USA Student visa

Looking for a U.S. student visa from Saudi Arabia?

The United States welcomes foreign citizens who come to the U.S. to study.

Before applying for a visa, all student visa applicants are required to be accepted and approved by their school or program.

Once accepted, the educational institution will provide the applicant with the necessary approval documentation to be submitted when applying for a student visa.

Student (F and M) visas for new students can be issued up to 120 days in advance of the start date for a course of study, and students can travel within 30 days from the start date on Form I-20.

Anyone who will be studying in the United States could be issued one of the three following visa types for international students: F1 Visa, J1 Visa or M1 Visa.

You may be asking, “What visa do you need to work as an international student in the US?”.

The F1 and J1 Visas allow for the possibility of employment but do not guarantee it.

The M1 Visa, however, does not allow for the possibility of employment

Visa descriptions and qualifications

F-1 visa

This is the most common type of student visa.

If you wish to engage in academic studies in the United States at an approved school, such as an accredited U.S.

college or university, private secondary school or approved English language program then you need an F-1 visa. You will also need an F-1 visa if your course of study is more than 18 hours a week.

An F1 visa is issued to international students who are attending an academic program or English Language Program at a US college or university.

F1 students must maintain the minimum course load for full-time student status.

They can remain in the US for up to 60 days beyond the length of time it takes to complete their academic program unless they have applied and been approved to stay and work for a period of time under the OPT Program.

F1 students are expected to complete their studies by the expiration date on their I-20 form (Certificate of Eligibility for Non-immigrant Student Status) which is provided by the US college or university that the student has been accepted to and will attend.

J-1 Visa

A J-1 visa is issued to students who need to obtain practical training that is not available in their home country to complete their academic program.

J-1 student status allows for similar employment as the F1 visa, with similar restrictions, as long as permission is given by the exchange visitor program sponsor.

The J-1 visa in the United States is for people who wish to take part in work-and-study-based exchange and visitor programs in the U.S.

These programs are sponsored by an educational or other nonprofit institution, which must be accredited through the Exchange Visitor Program designated by the U.S.

State Department. J-1 exchange visitors come to the United States to teach, study, receive training or demonstrate special skills.

The J1 visa is meant for students who need practical training that is not available to them in their home country, and the training must be directly related to their academic program.

M-1 Visa

An M-1 visa is issued to a student who is going to attend a non-academic or vocational school.

The “M” visa is for nonacademic or vocational studies.

M-1 visa holders for technical and vocational programs are not permitted to work during the course of their studies.

The M-1 student visa applicants must have evidence that sufficient funds are immediately available to pay all tuition and living costs for the entire period of their intended stay.

Using the M1 visa, as a student, you can obtain a driver’s license, a bank account based in the U.S., access to health care services, and apply for work under certain restrictions.

If your M1 visa status is valid you can bring in your relatives as dependents to live with you in the United States.

Students returning to the U.S. from travel abroad

Students who leave the U.S. for a break in studies of five months or more may lose their F-1 or M-1 status unless their activities overseas are related to their course of study.

In advance of travel, students may want to check with their designated school official, if there is a question about whether their activity is related to their course of study.

When the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) immigration inspector at the port of entry is presented a previously used, unexpired F-1 or M-1 visa by a returning student who has been outside the U.S.

And out of student status for more than five months, a CBP immigration inspector may find the student inadmissible for not possessing a valid nonimmigrant visa.

CBP may also cancel the visa after granting the student permission to withdraw the application for admission.

Therefore, it is prudent for students to apply for new visas at an Embassy or Consulate abroad prior to traveling to the U.S. to return to their studies, after an absence of more than five months that is not related to their course of study.