F-1 Visa FAQs
Q. What is a Form I-20?
A. Form I-20 is a government document issued by a college or university indicating that you are eligible under F-1 student status. To qualify for a Form I-20, you must meet the admission requirements of the American Educational Institution. You also need to prove that: 1) you are a “bona fide” student; 2) you will pursue a full time course of study in the U.S.; and 3) you have enough money to cover your living expenses in the U.S.
Q. Who needs a Form I-20?
A. Two kinds of students can be issued a Form I-20, including new students and transfer students.
Q. How do I get one?
A. Once you are accepted, the University/School will send you a Form I-20 with its name on it. After that you can start to apply for an F-1 student visa with this Form.
Q. When is the right time to apply for the student visa?
A. You can start 120 days before the date of enrollment mentioned on the Form I-20.
Q. What is SEVIS?
A. SEVIS is short for Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. Universities issuing I-20 forms will enter international student information in the SEVIS database in U.S. Then the information will be accessed by U.S. Consulates worldwide for visa processing.
Q. Can I change my university/school after I reach the U.S.?
A. No. Once you are in the U.S., you cannot change your school before completing a year in the University/School listed in your Form I-20.
Q. I received an I-20 from a school which issued me a student visa. But now I received another I-20 from a different school which I prefer to attend. Can I use the first student visa to attend the second school?
A. No. You need to apply for a new visa based on the new I-20. Each I-20 is only valid for the school named on it.
Q. How could I prove to the U.S. Consulate that I intend to come back to my home country after I finish my study in the U.S.? How much assets or liquid cash are they looking for?
A. There is no fixed amount or numbers specified. However, you need to prove to the consular officer that you are a bona-fide student, genuinely wanting to pursue higher studies in the U.S. You need to show your ties to your home country, and that after graduation you would return rather than stay in the U.S.
Q. If I do not have sufficient funds for the U.S. study, can I get a loan from banks?
A. Yes. But you need to prove to the U.S. Consulate that you have the ability to repay the loan. If large loans are taken out, it would be difficult to get a visa.
Q. If I have relatives in the U.S., will my student visa application be rejected?
A. It depends on the situation of each specific case. If you are rejected for a student visa, having relatives in the U.S. usually will not be the only reason for the rejection.
Q. How do I prove that I can afford to attend school in the U.S.?
A. Please refer to Part 7 of your I-20. It shows the amount of money you need to cover the first year expenses. The total amount includes tuition and fees, living expenses, expenses of dependents and other expenses. You must prove to the U.S. Consulate that you have immediate funds available to cover this amount. If your parents are sponsoring your studies, an affidavit of their support with proof of funds will help.
Q. Do I have to take the TOEFL or GRE exams to qualify for a student visa? What if some schools do not have such requirement?
A. Different schools have different requirements on the Standard English test scores. You need to prove that you have met the requirement of each individual school. However, the embassy strongly recommends that all student visa applicants provide Standard English test scores.
Q. What is CPT?
A. CPT is short for Curricular Practical Training. It is an optional employment opportunity available to F-1 students. The training is considered to be an integral part of the curriculum or academic program. According to the immigration regulations, this employment may be an internship, a cooperative education job, a practicum, or any other work experience that is either required for your degree or for which academic credit is awarded. A CPT of more than 364 days may preclude the student from obtaining a post graduation OPT.
Q. What is OPT?
A. OPT is short for Optional Practical Training. It is a temporary employment authorization which offers a practical off campus work experience to F-1 students. It normally last for 12 months after the completion of the studies and it is an opportunity for the students to apply knowledge they studied from the classroom.
Q. What are the eligibility requirements for OPT?
A. To be eligible to apply for optional practical training, you must:
• Have been in the full time student status for at least one full academic year preceding the submission of your OPT application;
• Maintain a valid F-1 status at the time of the application, and;
• Intend to work in a position directly related to your major field of study.
Q. When should I apply for an OPT?
A. You can submit the application 90 days prior to the date you complete your first academic year. If you have completed all coursework or your academic program, you must submit an application for optional practical training prior to your completion date. Applications received at USCIS after the completion date will be denied.
Q. What are the dates for the OPT Authorization?
A. The OPT card is approved for specific beginning and end dates. You must identify those dates on the OPT Request Form. For OPT after completion of studies or graduation, the beginning date on the request form can be no later than 60 days after graduation.
Q. How do I convert my F-1 visa to a H1-B visa?
A. Once you find a job and an employer who would like to sponsor your H-1B visa application, you can start converting your F-1 visa to H-1B status. Your employer will be responsible for your H-1B application.
Q. If I am on my tourist visa in the U.S., can I apply to change to an F-1 visa?
A. Generally, an applicant with a tourist visa may not change to student visa status while remaining in the U.S. There are exceptions, however. Please consult with an experienced attorney.
12/08/10
A. Form I-20 is a government document issued by a college or university indicating that you are eligible under F-1 student status. To qualify for a Form I-20, you must meet the admission requirements of the American Educational Institution. You also need to prove that: 1) you are a “bona fide” student; 2) you will pursue a full time course of study in the U.S.; and 3) you have enough money to cover your living expenses in the U.S.
Q. Who needs a Form I-20?
A. Two kinds of students can be issued a Form I-20, including new students and transfer students.
- New students are defined as students who are outside the U.S. and are planning to pursue a U.S. degree. Also, exchange participants, diplomats, employees of an international organization can make applications for Form I-20 as new students.
- Transfer students are defined as students who already have a Form I-20 from their current school but need a new Form I-20 as they are transferring to another school. Each I-20 is only valid for the school named on the form.
Q. How do I get one?
A. Once you are accepted, the University/School will send you a Form I-20 with its name on it. After that you can start to apply for an F-1 student visa with this Form.
Q. When is the right time to apply for the student visa?
A. You can start 120 days before the date of enrollment mentioned on the Form I-20.
Q. What is SEVIS?
A. SEVIS is short for Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. Universities issuing I-20 forms will enter international student information in the SEVIS database in U.S. Then the information will be accessed by U.S. Consulates worldwide for visa processing.
Q. Can I change my university/school after I reach the U.S.?
A. No. Once you are in the U.S., you cannot change your school before completing a year in the University/School listed in your Form I-20.
Q. I received an I-20 from a school which issued me a student visa. But now I received another I-20 from a different school which I prefer to attend. Can I use the first student visa to attend the second school?
A. No. You need to apply for a new visa based on the new I-20. Each I-20 is only valid for the school named on it.
Q. How could I prove to the U.S. Consulate that I intend to come back to my home country after I finish my study in the U.S.? How much assets or liquid cash are they looking for?
A. There is no fixed amount or numbers specified. However, you need to prove to the consular officer that you are a bona-fide student, genuinely wanting to pursue higher studies in the U.S. You need to show your ties to your home country, and that after graduation you would return rather than stay in the U.S.
Q. If I do not have sufficient funds for the U.S. study, can I get a loan from banks?
A. Yes. But you need to prove to the U.S. Consulate that you have the ability to repay the loan. If large loans are taken out, it would be difficult to get a visa.
Q. If I have relatives in the U.S., will my student visa application be rejected?
A. It depends on the situation of each specific case. If you are rejected for a student visa, having relatives in the U.S. usually will not be the only reason for the rejection.
Q. How do I prove that I can afford to attend school in the U.S.?
A. Please refer to Part 7 of your I-20. It shows the amount of money you need to cover the first year expenses. The total amount includes tuition and fees, living expenses, expenses of dependents and other expenses. You must prove to the U.S. Consulate that you have immediate funds available to cover this amount. If your parents are sponsoring your studies, an affidavit of their support with proof of funds will help.
Q. Do I have to take the TOEFL or GRE exams to qualify for a student visa? What if some schools do not have such requirement?
A. Different schools have different requirements on the Standard English test scores. You need to prove that you have met the requirement of each individual school. However, the embassy strongly recommends that all student visa applicants provide Standard English test scores.
Q. What is CPT?
A. CPT is short for Curricular Practical Training. It is an optional employment opportunity available to F-1 students. The training is considered to be an integral part of the curriculum or academic program. According to the immigration regulations, this employment may be an internship, a cooperative education job, a practicum, or any other work experience that is either required for your degree or for which academic credit is awarded. A CPT of more than 364 days may preclude the student from obtaining a post graduation OPT.
Q. What is OPT?
A. OPT is short for Optional Practical Training. It is a temporary employment authorization which offers a practical off campus work experience to F-1 students. It normally last for 12 months after the completion of the studies and it is an opportunity for the students to apply knowledge they studied from the classroom.
Q. What are the eligibility requirements for OPT?
A. To be eligible to apply for optional practical training, you must:
• Have been in the full time student status for at least one full academic year preceding the submission of your OPT application;
• Maintain a valid F-1 status at the time of the application, and;
• Intend to work in a position directly related to your major field of study.
Q. When should I apply for an OPT?
A. You can submit the application 90 days prior to the date you complete your first academic year. If you have completed all coursework or your academic program, you must submit an application for optional practical training prior to your completion date. Applications received at USCIS after the completion date will be denied.
Q. What are the dates for the OPT Authorization?
A. The OPT card is approved for specific beginning and end dates. You must identify those dates on the OPT Request Form. For OPT after completion of studies or graduation, the beginning date on the request form can be no later than 60 days after graduation.
Q. How do I convert my F-1 visa to a H1-B visa?
A. Once you find a job and an employer who would like to sponsor your H-1B visa application, you can start converting your F-1 visa to H-1B status. Your employer will be responsible for your H-1B application.
Q. If I am on my tourist visa in the U.S., can I apply to change to an F-1 visa?
A. Generally, an applicant with a tourist visa may not change to student visa status while remaining in the U.S. There are exceptions, however. Please consult with an experienced attorney.
12/08/10