Non-Immigrant Visas

Student Visas (F and M)

The Immigration and Nationality Act provides two nonimmigrant visa categories for persons wishing to study in the United States. The "F" visa is for academic studies, and the "M" visa is for nonacademic or vocational studies.

U.S. immigration law requires that no alien may be issued an F-1 visa to attend a U.S. public elementary or middle school (K-8). Any alien who wishes to attend public high school (grades 9-12) in the United States in student visa (F-1) status must submit evidence that the local school district has been reimbursed in advance for the unsubsidized per capita cost of the education. Also, attendance at U.S. public high schools cannot exceed a total of 12 months. Please note that these provisions do not affect other visa categories such as the J-1 exchange visitor program or the qualified school-age child of an alien who holds another type of nonimmigrant visa (i.e., A, E, H, I, L, etc.).

No alien may be issued an F-1 visa in order to attend a publicly-funded adult education program.

Scholastic Preparation

The student visa applicant must have successfully completed a course of study normally required for enrollment. The student, unless coming to participate exclusively in an English language training program, must either be sufficiently proficient in English to pursue the intended course of study, or the school must have made special arrangements for English language courses or teach the course in the student's native language.

Financial Resources

Applicants must also prove that sufficient funds are or will be available from an identified and reliable financial source to defray all living and school expenses during the entire period of anticipated study in the United States. Specifically, applicants must prove they have enough readily available funds to meet all expenses for the first year of study, and that adequate funds will be available for each subsequent year of study. The M-1 student visa applicants must have evidence that sufficient funds are immediately available to pay all tuition and living costs for the entire period of intended stay.

Acceptance Form

An applicant coming to the United States to study must be accepted for a full course of study by an educational institution approved by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The institution must send to the applicant a Form I-20A-B, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status for Academic and Language Students. The nonacademic or vocational institution must send to the student a Form I-20M-N, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (M-1) Student Status For Vocational Students. Educational institutions obtain Forms I-20A-B and I-20M-N from the INS.

Applying for a Student Visa

Applicants for student visas should apply at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate with jurisdiction over their place of permanent residence. 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.

Required Documentation

Each applicant for a student visa must pay a nonrefundable US$131 application fee and submit:

1. Application forms DS-156 and DS-158, completed and signed;
2. A passport valid for travel to the United States and with a validity date at least six months beyond the applicant's intended period of stay in the United States;
3. One passport size photograph, showing full face, without head covering, against a light background; and
4. For the "F" applicant, a Form I-20A-B. For the "M" applicant, a Form I-20M-N.
5. Evidence of sufficient funds.
6. Confirmation of payment for registration with SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) - receipt, etc. for information see http://www.ice.gov/sevis/i901/index.htm.

Student visa applicants must establish to the satisfaction of the consular officer that they have binding ties to a residence in a foreign country which they have no intention of abandoning, and that they will depart the United States when they have completed their studies. To do so applicants must prove to the consular officer at the time of application that they have sufficient ties to Belarus to compel them to return from the United States.  Documents showing business ties, property ownership or family ties to Belarus can therefore assist in supporting a visa application.

U.S. Port of Entry

Applicants should be aware that a visa does not guarantee entry into the United States. The DHS has authority to deny admission. Also, the period for which the bearer of a student visa is authorized to remain in the United States is determined by the DHS, not the consular officer. At the port of entry, an DHS official validates Form I-94, Record of Arrival-Departure, which notes the length of stay permitted.

Additional Information

Employment

An F-1 student may not accept off-campus employment at any time during the first year of study; however, the DHS may grant permission to accept off-campus employment after one year. F-1 students may accept on-campus employment from the school without DHS permission. Except for temporary employment for practical training, an M-1 student may not accept employment.

Family Members

A spouse and unmarried, minor children may also be classified for a nonimmigrant visa to accompany or follow the student. Each such applicant must pay a nonrefundable US$131 application fee and submit:

1. Application forms DS-156 and DS-158, completed and signed;
2. A passport valid for travel to the United States and with a validity date at least six months beyond the applicant's intended period of stay in the United States;
3. One passport size photograph, showing full face, without head covering, against a light background; and
4. For the "F" visa holder's dependents, a Form I-20A-B. For the "M" visa holder's dependents, a Form I-20M-N.
5. Evidence of sufficient funds.
6. Confirmation of payment for registration with SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) - receipt, etc. for information see http://www.ice.gov/sevis/i901/index.htm
7. Document stating the relationship of the applicant to the student visa holder (Marriage license/child's birth certificate);

Student visa holder's dependents must establish to the satisfaction of the consular officer that they have binding ties to a residence in a foreign country which they have no intention of abandoning, and that they will depart the United States when the principal visa holder has completed his/her studies.

Spouses and children of students may not accept employment at any time.

Further Inquiries

Questions on how to obtain Forms I-20A-B and I-20M-N should be made to the educational institution. If the institution does not have the forms, it needs to contact the local DHS office.