To study in the United States in an official or vocational institution, applicants must obtain documents from the United States. These documents are the forms I-20 or I-20M which are issued by a school or institution approved by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), formerly Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS).
In addition the student must be registered in the Information System of Student and Exchange Program (SEVIS). Your school or program must register in SEVIS.
The student submits the form and visa application to the Embassy or Consulate for consideration. The spouse and unmarried children under 21 years’ students can apply for visas on the basis of the student category of the principal applicant. Each person must submit a complete application for visa and passport, each person must pay the processing fee separate application. You can also request applicants to submit marriage and birth certificates to confirm their relationship with the student. Cohabiting relationships are not recognized for the purposes of a visa to the United States.
Students and their dependents may work only in certain situations. For example, in general, are allowed to work in the school although employment may not exceed twenty hours per week while school is in session. It is permissible for students to work full time during vacations and when school is not working regularly. Spouses and children generally cannot work. If any doubt, it must consult with the school counselor in charge of international students and officials BCIS. We must remember that it is expected that you possess students financial means - from scholarships, other income or a combination of both to complete a full course of study without working in the United States.
All applicants must have sufficient scholastic preparation and knowledge of English (unless you are following a training program) to conduct a full course of study. If knowledge of English is inadequate, the school must show that it can offer and expressly accepted the student to pursue a full course of study in the student's language or have been conducted arrange tutorial language assistance English for the student. The consular officer must be satisfied that the applicant may, with tutorial support, complete a full course of study in the United States.
Official Student (F)
This visa applicant who has been accepted by an official institution, college, university, seminary, conservatory, high school, elementary school, or other official institution or program of linguistic training in the United States is granted. The applicant must possess a Certificate of Eligibility (Form I-20) completed, signed by himself and by the staff of the school.
From the November 30, 1996, new laws prevent consular officers from issuing visas F to applicants going to study in primary schools or adult education programs financed by public funds, regardless of which may bear the cost thereof. Students applying for F visas to study in public secondary schools (from the 7th to 12th grade) must demonstrate that they have paid the full price regardless of subsidies that further education might have. Students with an F visa can only access public education for not more than twelve months. Foreign students may no longer use the US residence of their relatives to attend public high schools. These regulations apply to students who attend private schools do not apply. These provisions do not affect the dependents of holders of other categories of visas such as E, H, L or J.
To grant the visa in question, the student must submit the payment receipt issued by the school authority. As evidence of this, the I-20 form must be endorsed to indicate that payment has been made. Alternatively, school officials must provide the student a certified statement letterhead paper signed by an authorized official sign I-20. This statement indicates that the payment has been made.
