F-1 Student Visa

F-1 Student Visa

The F-1 Visa is one of the more popular options available to students who wish to do their education in the United States. A student with an F-1 visa will have the option to work part-time, at 20 hours a week. American Immigration Center answers the most common questions related to the F-1 student visa in this article.

What is F-1 Visa? Academic Studies

An F-1 visa is a non-immigrant student visa meant for academic studies. Students with an F-1 visa must maintain full-time student status during their studies.

Can you work on an F1 visa?

Yes, one benefit for a student with an F-1 visa status is that the student can have on-campus employment, as long as the student keeps less than 20 hours per week.
Students with an F-1 visa have the option to apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) to receive practical training. Students with an F-1 visa must complete their studies before the expiration date on the I-20 form (also known as Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status).

How long can you stay on F1 visa?

The length of an F-1 visa is known as Duration of Status or D/S. Duration of Status means a student may remain in the United States as long as they are enrolled in school to complete their academic program. After the program ends, the student will have two months to depart the U.S. You may even extend the visa to accommodate your studies.

What is an F2 visa?

A student with an F-1 visa who wishes to bring their family with them to the United States will need to apply for an F-2 visa, which is only available to dependent spouse and children. In order to legally be considered a child, the offspring needs to be unmarried and under the age of 21. The student with an F-1 visa will need to submit documents and proof that they will be able to support their family during their stay in the U.S. It usually takes a few days to weeks to hear whether the F-2 visa has been approved.