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A Closer Look at Student Visas
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With thousands of colleges and universities, the United States is a popular destination for students. The city of Chicago alone has many colleges, universities, and technical institutes. If you are interested in coming to the United States to study, you will need a student visa. Read on for more information.
Student Visas Available
Two visas are available to people who want to come to the United States as students – F and M. They are available for the following:
- With an F-1 visa, you can attend a qualified United States college or university. You will need to attend full-time and can stay in the United States for 60 days after you complete your program. However, if you want to stay longer, you will need another visa.
- With an M-1 visa, you can attend a qualified vocational school in the United States. You can also use an M-1 visa to attend certain qualified non-academic programs.
Students may also be accompanied by their spouses and/or minor children (under 21 years old), who can obtain their own F-2 or M-2 visas.
Enrolling in School While on a Different Visa
Some people come to the United States and, once here, decide that they want to attend school. They might be tempted to enroll in a degree program while still in the U.S. on another visa. For example, some enroll while on employment or tourist visas. Unfortunately, enrolling while on a B-1 or B-2 visa will result in a status violation, and you will be unable to extend your stay or switch to F-1 or M-1 status.
However, some people in the U.S. on another visa might be able to apply. For example, if you are in the States as a Treaty Trader (E status), then you can enroll in school if it does not interfere with your E status. Those interested will need to apply and satisfy the following requirements:
- Your admission to the U.S. on nonimmigrant status was lawful.
- Your status continues to be valid.
- You have not violated your status.
- You have not committed any crimes that make you ineligible to change your status.
You must also meet the requirements for an F-1 or M-1 visa.
Trump and Student Visas
Having run on a tough, anti-immigrant platform, President Trump and his administration have already changed many areas of federal immigration law. This year, Trump has expressed anger at students who overstay their student visas. As a result, his administration has adopted a 10-year ban for those who overstay.
Nevertheless, the administration has not made plans to suspend awarding F-1 or M-1 visas, which would certainly draw blowback from the large educational community in the U.S. However, if you are from a country listed on Trump’s travel ban, you could have your visa revoked.
Interested Students Should Call Us Today
At Kriezelman Burton & Associates, we have helped many students obtain visas that allow them to study in the United States. We can also discuss whether you qualify for a change of status. To speak with one of our Chicago immigration attorneys, please reach out to us today.
What Our Clients Say
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I cannot recommend Kevin Raica highly enough. He helped me successfully obtain my U.S. green card, and the entire process was smooth and stress-free because of his expertise and dedication. From start to finish, Kevin was professional, organized, and extremely knowledgeable about immigration law. He made sure every document was prepared correctly and took the time to explain each step clearly. Anytime I had questions, he responded promptly and made…
Great experience with this attorney office. They helped me with my I-751 waiver after divorce. Kevin was very professional, and supported me through the interview. Everything went smoothly and my case was approved. Highly recommend!
We contacted Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC, based on a recommendation, when my wife was detained by ICE. Attorney Khiabett Osuna handled our case, and it turned out to be the right choice. From the very beginning, she proved herself to be a caring and competent professional, clearly explaining the process. You can tell she's truly invested in each case and achieving results for her clients. We've also heard of…
I would like to express my gratitude to Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC, and especially to attorney Khiabett Osuna, who handled my case. I contacted them based on a recommendation and have never regretted it. From the very beginning, she demonstrated high professionalism. I could tell she was genuinely committed to the outcome and was doing everything possible to protect her client.
Mr. Kriezelman, Mr. Burton and Ms. Erin Cobb, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for handling my case. Your knowledge and dedication to my case is truly appreciated. Thank you.
I highly recommend Brittni Rivera. We are very grateful to her and the entire team at Kriezelman Burton & Associates. Your dedication, responsiveness, and compassion made an enormous difference during an incredibly difficult time. Serving as the liaison between Brittni Rivera and our friend in ICE detention, I saw firsthand how tirelessly she worked guiding us through the process, answering every question, and never losing sight of the humanity at…
Andrea C. Ochoa is truly the best of the best. ❤️ Our family went through one of the most difficult and frightening experiences of our lives when Feruz was detained by ICE. We felt lost, scared, and unsure of what would happen next. From the very beginning, Andrea brought us not only her professionalism and deep legal knowledge, but also something even more important — hope. She guided us through…
Thank you Matthew for all your help with my case. Highly recommend
In the final stages of our employment based green card, Maya Flores was very helpful. She guided us through the details, made a mock up interview and then went with us to the actual appointment. We were able to see her expertise because she made some clarifications to the officer. Very good service, 5 well deserved stars.
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