Student Visas
Contac Lim Law
Orlando Student Visa Attorneys
What Is a Student Visa?
To come to the United States to study, you must apply for and receive a student visa. There are two types of student visas: one for academic study (F-1) and one for vocational study (M-1). Once your initial forms are submitted, you will be interviewed at a U.S. Embassy near you. Both types of student visas provide options for your spouse and dependent children to receive visas to be in the U.S. with you during your studies.
To learn more about student visas, contact us online or call our immigration lawyers in Orlando at (407) 897-8870 and request in-person consultation. Se habla Español.
Common Types of Student Visas
M-1 – Vocational Student Visa
- You must be enrolled at a vocational or other nonacademic institution
F-1 Academic Student Visa
- Your program must result in a degree, diploma, or certificate
- You must be enrolled at an accredited college, university, seminary, conservatory, academic high school, elementary school, or other academic institution or in a language training program
- Your program must be authorized by the government to accept international students
What you need:
- A valid passport
- Photo
- Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status from the institution you will attend
- Form DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application
- Pay for the SEVIS and application fees
- Additional documentation on your previous education
- Ability to finance your education in the U.S.
- Intent to return to your home country after your program
F-1 – Academic Student Visa
- You cannot work off-campus during your first year of school
- You can work on campus in positions related to your area of study but must get approval prior to starting work
- After your first year, you can work off-campus in three areas:
- Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
- Optional Practical Training (OPT)
- You can get up to 12 months authorized employment before or after you complete your program
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Optional Practical Training Extension (OPT)
- You can apply for up to a 24-month extension to the Optional Practical Training if your degree and subsequent OPT were in a STEM field
M-1 – Vocational Student Visa
After your studies are completed, you may go into practical training.
Schedule in-person consultation at Lim Law, P.A. in Maitland today. You can contact us online or call (407) 897-8870.