What Is The F1 Visa Grace Period After Graduation And After Opt Expires
The F1 visa grace period after graduation is 60 days after completion of your full course of study and any additional period of authorized optional practical training.
It is important to legally maintain your visa status when studying in the US. After you complete the full course of study and after OPT expires, F1 visa rules provide a 60 day F1 grace period to leave the United States.
To extend your stay in the US after OPT expires, speak with your designated school official or an immigration attorney to learn more about options for your F1 visa after graduation such as the following:
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Transfer to another education institution.
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Change your education level, for example from a bachelor degree to masters.
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Apply to change status to a different visa status like those listed above
F1 Student Visa To Green Card Option #: Petition For Asylum
If there is a civil war currently happening in your native country, or if you are part of a persecuted population or group and returning would put your life in danger, then you may be able to obtain a Green Card by petitioning for asylum. USCIS assess each petition on a case-by-case basis, and the process is extremely detailed and complex.
Book An Interview At The Us Embassy
Once the application fee is paid you can proceed to book your interview on the Embassy link above. Waiting times can be long before the big start dates in January and August so book as soon as possible. You will need to input your passport number, your CGI-reference number from the application fee payment and the 10-digit barcode number from your DS-160 confirmation.
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Bringing Family Members To The United States
In case you have dependents, such as a spouse or unmarried children under 21 years old, they are allowed to come to the US too. This can be done with an F2 visa.
The F2 visa has no cap and dependents should just fulfill the requirements and complete the application procedures to get the visa. To be eligible for an F-2 visa, you must fulfill the following criteria:
- Be the spouse of an approved F1 visa holder, or
- Be the unmarried child under 21 years old of an approved F1 visa holder
- Have the financial means to support the family during your stay in the US
Waiver Program For Tourists And Business Travelers
International travelers planning to visit the U.S. for business or pleasure can get a visa waiver. To get a visa waiver, you must be a citizen of one of the 39 countries that participate in the U.S.’s Visa Waiver Program .
If you plan to visit the U.S. under the VWP, you must get an approved travel authorization before your trip. Authorization approvals are determined using the Electronic System for Travel Authorization .
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What Questions To Expect In The F
All of the information on your DS-160 and I-20 forms can be independently verified. But, the purpose of the visa interview isnt to check facts its to see if:
- You have other motives for entering the US.
- You have plans to remain in the US after graduation.
- Your finances and academic drive are sufficient to get your degree.
As such, you can expect questions that relate to all three concerns.
Above all you need to prove that your primary reason for entering the US is the education you can receive at the university youre attending, that you plan to leave the US after getting your degree and that youve got the financing you need to support yourself.
Start Or Invest In A Business
Chudnovsky Law often works with students who wish to utilize US visas that encourage entrepreneurial investment in the US:
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E-2 visa: Allows entrepreneurs from treaty countries to be admitted to the US when:
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They have invested, or are actively in the process of investing, a “substantial amount” of capital in a bona fide enterprise in the US.
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Are seeking to enter the US solely to develop and direct the investment enterprise. This is established by showing at least 50% ownership of the enterprise or possession of operational control through a managerial position or other corporate device.
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“Substantial amount” of capital definition varies depending on the business plan and needs of the business.
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Initial period of stay is 2 years with no maximum number of 2 year extensions.
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EB-5 visa: For non-citizens who invest at least $500,000 in the US in USCIS qualified investments that create US jobs. This visa offers an F1 visa OPT to green card path.
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Period of stay: Can be permanent as investors and their families are eligible for a green card or permanent residence. This is a rare student visa to green card path.
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Investments can be made directly or through regional centers and include a wide variety of options including real estate, businesses and restaurants among others.
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Investments can either be passive or actively managed by the investor.
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Pay Your Sevis Fee And Receive Your I
Once youre accepted, you will be required to pay the SEVIS I-901 Fee in order to be enrolled in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System . Then, your school will provide you with a Form I-20. This form will be presented to the consular officer when you attend your F1 visa interview. If your spouse and/or children plan to reside in the USA with you while you study, they will be required to have individual Form I-20s, but they will not need to be enrolled in the SEVIS.
What Is 221 Under Us Visa Refusals
Section 221 Tracker Recent studies have shown that the United States of America is the most visited study abroad destination among Indian Students, with over 186,000 Indian students travelling to the United States in the academic year 2017-18, this number is only bound to spiral north in the future. The US is home to top universities in the world that provide international students stretches of green ground for them to grow and innovate. The US is also a boiling pot of mixed culture race and diversification, bringing students from around the world to immerse and learn about culture from all the corners of the world. A frontrunner in scientific and creative innovation, the United States of America also provides innumerable academic courses for students to choose from for their higher education.
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Find Out Whether You Can Meet The Criteria For An F
By Ilona Bray, J.D.
If you want to study in the United States, whether at an elementary, middle, or high school, college, university, or seminary, an F-1 student visa might allow you to do just that. Every year, approximately 600,000 people come to the United States on student visas. Fortunately, the number of people who can receive these visas is unlimited.
at I.N.A §101, as well as the Code of Federal Regulations at 8 C.F.R. §214.)
The F-1 visa is specifically for academic students. If you’re interested in a vocational program instead , look into the M-1 visa. And keep in mind that not everyone planning to study in the U.S. needs an F-1 student visa. If you come as a tourist and want to take a class or two for recreational reasons , that’s okay. Doing so will not violate your B-2 visitor visa status.
Similarly, if you have a spouse or parent in the United States with an A, E, G, H, J, L, or NATO visa or status, or if you’re working for a U.S. employer in H status, you can attend school so long as it does not interfere with the other terms of your visa or nonimmigrant status. Visas: Who Qualifies?)
Working On An F1 Visa
Its essential to remember that F1 visas are intended for full-time students and are not designed as work visas.With this in mind, international students are typically able to work 20 hours a week on campus when school is insession and full-time while school is in recess, but you may need to seek approval from the Department ofHomeland Security and the International Office at your school first. Working illegally while on an F1 visa is aserious violation of the regulations, and could result in deportation.
Additionally, F1 visa holders are eligible to apply for permission to work off campus for up to 12 months. Thispermission is called Optional Practical Training and allows F1 students to train, and thuswork, in afield that is related to their field of study. For more information, be sure to contact an international studentadvisor at your school, but OPT is traditionally used in the following situations:
- part-time work during the F-1 students studies,
- full-time work during periods of recess, or
- after graduation in a field related to the program of study.
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File The F1 Student Visa
The application process for filing an F-1 Student Visa varies depending on the US Embassy you deal with. However, the visa application fee is non-refundable everywhere. You may fill the online visa application form, that is, Form DS-160, and print to carry to your interview. You may refer to the Step-by-Step Guide US VISA Appointment in India.
Regular Vs Conditional Permanent Resident Green Card
If you qualify as a regular permanent resident, your Green Card will be valid for 10 years. If you qualify as a conditional permanent resident, your Green Card will be valid for 2 years. Typically, conditional permanent resident status is available to petitioners who seek to obtain their Green Card through a marriage that is less than two years old .
A regular permanent resident Green Card can be renewed, but a conditional permanent resident Green Card cannot. However, those with the latter type of Green Card can petition to have their status changed from conditional to permanent, which if granted would extend the expiration date and be subject to possible renewal. Keep in mind that either a regular permanent resident or conditional permanent resident Green Card will can be revoked at any time if the visa programs rules are broken.
Generally speaking, there are 6 options that could allow you to get from F1 student visa to Green Card:
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Maintaining Valid F1 Status After You Arrive
After you are approved for your F1 visa, you are able to enter the United States as an international student. However, after you arrive, you will need to stay aware of your obligations as an F1 visa holder. If you do not maintain your valid F1 visa status, you will not be allowed to return to re-enter the US if you leave and you will not be eligible for practical training or on-campus employment. Here are some tips to assure youre in good standing during your study abroad:
Upon Arrival
Make sure you arrive in the US no more than 30 days prior to the first day of classes. Check in with your international advisor as soon as possible before your program begins.
During Your Program
You must remain enrolled full time. Go to class and maintain passing grades. If you are having difficulty in your classes, notify your international advisor. If you are unable to complete your program by the date listed on your Form I-20, your international advisor can help you request a program extension.
Your passport should be valid for at least 6-months in the future. Your countrys consulate or embassy can help you extend your passport if needed. Carry a copy of your passport with you along with your I-94 card for identification purposes.
Always notify your international advisor or office if you make changes to your address, study plans, or visa status.
Working
Upon Program Completion
Documents Required For F1 Student Visa Application
USA Study Visa Process: Student visa requires you to carry a lot more documents than you would for a tourist visa, by comparison. You need the mandatory documents along with supporting documents of financial and academic records. Make sure you refer to this checklist before going to the consulate for the visa interview.
- A valid passport with a validity date at least six months beyond your period of stay.
- A printed copy of DS-160, the online application form
Supporting Financial Documents required for F1 Visa
For the USA, students need to show proof of the amount of funds they need to cover for the first year’s total expenses. It includes tuition fees, living expenses, and other expenses . Apart from this, students also need to show proof of the readily available funds for the rest of the tenure of their education.
Evidence of Financial Resources required for F1 Visa
- Tax returns for the past 3 years
- Bank statements/passbook for the past 3 years
- Original pay/salary slips and letters of employment
- Statement from certified CA
- Scholarship letter
- The loan approval letter by the bank or the concerned authority
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Types Of Educational Visas
Your course of study, the school you plan to attend, or the exchange program you will be with will determine the type of student visa you will need.
The most common student visas are F-1 and M-1 visas.
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F-1 visa classification is for a full-time international student pursuing academic studies.
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M-1 visa classification is for a full-time international student pursuing vocational studies.
Learn more about studying in the U.S.
F1 Student Visa To Green Card Option #: Enter The Green Card Lottery
Once each year, USCIS offers the Green Card Lottery . Be aware that there are a limited number of Green Cards available, and petitioners from certain countries cannot enter the lottery because their country has sent more than 50,000 immigrants to the U.S. in the last five years. Check to ensure that your native country is not on the list before pursing this as a potential option.
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Can I Study Entirely Online Within The Us
This depends on your I-20 status. Students with initial attendance, transfer pending, or change of level I-20s for winter must take an in-person course if they enter the United States. Please review the infographic below to better understand your immigration status type.Initial attendance & continued attendance form I-20s infographic
Us Student Visa Eligibility
India is the second-most popular country of origin for international students and exchange visitors in the US. Most applicants for a student visa for the USA from India â about 94,000 â plan to study at the graduate level. The next-highest group is students with an internship on OPT qualifications these students may still be enrolled at their US university or have recently finished their studies.
Approximately 80% of all students from India travel to the US to pursue a course of science, technology, graduate or undergraduate engineering degree programs, or math , while 10% come to study in graduate or undergraduate business degree programs. The most popular states for international students are California, Massachusetts, New York, Illinois, Texas, and Pennsylvania, each hosting more than 50,000 students from different countries.
Learn more about Shorelightâs bachelorâs programs for international students and masterâs programs for international students.
While the US Department of State does not release the number of applications requested and the number denied, they do say that more than 816,000 total visas were granted from US embassies and consulates in India in 2019, a 6% drop from 2018.
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Employment With An International Organization
There is also another employment opportunity that most of the international students in the US overlook. You can always find a job at a recognized international organization like the Red Cross, the World Health Organization. World Trade Organization, etc. However, in order to be able to do so you have to fulfill the following requirements:
- Have finished at least one full academic year
- Have a job/internship offer by an international organization
- The work must be in the scope of your field of study
- You must be in good academic standing
You can apply at the USCIS for an Employment Authorization Document, the issuance process of which might take up to 3 months.
If you start working at an international organization, no matter how long you work there, you will still be eligible for a 12 months post-completion OPT.
Where To Apply For Your F1 Visa
Applicants for student visas should generally apply at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate with jurisdiction over their place of permanent residence. This will normally be your home country the country in which you live. Although visa applicants may apply at any U.S. consular office abroad, it may be more difficult to qualify for the visa outside the country of permanent residence.
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Can I Bring Family Members And Dependents To The Us On An F
The F-1 student visa allows you to bring certain family members to the United States under a special dependency visa called an F-2 visa. The F-2 visa is available to your spouse and unmarried children under 21 years of age.
As long as your dependents meet the requirements for the F-2 visa, they should have no trouble completing the application process. The requirements for an F-2 visa include:
- Be the spouse of an approved F-1 visa holder
- Be the unmarried child of an F-1 visa holder under 21 years of age
F-2 visa applicants may also be required to prove that the F-1 visa applicant has the financial means to support his or her family while studying in the United States. Alternatively, F-2 visa applicants can demonstrate that they have the financial means to support themselves.