Savanna Hoffman
International students in the United States are required to follow a set of rules and regulations, which are determined by various government agencies and departments. The US Department of State is responsible for the initial visa application process and issuance, while the Department of Homeland Security grants entry into the country and enforces immigration regulations. Additionally, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) govern the implementation of Optional Practical Training (OPT) and establish rules for on-campus and off-campus employment for international students. Social media screening and vetting procedures for visa applicants have also been introduced by the State Department, impacting international students' eligibility. These rules are subject to change, as seen with the Trump administration's executive orders targeting immigration and visa policies.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Visa type | F-1 (Academic Student), M-1 (Vocational Student), J-1 |
| Visa requirements | Enrolled in an academic, language-training, or vocational program; school must be approved by the Student and Exchange Visitors Program; enrolled as a full-time student; proficient in English; sufficient funds for self-support; maintain a residence abroad |
| Visa application process | Managed by the U.S. Department of State; social media screening; visa processing involves a two-step review |
| Visa extensions | F-1 students may be eligible for an Optional Practical Training (OPT) extension, especially in STEM fields |
| Employment | F-1 students may not work off-campus during the first academic year; M-1 students may engage in practical training after completing their studies; on-campus employment is the most freely permitted category |
| Funding | Temporary pause on disbursements to grant funding recipients, including international students, starting February 12, 2025 |
Explore related products
![International Trade Law: Problems, Cases, and Materials [Connected Ebook] (Aspen Casebook)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61BpATFvGlL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
What You'll Learn
Visa requirements
To study in the US as an international student, you must obtain a student visa. The most common types of student visas are F-1 and M-1. F-1 visas are for full-time international students pursuing academic studies, while M-1 visas are for those pursuing vocational studies.
To obtain an F-1 visa, you must be enrolled in an academic educational program, a language-training program, or a vocational program at an accredited college, university, seminary, conservatory, academic high school, elementary school, or other academic institution. Your school must be approved by the Student and Exchange Visitors Program (SEVP), and you must be enrolled as a full-time student. Additionally, you must be proficient in English or be enrolled in courses to improve your proficiency, have sufficient funds to support yourself during your studies, and maintain a residence abroad that you do not intend to give up.
For an M-1 visa, you must be enrolled in a vocational or other non-academic program, excluding language training. Similar to the F-1 visa requirements, you must be enrolled as a full-time student at an SEVP-certified school, be proficient in English or be enrolled in English proficiency courses, have sufficient funds for self-support, and maintain a residence abroad.
Both F-1 and M-1 visa holders may be eligible to work on-campus or in a job related to their studies, but prior authorization is typically required from the Designated School Official (DSO) and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). After completing their program, students with either visa type must depart the US within 60 days of the program's end date, including any authorized practical training.
There are also J-1 exchange visitor visas for foreign nationals participating in work-and-study exchange programs, such as visiting scholars, camp counselors, au pairs, or research assistants. The issuing institution for J-1 visas must be designated by the Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and the visa holders must contact their responsible officer to determine their work eligibility outside their program of study.
The process of obtaining a student visa begins with paying the I-901 SEVIS fee and obtaining a receipt. Next, you must apply for the visa at a US Embassy or Consulate, bringing your Form I-20 and other required documents. A consular officer will interview you to determine your eligibility and may request further administrative processing. If your visa is approved, you may need to pay a visa issuance fee, depending on your nationality.
It is important to note that a visa does not guarantee entry into the US. Upon arrival, a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer at the port of entry has the authority to admit or deny entry. Additionally, the Trump administration introduced new rules for student visas, requiring visa applicants to unlock their social media profiles for review of their online activity.
International Students: Understanding W-9 Requirements
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Employment rules
International students in the US on F1 visas are permitted to work off-campus in optional practical training (OPT) status both during and after completing their degrees. However, F1 students may not work off-campus during their first academic year and can only accept on-campus employment subject to certain conditions and restrictions. After the first academic year, F1 students may engage in three types of off-campus employment:
- Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
- Off-campus employment due to unforeseen severe economic hardship
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Optional Practical Training Extension (OPT)
M-1 students may engage in practical training only after they have completed their studies. For both F1 and M1 students, any off-campus training or employment must be related to their area of study and must be authorized by the Designated School Official (DSO) and the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) prior to starting work.
The USCIS governs the implementation of OPT, and all OPT employment requires prior authorization from the USCIS and the student's school's International Student Office. Students can apply for OPT after being enrolled for at least 9 months but cannot begin employment until they receive their Employment Authorization Document (EAD) from USCIS and have been enrolled for at least a year.
Students can work full-time during breaks and up to 20 hours per week while school is in session if they are experiencing "severe economic hardship" as defined by USCIS. To be eligible, students must provide evidence of economic hardship due to unforeseen circumstances and show that on-campus employment is unavailable or insufficient.
Students must also ensure they file all appropriate forms with USCIS and receive any necessary approval. The general rules will apply differently to undergraduates, graduate students, and PhD candidates, and they can seek guidance from their International Student Office.
International Students: Work Full Time During Semester Breaks?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Social media screening
The rules for international students in the USA are determined by the US government, specifically the Department of State, which operates under the President's administration. The Department of State has the authority to implement and modify policies and programs related to international students, including visa requirements and exchange programs.
In recent years, there has been a heightened focus on social media screening for international students as part of the visa application process. This enhanced vetting procedure was introduced by the Trump administration in June 2025 and has sparked a range of responses from international students and tech companies.
The social media screening policy requires applicants for F, M, and J visas to make their social media accounts public for consular review. This includes not just social media profiles but also a review of their entire online presence, according to an internal State Department cable. Consular officers are instructed to look for any indications of hostility toward the US, its citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles. They are also directed to flag any support for foreign terrorists, unlawful antisemitic harassment or violence, and religious extremism.
International students have expressed concern about how their online activity, including old posts, likes, or memes, might be interpreted by immigration officials. This has led to some students deleting or hiding their social media content or even deactivating their accounts altogether. Tech companies have seized this opportunity to market account-scrubbing and social media screening tools specifically targeted at visa applicants.
While the social media screening policy aims to ensure the thorough vetting of individuals seeking entry into the US, it has also raised concerns about privacy and potential ideological exclusion, reminiscent of Cold War-era practices.
International Students: Steps to Permanent Residence
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Student status
To study in the United States as a full-time student, you will need a student visa. There are two nonimmigrant visa categories: the F and M visas. The F-1 Visa (Academic Student) allows you to enter the US as a full-time student at an accredited college, university, school, seminary, conservatory, or another academic institution, including language training. The M-1 visa (Vocational Student) includes students in vocational or other non-academic programs, except for language training.
To obtain an F-1 visa, you must be enrolled in a program or course of study that culminates in a degree, diploma, or certificate. Your school must be authorized by the US government to accept foreign students. You must also be proficient in English or be enrolled in courses leading to English proficiency. You must have sufficient funds available for self-support during the entire proposed course of study and maintain a residence abroad with no intention of giving up.
For the M-1 visa, you must apply to a Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-certified school in the US. You must also fulfill the purpose for your visa and follow all associated regulations to maintain your student status.
Students with F or M visas may be eligible to work, but only after their first academic year and with prior authorization. F-1 students may engage in off-campus employment through the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, which must be related to their area of study. M-1 students may engage in practical training only after they have completed their studies.
To change to F or M student status, you must apply to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for a change of status. You will need to provide a Form I-20, "Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status," which serves as proof of your registration in the Student and Exchange Visitor System (SEVIS) database.
Cracking USMLE Step 1: A Guide for International Students
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Funding and grants
Funding a college education in the United States can be challenging for international students, and financial aid programs are less extensive than those available to US citizens. However, grants and scholarships are available to international students from a variety of sources, including private, institutional, and government-funded scholarships.
Scholarships
Scholarships are the main way to fund studies in the US, and while they are highly competitive, students with impressive achievements and well-prepared applications have a good chance of being awarded one. Scholarships are available from US colleges and universities, private organisations, and international organisations.
Some scholarships are merit-based, awarded for special skills, talents, or abilities. These could include TOEFL scores, academic record, artistic ability, musical ability, or athletic ability. Other scholarships are need-based, awarded based on financial need.
The US Department of Education offers tips and resources to protect students from dishonest scholarship organisations. Free scholarship databases are available, although some scholarship databases charge fees to users. The College Board, for example, supports 7 million students each year and offers scholarship and other financial aid and internship information from more than 2,200 programs.
Loans
International students are not eligible for US government-backed loans, but they may be eligible for private international student loans. These usually require a cosigner, although some loan companies do not require a cosigner to be a US citizen or permanent resident.
Work
Full-time international students on an F-1 visa are allowed to work part-time on campus (less than 20 hours per week) but on-campus jobs typically do not pay enough to finance a university education. J-1 visa holders are allowed to work with similar restrictions, with permission from the exchange visitor program sponsor. M-1 visa holders are not permitted to work during their studies.
Tuition Waivers
Some US universities offer tuition waiver programs, meaning international students will pay the in-state tuition rate instead of the out-of-state rate, resulting in significant cost savings.
Home Country Funding
International students may also find funding from their home country, either from organisations or companies, or from their government. For example, Saudi Arabia has a program that provides full scholarships to over 10,000 Saudi students studying in the USA.
Grants
Grant programs for international students are not as abundant as those for domestic students, but there are grants available. The Fulbright program, for example, offers highly competitive merit-based grants for foreign students studying in the US. The Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) Program provides a grant for foreign citizens to teach their language and culture at a US university for one school year. The American Association of University Women (AAUW) sponsors international fellowships for women interested in graduate study in the US. The Aga Khan Foundation also offers scholarships to students from select developing countries.
Bentley SAT Requirements: International Students' Guide
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
There are two types of nonimmigrant visa categories for international students in the USA: the F-1 Visa and the M-1 Visa. The F-1 Visa is for academic students, while the M-1 Visa is for vocational students.
To obtain an F-1 Visa, you must be enrolled in an academic program at an accredited institution, have sufficient funds to support yourself during your studies, and maintain a residence abroad. You must also be proficient in English and your school must be authorized by the U.S. government to accept foreign students.
International students on F-1 Visas may work off-campus in Optional Practical Training (OPT) status during and after the completion of their degree. However, they must first obtain authorization from the USCIS and their school's International Student Office. On-campus employment is also an option for international students, but availability may be limited.
![Immigration Law Pocket Field Guide 2025 Edition [LATEST EDITION]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51EuQoWa2OL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
