M1 Visa

The M-1 student visa is a nonimmigrant visa which allows foreign students wishing to pursue postsecondary vocational or non-academic studies, other than language training, to enter into the U.S.

To qualify for an M-1 visa, you must:

1. Be coming to the U.S. to attend a full course of study at a SEVP approved school
2. Prove that you have sufficient funds to complete your education
3. Show that you have strong ties to your home country or country of residence
4. Be able to show that you intend to return to your home country or country of residence after completing your studies
5. Show that you are proficient in English or show that you have enrolled in English language courses.

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Check My Eligibility

On M-1 visa, you may:

1. Enter the U.S. as a fulltime vocational or non-academic student
2. Transfer from one school to another
3. Travel in and out of the U.S.
4. Receive permission to obtain Practical Training upon completion of the course of study
5. Apply for M-2 visas for dependents accompanying you to the U.S.

Limitations of the M-1 visa include:

1. Transfer from one school to another only with the permission of USCIS and only within the first 6 months after entry into the U.S. or change of status approval
2. Cannot change your course of study
3. You can only work legally off-campus after the completion of your program
4. Take dependents to stay with you in the U.S. but they may not work

Note: Once you are six months into the program of studies, you are prohibited from changing your course of study except under truly exceptional circumstances.

You may apply for practical training after you complete your studies. If approved, you will be allowed to have one month of practical training for every four months of study you have completed. You will be limited to six months of total practical training. The student must apply for an employment authorization document (EAD) and cannot begin working until the EAD is issued.

In order to apply for Employment Authorization, you must file the Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization along with the following documentation:

1. Form I-20 issued by the Designated School Official with authorization for practical training
2. Evidence that the student is maintaining proper M-1 status
3. Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, if the student will need to extend M-1 status to complete the requested period of practical training (including a 30 day grace period).

Note: You must send your application to USCIS before your program end date but no more than 90 days before the program end date.

When an M-1 student is admitted to the U.S. (or when a change of status to M-1 is approved), they can remain in the U.S. for the period of time required to complete their course of study as per the Form I-20 plus any time needed for practical training, up to a maximum of 1year.

Extensions can be filed in 1 year increments up to a maximum of 3 years plus the 30 day grace period.

Yes, you may apply for extension of stay on M-1 visa after the completion of your studies to pursue practical training or to extend your stay if you have not completed your course of study.

To extend your stay you must: file the Form I-539, Application to Extend or Change Nonimmigrant Status, and send it to USCIS before your authorized stay in the U.S. expires

No, there are no travel restrictions on M-1 visa. M-1 students may leave the U.S. and be readmitted after temporary absences. When making your travel plans, please remember that you must be a full-time student to keep your M-1 student status. Upon your return to the U.S. you should provide the immigration inspectors with:

1. Valid passport
2. Valid M-1 entry visa stamped in the passport (if necessary)
3. Current Form I-20 signed by your designated school official. You should have the Designated School Official sign your Form I-20 each time you wish to temporarily travel outside the U.S.

To apply for an M-1 visa, the documents required are:

• Form I-20, certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status, obtained from the educational institution (each dependent spouse and child under 21 must also obtain a Dependent I-20)
• Transcripts and diplomas from previous institutions attended, if applicable
• Financial evidence showing you have sufficient funds to cover your tuition and/or living expenses. If you are funding your education out of personal funds, original bank statements and other evidence are the clearest evidence of adequate funds
• Completed nonimmigrant visa application Form DS-160 with photo (37x37mm and taken within the last six months) for each person applying
• Signed passport valid for at least six months after your proposed date of entry into the U.S.
• Evidence of strong ties in your home country, which you do not intend to abandon

To change status to an M-1 student visa, you must:

1. Apply to study at a SEVP-approved educational institution in the U.S. that accepts foreign students for M-1.
2. Receive Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility from the school
3. Submit a completed Form I-539, Application to Extend or Change Nonimmigrant Status with the Form I-20, your I-94, Arrival-Departure document, copy of your visa (if applicable) and other required evidence USCIS, including but not limited to evidence of strong ties in your home country, which you do not intend to abandon and rinancial evidence showing you have sufficient funds to cover your tuition and/or living expenses.

Your M-1 visa does not determine how long you may stay in the U.S. You need not be concerned about the expiration of your M-1 unless you decide to leave the U.S. for a short visit abroad prior to completing your studies. Before you re-enter the U.S., you will need to make sure you have a valid US student visa. The M-1 visa itself (unlike your M-1 status) is only important at the port of entry to the U.S.

Yes, you may enter the U.S. up to 30 days before the commencement of your program of study.

While there is no set documentation to indicate your intent to return to your home country, your application for an M-1 visa will more likely be approved if you maintain closer ties to your home country than to the U.S. which can be shown in the following ways:

1. Your immediate family members reside in your home country
2. You own property and or maintain a bank account in your home country
3. The likelihood of employment at home in your field of study after you complete your degree is good (Provide evidence of job searches or interviews you have done)
4. You have made frequent visits home (every year or 18 months)
5. You have maintained membership in cultural organizations at home while you have studied in the U.S.
6. You have maintained important social ties in your home country

To be eligible to transfer to another school on M-1 visas, you must:

1. Currently be a full-time student
2. Intend to be a full-time student at the new school
3. Prove that you have the financial resources required for your education and stay in the U.S.
4. Maintain the same educational objective in the new school

Note: You may only transfer to another school within the first six months from the date you were admitted to the U.S. to begin your studies or from the date you changed your nonimmigrant status to become an M-1 student.

To transfer schools on M-1 visa, you must file the Form I-539, Application to Extend or Change Nonimmigrant Status, with USCIS along with the new I-20 from the new school as well as evidence that you have properly maintained your M-1 status.

Note: You may transfer to another school sixty days after filing this application. However, if your application is denied after you transfer, you will be considered to be out of status. This means you may be required to leave the country.

Yes, you may apply for change of status to most other categories of nonimmigrant visas except in the following situations:

1. You cannot change to F-1 status as an academic student.
2. You cannot change to any H work visa category if the job offered is based on skills gained through studies while in M-1 status.

Yes, your spouse and unmarried children under 21 years of age may come with you or follow to join you in the U.S. in M-2 nonimmigrant visa.

To bring your dependents on M-2 visa, your dependents must:

1. Visit the U.S. embassy or consulate with you when you apply for your M-1 student visa
2. Be prepared to prove their relationship with you
3. Provide the U.S. embassy staff with a copy of your Form I-20 for each dependent

No, your spouse and children may not accept employment in M-2 status.

Your M-2 spouse may not engage in full-time study and your M-2 children may only engage in full-time study if the study is in an elementary or secondary school (kindergarten through twelfth grade). If your spouse wishes to study full-time or children wish to study beyond 12th grade, they must obtain or change their status to F-1 or M-1 student visa

Note: Your M-2 spouse and child may engage in study that is vocational or recreational in nature.

While on M-1 visa you may remain in the U.S. for up to 30 days after the completion of your study program, or in total one year from your date of admission, whichever is shorter. If you wish to remain longer, you will be required to apply for change of status from M-1 to B-2 with the USCIS.

If you leave during the 30-day grace period, you cannot re-enter in M-1 status.

The Student Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) is the division within the Dept. of Homeland Security that manages the certified schools and their enrolled international students in F-1 and M-1 status.

SEVP certifies the educational institutions that can admit international students under the F-1 and M-1 student visa programs. Once a school is certified, they must appoint a Designated School Official (often referred to as the DSO, International Student Advisor, etc)

When an international student is admitted into an SEVP certified educational institution, the DSO produces the Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status. The Form I-20 contains the international student’s identifying information (name, country of birth, and date of birth), the program of study and the intended source of the funds for the educational program. The I-20 also has the “SEVIS” number (the unique number issued by the SEVP). If the student receives permission for practical training to work, this is also recorded on the Form I-20.

For a student in M-1 or F-1 status, the Form I-20 is one of the most important documents that they need to maintain.

The main differences between the F-1 and M-1 include:

1. The F-1 visa allows individuals to attend a full course of study at colleges, universities, conservatories, academic high schools (subject to strict regulations) and institutions with language training programs.
2. Those in F-1 status can work on campus up to 20 hours per week and can work off campus if they obtain permission through OPT or CPT.
3. Post-completion Optional Practical Training is valid for up to 1 year and can be extended for an additional 2 years if the student graduates with a degree in STEM. A student is eligible for OPT once they have completed at least 1 full year of study.
4. In order to extend F-1 status, an extension of the I-20 is sufficient. A separate Form I-539 is not required. There is also no maximum limit for F-1 status like there is for M-1 (which is 3 years).

After each entry to the U.S., you are given a new I-94. You can obtain your I-94 at I-94 Official Website – Home Page

The processing time for an M-1 F-1 visa will depend on consular wait times which will vary depending on the U.S. consulate. Student visas (F/M/J) are generally prioritized for visa processing so as to ensure students and exchange visitors reach the U.S. in time for the beginning of the program of study or exchange visa program.

If your visa application is denied, before you leave the U.S. Embassy or Consulate, obtain an explanation of the specific reason you are denied the visa and ask about re-application procedures. The International Student and Scholar Office at the school you attend or plan to attend may be able to help you, if you can provide this information.