F1/ M1 Student Guide – Part 1 – Introduction

 Part 1  Part 2  Part 3  Part 4

– F1 Student Visa Home Page
– Student Guide
– Testimonial – Paul
– Student Issues for Under 18
– Qualification Evaluations
– Finding a Community College in USA
– SEVIS Fee

Welcome to our Student Visa Video Presentation.  We’re delighted that you found us so let’s get started. Every year thousands of foreign students enter the US to attend a university or college. These students are primarily looking to further their education. In addition to developing their education, other opportunities may follow such as gaining paid practical work training. Having studied in the US, many students are able to find US employment. There are two types of student visas – the F-1 visa for academic based courses and M-1 visa for vocational courses or non-academic courses.

People who are interested in attending college in the US may wish to visit a number of colleges first. If the student intends to remain in the US after he or she has found a college, then they must first be careful how they plan to enter the US. In this case, the student should apply for a B-2 tourist visa and make it obvious in their B-2 visa application that it is their intention to look for a college to attend. By making their intentions known, the B-2 visa will be marked accordingly. When the student is accepted onto a course he or she will not be able to actually attend classes until they have applied for and have been granted an F-1 student visa.

For students who enter the US under the visa waiver program, they will not be allowed to extend their stay in order to attend college. Instead, they will be required to take their acceptance letter from the college back to their home country and complete their F-1 visa application there. Before a student can be accepted onto any college course, his or her qualifications and experience must be evaluated and translated into a US equivalent. After credential evaluation, the college can determine whether or not the student qualifies to be admitted to a particular course.

The independent credential evaluator will require copies of all academic qualifications earned, transcripts of those qualifications, the name, address, telephone, email address and contact person with whom the evaluator may contact. In addition, a full and detailed resume / C.V., with similar contact information should also be provided. For full details on the credential evaluation process click here.

In the US there are two main groups of colleges; private and state funded colleges. There are many local private colleges that offer excellent courses. Local private colleges tend to specialize in vocational and other undergraduate courses. There are two fundamental differences between private and state funded colleges.

Private colleges tend to be four times more expensive than state colleges, and more state colleges are accredited to take on foreign students than private colleges. So when choosing a college the student should find out whether the college is an accredited college to accept foreign students and whether the college is a privately funded or local state college. In part 2 we’ll continue this presentation, so stay with us and we look forward to you joining us shortly.

Immigration Law Offices of Chris M. Ingram

US Immigration Law Offices of Chris M. Ingram
Chris M. Ingram LL.M., ESQ – Immigration Attorney
Admitted in New York.
Practice Specializing in US Immigration Law
401 Wilshire Boulevard, 12th Floor,
Santa Monica,
California 90401
Tel: 310 496 4292

Specializing in the E2 Visa, EB1 Green Card, L-1A Visa and O1 Visa and K1 Visa Marriage-Based Immigration. Attorney Chris M. Ingram is dedicated to providing the very best in US Immigration legal representation. Enjoy our website.

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