Study in America - Student Visa Types

Want to study in America? There are a number of different ways for foreign nationals to study in the United States. Today approximately 800,000 foreign nationals attend undergraduate and graduate college programs in the US. All these students are in the US on some type of US Visa. US immigration laws provides several different types of nonimmigrant visas that would allow a foreign national to come to the US to obtain certain training or education. Why do we call them ‘nonimmigrant’ visas? US immigration law separates those who desire to be in the US temporarily (nonimmigrant) and those who seek to come to the US permanently (immigrant). Student visas are intended for people who plan to be in the US temporarily while they complete their studies.

Immigration in the US is managed by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), a division of the US Department of Homeland Security. It is the job of the USCIS to administer the immigration laws of the United States government. So if you decide to study in the US and apply for a student visa your application will be reviewed by the USCIS.

Now let’s explore the different ways a foreign national can obtain a US visa to study in America. Here are the popular options in the order that is most common and best known:

1. F-1 visa, most common student visa for academic studies. And F-3 visa, a special F type visa.
2. J-1 visa, mostly for institutionally sponsored exchange student or visiting scholars.
3. M-1 visa, mostly for vocational training programs such as pilot schools.
4. H-3 visa, mostly for extended professional trainings with established curriculum.
5. B-1 visa, a tourist visa in nature but sometimes used for short term training purposes.

We will examine each of these options in further posts to this website. Stay with us and learn about your best options to Study in America.

About the authors:

Stan Bradshaw lives in Richardson, Texas where he is President and CEO of US Freedom Capital, a Dallas based firm focused on EB-5 qualified immigration investments. A business owner since 1990 and four time Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year finalist, Stan has been involved in technology, beginning his career at IBM in 1981. When not overseeing the investment firm Stan is a director on several non-profit Boards, serves as Vice-Chair on the board of the Richardson Texas Chamber of Commerce and enjoys playing guitar in a variety of local bands.

Stan@usfreedomcap.com | www.usfreedomcap.com | 888.519.8331

Abraham C. Yu, an immigrant from China himself, lives in Plano, Texas where he is the General Manager & Director of Immigration Division of Yu, South & Associates, a Dallas based boutique US immigration and international law firm. A business owner since 1991 and a listed EB-5 advisor since 2007, Abraham has been exclusively involved in international business, beginning his career with the Bureau of Foreign Economic Relations & Trade of Anhui Province in 1981. When not overseeing the firm’s operations, Abraham serves as cultural ambassador and was recently awarded “Citizen Diplomat” for outstanding service with the North Texas Council for International Visitors.

ayu@yuimmigration.com | www.yuimmigration.com | 888.289.9988