Study in America - The M-1 Visa

The M-1 Visa

“M-1 visa” is the second popular nonimmigrant visa type for international students to come to the US to learn a special skill or receive special training in a particular area. Similar to F-1 students, M-1 students are subject to the following requirements:

1. Must be enrolled in an “vocational” or “technical” training program;
2. The school must be approved by the USCIS and therefore certified to issue Form I-20;
3. Student must maintain a “full-time student” as defined by the school in its approval by the USCIS for issuance of Form I-20;
4. Must be proficient in English or be enrolled in courses leading to English proficiency;
5. Students must also have sufficient funds available for self-support during the entire proposed course of study; and,
6. Finally, M-1 students must continue to maintain their nonimmigrant intent and a residence abroad where they will return to upon completion of the vocational or technical training program here in the US.

The primary difference between an M-1 and an F-1 is M-1 is designed for “vocational training” such as airplane pilot schools in a vocational or technical school or other recognized nonacademic institution, other than a language training program, while F-1 is designed for academic studies, often degree oriented, in general.

Another major difference between M-1 and F-1 is that M-1 students are limited to a much shorter term not to exceed one year while their F-1 peers are usually granted “Duration of Stay” (D/S) which means as long as they maintain full time student course load in a progressive academic program they can stay as long as the process takes, often many years such as the entire pathway from high school to PhD curriculum.

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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