Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions about Student Visas

1. Should I wait for my I-20 to arrive before scheduling my interview appointment?
2. I have not received my I-20 yet. What should I do?
3. Must applicants take tests such as the TOEFL, SAT, GRE, and GMAT, in order to obtain a student visa? Is any particular score on these exams needed to get a visa?
4. How long before my program starts can I travel to the U.S.?
5. How long can I stay in the U.S. with an F/M visa?
6. I am currently a student in the U.S. do I need a visa to re-enter the U.S.?
7. I have changed schools. Do I need to get a new visa?
8. If I am in the U.S. studying and my visa has expired, do I need to leave?
9. Can I work while I am in the U.S.?
10. I have been accepted by a U.S. school which issued me an I-20. Why isn't that enough for issuance of a student visa?

 

1. Should I wait for my I-20 to arrive before scheduling my interview appointment?
   You should have your I-20 with you at your appointment. It is important, however, that you schedule your appointment well in advance. Please select a date on which you expect to have your I-20. See here for more information.
    
2. I have not received my I-20 yet, what should I do?
   Contact your school directly. If the school does not have the forms, it should contact the local office of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
    
3. Must applicants take tests such as the TOEFL, SAT, GRE, and GMAT, in order to obtain a student visa? Is any particular score on these exams needed to get a visa?
   Applicants are generally not required to take any particular tests to qualify for a visa. However, we note that motivated and serious student visa applicants often take such tests when seeking admission to schools in the United States. The fact that you have taken one or more of these tests may help show the seriousness of your study plans since most of these exams are taken in order to qualify for admission to a U.S. university.
    
4. How long before my program starts can I travel to the US?
   According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, student visa holders may enter the U.S. no earlier than 30 days before the start date listed on their I-20. This 30-day limit does not apply to returning students with a valid I-20; they may travel to the U.S. at any time.
    
5. How long can I stay in the US with an F/M visa?
   F visa holders may remain in the U.S. for up to 60 days after the end date listed on their I-20. M visa holders may remain in the U.S. either for one year or the time indicated on the I-20 plus 30 days, whichever is less.
    
6. I am currently a student in the US, do I need a visa to re-enter the US?
   If you are making a short trip outside of the U.S., your visa has not expired and you are still enrolled in the school listed on your student visa, there is no need to obtain another visa.
   According to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) , students may leave the U.S. and be readmitted after absences of less than five months. If you have spent more than 5 months outside the U.S. we strongly recommend that you apply for a new student visa.
    
7. I have changed schools, do I need to get a new visa?
   If you change schools before you make your first trip to the US as a student, you will need to get a new visa. However, if you are changing schools after you have started your studies in the US, you do not need to get a new visa, unless you have been outside of the US for more than five months. Before traveling to the US to start a new school, please contact your student advisor to ensure that your SEVIS status has been activated.
    
8. If I am in the US studying and my visa has expired do I need to leave?
   You may remain in the U.S. as long as you are in full-time student status. On your next trip outside the U.S., you will need to obtain a valid student visa in order to reenter the U.S.
    
9. Can I work while I am in the US?
   In certain circumstances, F-1 visa holders may obtain permission to work. M-1 visa holders may only engage in employment which is a required part of their practical training and the employment has been approved in advance by the office of US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
    
10. I have been accepted by a U.S. school which issued me an I-20. Why isn't that enough for issuance of a student visa?
    The approved I-20 form is just one piece of information the interviewing officer must consider when deciding whether a visa may be issued. Remember, under Section 214(b) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act, you still must prove that you will leave the United States after the purpose for which you entered the United States comes to an end. In student visa cases, the applicants may intend to stay in the United States for many months and even years pursuing a course of study. Consequently, we must consider your overall circumstances when deciding whether to approve a student visa. Student visas must be denied if it appears that the applicant's primary purpose of travel is not to obtain an education, but, rather, to facilitate an indefinite stay in the United States. The fact that a school has admitted a student to study and issued the student an I-20 is, therefore, only one factor we consider.