US Student Visa M-1. Purpose:
For foreign citizens arriving in the United States to:
complete a full course of professional training;
complete a full course of study at a non-academic institute;
complete the complete Advanced Training course.
US Student Visa M-1. Advantages
You are coming to the United States as a student for an Advancement course;
You can officially work part-time at [Campuse]. In case of urgent need, you can get a job outside the educational institution, having previously obtained an employment authorization from the US Immigration Service;
You are free to travel within and outside the United States while you are in M-1 status;
Your family can accompany you to the United States by obtaining M-2 status;
The M-1 visa is quickly issued.
US Student Visa M-1 – Requirements and Documents
Requirements.
To be eligible for an M-1 visa, you must prove that:
You have successfully completed the course of study normally required for registration;
You have been accepted for a full course of study at a USCIS Approved Vocational Institution;
Institution must send you Form I-20M-N – Certificate of Enrollment;
You know English well enough to complete the intended course of study, or the institution where you intend to study is ready to teach you English or teach in your native language;
You have enough funds to pay for the first year of study, and the ability to find money to pay for subsequent years;
you have a permanent place of residence in your country that you do not intend to leave;
You intend to leave the United States after completing your course of study, and you can prove this by providing evidence of economic, social and / or family ties with your homeland, sufficient to induce you to leave the United States after completing your studies;
Your education in the United States is necessary for your country, and this is what will induce you to leave the United States after graduation.
Documents for Registration.
First: to obtain M-1 status, you must already be admitted to a vocational school that has an official permit to issue the I-20M-N-Certificate of Eligibility.
Also, to obtain the M-1 status, you must submit the following documents:
Form DS-160 – Application for a Nonimmigrant Visa;
a copy of a passport that is valid for at least six months outside the period of stay in the United States and with at least one blank page;
two color photographs on a light background showing the entire face without head covering. You can wear a headdress if required by the religious community of which you are a member;
documents confirming that you or your parents have sufficient financial resources to cover the costs of your education and living during the entire period of study;
transcripts and diplomas of previous institutions in which you studied;
results of tests required by the educational institution, such as TOEFL, SAT, GRE, or GMAT;
documents demonstrating your intention to leave the United States after graduation Important: M-1 status cannot be obtained by you without a Certificate of Enrollment.
Student Information Exchange [SEVIS].
The Student Information System [SEVIS] for registration of I-20 forms oversees the legal process for all student visas and monitors the progress of international students with M-1 visas and their family members with M-2 visas.
According to the SEVIS guidelines, certain information about the applicant must be provided before proceeding with the student visa application.
Necessary information:
full name of the student;
date and place of birth of the student;
nationality / citizenship of the student;
number of the school program;
name of the school curriculum This information must be submitted by an American institution, the student cannot enter it on their own behalf.
US Student Visa M-1 – Length of Stay
You may arrive in the United States on a student visa 90 days before the designated registration date on Form I-20M-N, and remain in the United States for 30 days after completing the course.
Working with an M-1 visa
While in M-1 status, you can only get a job as part of your practical training, and subject to approval by the USCIS Immigration Service and an Employment Authorization.
Visa for family members of the M-1 visa holder.
Spouses and children under 21 who wish to accompany you to the United States during your stay can apply for an M-2 visa.