International Students

Failure to comply with 8 CFR 214.3(k) and 8 CFR 214.4 when issuing Forms I- 20 will subject you and your school to criminal prosecution. If you issue this form improperly, provide false information, or fail to submit required reports, DHS may withdraw its certification of your school for attendance by nonimmigrant students.

ISSUANCE OF FORM I-20. DSOs may issue a Form I-20 for any nonimmigrant your school has accepted for a full course of study if that person: 1) plans to apply to enter the United States in F-1 status; 2) is in the United States as an F-1 nonimmigrant and plans to transfer to your school; or 3) is in the United States and will apply to change nonimmigrant status to F-1. DSOs may also issue the Form I-20 to the spouse or child (under the age of 21) of an F-1 student to use to enter or remain in the United States as an F-2 dependent. DSOs must sign where indicated at the bottom of page 1 of the Form I-20 to attest that the form is completed and issued in accordance with regulations.

ENDORSEMENT OF PAGE 2 FOR REENTRY. If there have been no substantive changes in information, DSOs may endorse page 2 of the Form I-20 for the student and/or the F-2 dependents to reenter the United States. If there have been substantive changes, the DSO should issue and sign a new Form I-20 that includes those changes.

RECORD KEEPING. DHS may request information concerning the student’s immigration status for various reasons. DSOs should retain all evidence of academic ability and financial resources on which admission was based, until SEVIS shows the student’s record completed or terminated.

AUTHORITY FOR COLLECTING INFORMATION. Authority for collecting the information on this and related student forms is contained in 8 U.S.C. 1101 and 1184. The Department of State and DHS use this information to determine eligibility for the benefits requested.The law provides severe penalties for knowingly and willfully falsifying or concealing a material fact, or using any false document in the submission of this form.

REPORTING BURDEN. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement collects this information as part of its agency mission under the Department of Homeland Security. The estimated average time to review the instructions, search existing data sources, gather and maintain the needed data, and complete and review the collection of information is 30 minutes (.50 hours) per response. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to an information collection unless a form displays a currently valid OMB Control number. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to: Office of the Chief Information Officer/Forms Management Branch, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 801 I Street NW Stop 5800, Washington, DC 20536- 5800. Do not send the form to this address.

Regulation requires all prospective F and M students pay the I-h2 before the U.S. Department of State issues them a visa. The congressionally mandated I-901 SEVIS Fee supports the maintenance and continued modifications of the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and other Student and Exchange Visitor Program priorities to fulfill its national security mission.

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Yes. F-1 and M-1 students may study at both public and private schools in the United States. The only requirement is that the school has and properly maintains its Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification.

However, there are some limitations for how long an international student can study at certain public institutions. Specifically, nonimmigrant students cannot attend public elementary or middle schools and may only enroll in a public high school (grades ninth through 12th) for a maximum of one year. download the K-12 Public & Private Schools: Know the Difference infographic to learn more.

Form I-901, “Fee Remittance for Certain F, J and M Nonimmigrants, ” with information from their Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status, ” and pay the required fee with their submission. Students must present proof of their I-901 SEVIS Fee payment at their visa interview.

How do international students pay and receive a receipt for their I-901 SEVIS Fee?
Prospective international students h2 the Form I-901, “Fee Remittance for Certain F, J and M Nonimmigrants, ” with information from their Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status, ” and pay the required fee with their submission. Students must present proof of their I-901 SEVIS Fee payment at their visa interview.

Only one online or distance learning class can count toward a full course of study for an F-1 student during each term or semester.

No online or distance learning classes may count toward an M-1 or ESL student’s full course of study requirement.

For more information about online courses, please visit the Full Course of Study page.

Yes. Students who receive a Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status, ” to enroll in a vocational school must maintain M-1 status, while students who receive a Form I-20 to attend an academic school must maintain F-1 status.

Specifically, M-1 and F-1 students:

• Have different full course of study requirements.
• Are eligible for different working and training opportunities.
• Follow different rules for transferring and extending/changing their status.
• Have different time frames for departing the United States after completing their program.

Download the F&M Student Status: Know the Difference infographic to learn more about the specific differences.

Additionally, F-1 students attending an English language training program must follow a unique set of rules. For more information about these rules, visit the English Language Training page.

For more general information about the rules F-1 and M-1 students must follow while they are in the United States, visit the Maintaining Status page.

The definition of a full course of study varies depending on both a student’s status (F-1 or M-1) and their program of study. For instance, U.S. government regulations define a full course of study at a Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-certified kindergarten to grade 12 school differently than at an SEVP-certified college or university.

For a complete breakdown of the full course of study requirements based on a student’s status and programs of study, visit the Full Course of Study page.

Maintaining status means:

• Fulfilling the purpose for why the U.S. Department of State issued a visa.
• Following the regulations associated with that purpose.

This means if a student gains entry into the United States on an F-1 or M-1 visa, they are coming to the United States to study and cannot take any action that detracts from that purpose. It is the responsibility of the designated school official to ensure that a student properly understands and complies with the rules that apply to their student status. For more information, visit the Maintaining Status page.

F-1 students are eligible to take an annual vacation after they complete one full academic year at a Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-certified school. M-1 students are not eligible for annual vacation.

However, some SEVP-certified schools may close for a short period of time, normally during a U.S. holiday or break from classes such as spring or winter break. Because classes are not in session during these breaks, these breaks do not adversely impact a student’s status. If a student has questions about breaks at school, they should talk to their designated school official.

For more information about the annual vacation requirements for F-1 students, please visit the Maintaining Status page.

Yes, international students may be eligible to transfer to another Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-certified school. Students must consistently maintain F or M status and follow the correct transfer procedures. In most cases, M-1 students may only transfer within the first six months of their program. For more detailed information about the transfer requirements and the procedures to follow, please visit the Transferring to Another School page.

Please note that since Student and Exchange Visitor Information System records are government property, federal rules and regulations govern how designated school officials (DSOs) must maintain and transfer them. These regulations explain that DSOs must transfer a SEVIS record to another SEVP-certified institution upon a student’s request, even if this request comes at the beginning of a student’s initial term.

A student who needs more time to finish their program of study should speak with their designated school official (DSO) as soon as possible to discuss their options. A student’s options for extending their stay and the process for doing so depends on whether that student is in F-1 or M-1 status.

M-1 students must work closely with their DSO to apply for an extension of stay with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services within the designated time frame. For more information about this process, please visit the M-1 Extension of Stay page.

F-1 students must speak with their DSO prior to the program end date listed on their Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status.” The DSO will determine if the F-1 student qualifies for a program extension and can update SEVIS accordingly.

Students must enroll in a full course of study in order to maintain their status. Under certain circumstances, a student may be eligible for a reduced course load. However, a student must talk to their designated school official (DSO) and have their DSO authorize a reduced course load prior to dropping below a full course study.

If a student drops below a full course of study without their DSO’s authorization, that student is in violation of their status.

For more information about eligibility for enrolling in a reduced course load, please visit the Full Course of Study page.

Regulation requires all prospective F and M students pay the I-h2 b

Vocational schools are institutions of learning that provide training and education for a particular skillset or occupation (culinary schools, cosmetology schools, flight training schools, etc.).

Academic schools are institutions of learning that provide scholarly courses like mathematics, sciences and the humanities (colleges, universities, seminaries, high schools, etc.).

Both academic and vocational schools are eligible for Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification.

Prospective international students h2 the Form I-901, “Fee Remittance for Certain F, J and M Nonimmigrants, ” with information from their Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status, ” and pay the required fee with their submission. Students must present proof of their I-901 SEVIS Fee payment at their visa interview.

How do international students pay and receive a receipt for their I-901 SEVIS Fee?
Prospective international students h2 the Form I-901, “Fee Remittance for Certain F, J and M Nonimmigrants, ” with information from their Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status, ” and pay the required fee with their submission. Students must present proof of their I-901 SEVIS Fee payment at their visa interview.

International students may request to transfer their I-901 SEVIS Fee directly from FMJFee.com or request it via email or postal service.

If a student requests a transfer online, they will receive an automated email confirming their submission within two business days. Once the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) adjudicates a request, the student will receive a second email indicating SEVP’s decision, with instructions on next steps if approved or an explanation if rejected.

If a student wants to email or mail their transfer request, they must provide their name, date of birth, the SEVIS ID number associated with their original payment, the new SEVIS ID number to transfer the payment to and an explanation for the request. If emailing the request

Prospective F and M students, other than border commuters, may enter the country up to 30 days before their official program start date, as listed on their Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status.” Students must report to their school by their program start date. The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) recommends that students contact their designated school official (DSO) immediately upon entering the country so that there is no question of their arrival.

If a student cannot enter the United States for the term listed on their Form I-20 or if they will be late, the student must immediately contact their DSO so that their Student and Exchange Visitor Information System record can be updated to accurately reflect this information.

For more information about entering the country, visit the Getting to the United States page.

Every international student who arrives in the United States to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer at the port of entry. The CBP officer will verify the student’s information and ask them a few questions to determine the purpose of their visit.

Students must hand-carry and present the following original documents to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer at a U.S. port of entry:

• Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status.”
• Passport.
• Student visa.

Students should also have the contact information of their designated school official (DSO) available at ports of entry.

The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) recommends having other documentation readily available to help answer any of the CBP officer’s questions, including proof of financial ability and the acceptance letter to the SEVP-certified school. If a student is re-entering the United States and has a U.S. driver’s license, Social Security number or employment authorization document, the student may want to have those on hand as well.

For more information about entering the country, visit the Getting to the United States page.

If a student does not have all the proper documentation to enter the country and/or the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer cannot verify the student’s information after taking them to secondary inspection, the officer may either deny a student’s admission into the United States or issue them a Form I-515A, “Notice to Student or Exchange Visitor.”

If a student receives a Form I-515A, they must contact their designated school official immediately in order to properly respond to the notice.

Failure to comply and address a Form I-515A will result in the termination of a student’s Student and Exchange Visitor Information System record.

For more information about how to properly respond, visit the What is the Form I-515A? page.

If one of these documents goes missing while in the United States, a student should first go to their local police station to report the documents lost or stolen. If a student has original copies of these documents, they should bring them to the police station. The student then needs to contact their home country’s local embassy or consulate in the United States to report missing travel documents and find information on what to do next. If a visa or passport goes missing while abroad, report it to the consulate or embassy that issued it for next steps. If a student needs to replace their Form I-94, “Arrival/Departure Record, ” they must file a Form I-102, “Application for Replacement/Initial Nonimmigrant Arrival-Departure Document, ” with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. If a student needs to replace their Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status, ” they must talk with their designated school official. Note that a visa is a travel document and students may remain in the United States if their original visa expires as long as they maintain status. However, if the student departs the United States, they will need a valid visa to re-enter the country.