International Students Office according to the regulations of the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).  A student must be in the US for 9 months in order to be eligible for CPT.

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is available to students who have been in the US pursuing their degrees for more than 9 months.  Generally students use the OPT status at the conclusion of their studies upon graduation, in order to obtain practical training in a work environment in the US, before changing to another visa status or returning to their home country to put their education to good use. OPT is issued for a period of 12 months, and can be shortened if CPT was used, or lengthened if the degree is a STEM degree (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics).

The F-1 visa is issued to the primary full-time student.

An F-2 visa can be issued to a spouse and children of the F-1 visa holder.

An F-3 visa can be issued to a border commuter; a foreigner from Mexico or Canada who is studying in the US.

The F-Visa recognizes the value of education in the US, brings foreign money into our schools and universities which allows for stronger programs and pays for more teaching positions, and builds up the potential future workforce in the US.