The F-1 Visa (Academic Student) allows you to enter the United States as a full-time student at an accredited college, university, seminary, conservatory, academic high school, elementary school, or other academic institution or in a language training program. You must be enrolled in a program or course of study that culminates in a degree, diploma, or certificate and your school must be authorized by the U.S. government to accept international students.
There are limitations and requirements related to F-1 students attending public secondary/high schools (grades nine through twelve), under U.S. law. Student F-1 visas cannot be issued to persons seeking to enter the United States in order to attend a public primary/elementary school or a publicly funded adult education program. Contact our office for a free consultation with an immigration attorney to see if your program affords you an F-1 visa.
Aside from obtaining a new F-1 visa, Mr. Galstyan, an experienced immigration lawyer will assist you to change your non-immigrant status to F-1 status when you are already in the U.S. in another non-immigrant status (example B-1/B2 or J-1) if you are going to pursue full-time academic studies in a college, university, seminary, conservatory, private academic high school, other academic institution, or language-training program. Due our numerous contacts with language schools we may also be in a position to advise you of an appropriate school based on your budget.
Dependents of F-1
Spouses of F-1 students and their dependent children under 21 can either accompany or later join the F-1 student in the US during the same time period as the principal F-1 on an F-2 visa. Children on F-2 visas can attend public elementary and secondary school.