M-1 Privileges
- You may come to the U.S. as a full-time vocational or nonacademic student enrolled in a program leading to a degree or certificate.
- You can transfer from one school to another, though it becomes more difficult after your first six months of study.
- You may get permission to work for up to six months after your studies are done. The job must be considered practical training for your field of study.
- You may travel in and out of the U.S. or remain there until the completion of your studies, up to a maximum of one year. If you have not completed your program in a year or by the time indicated on your I-20M form, whichever is less, you must apply for an extension.
- Visas are available for accompanying relatives.
M-1 Limitations
- You must first be accepted by an approved school.
- You are restricted to attending only the specific school for which your visa has been currently approved. You can transfer from one school to another only if you apply for and receive permission from the INS to do so. Once you are six months into the program of studies, you are prohibited from transferring except under truly exceptional circumstances.
- You are never permitted to change your course of study.
- You may not work during your studies.
- Accompanying relatives may stay in the U.S. with you, but they may not work.