M-1 Visa Info
If you're interested in gaining career
training while studying in the United States the M-1 student visa may
be a good choice. Most of the application, arrival and registration
rules are the same for M-1 as for F-1. For example, M-1 students also
need to arrive and register within 30 days of their program start date.
Below you will find helpful information about the M-1 Visa.
Eligibility
When
you apply to a school as an M-1 student your program must offer
practical training aimed at a specific career goal. For example at BIR
an M-1 student would be able to train in Computerized Manufacturing (CNC), Computerized Office Support, Health Information Technology, and Medical Assisting.
In
addition to practical training you must also be involved in a full
course of study, meaning at least 12 semester or quarter hours. No
extension can be granted to an M-1 student if the M-1 student is unable
to complete the course of study within 3 years of the original program
start date. This limit includes extensions that have been granted due
to a drop below full course of study, a transfer of schools, or
reinstatement.
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Applying
To apply for M-1 visa you will need a Form I-94,
which is issued for one year or the program end date plus 30 days,
whichever date is earlier. By this date, you must leave the country or
apply for an extension. The cumulative time of extensions that can be
granted to an M-1 student is limited to a period of 3 years from the
original start date, plus 30 days.
As an M-1 student you
cannot apply for change of status to F-1 or any other type of status.
If you come to the U.S. on a different visa and file Form I-539
with USCIS to change status to F-1 or M-1 you may begin taking classes
immediately (With the exception of B-1, B-2, F-2, and M-2
nonimmigrants).
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Maintaining
As
a student in M nonimmigrant status you are admitted for a fixed time
period, which is the period necessary to complete the course of study
indicated on the Form I-20, plus practical training following
completion of the course of study, plus an additional 30 days to depart
the United States, but not to exceed a total period of one year. An M-1
student may be admitted for a period up to 30 days before the report
date or start date of the course of study listed on the Form I-20. If
you fail to maintain a full course of study or otherwise fail to
maintain status you are not eligible for the additional 30-day period
of stay.
A student must apply to the Service for an extension
on Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status. A
student's M-2 spouse and children seeking an extension of stay must be
included in the application. The student must submit the application to
the service center having jurisdiction over the school the student is
currently authorized to attend, at least 15 days but not more than 60
days before the program end date on the student's Form I-20. The
application must also be accompanied by the student's Form I-20 and the Forms I-94 of the student's spouse and children, if applicable.
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Transferring Schools
To be eligible to transfer to another school on an M-1 visa, you must:
- Currently be a full-time student
- Intend to be a full-time student at the new school
- Prove that you have the financial resources required for your education and stay in the U.S.
- Maintain the same educational objective in the new school
- 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
Transfer forms:
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SEVIS Update
A
DSO must update SEVIS to recommend that a student be approved for an
extension of stay. The SEVIS Form I-20 must be printed with the
recommendation and new program end date for submission by mail to the
service center, with Form I-539, and Forms I-94 if applicable.
- An
M - 1 student may not transfer to another school after six months from
the date the student is first admitted as, or changes nonimmigrant
classification to that of, an M - 1 student unless the student is
unable to remain at the school to which the student was initially
admitted due to circumstances beyond the student's control. An M - 1
student may be otherwise eligible to transfer to another school if the
student–
- An M - 1 student may not change educational objective.
- When
the student is authorized to engage in employment for practical
training, he or she will be issued an employment authorization
document. The M-1 student may not begin employment until he or she has
been issued an employment authorization document by the Service. One
month of employment authorization will be granted for each four months
of full-time study that the M-1 student has completed. However, an M-1
student may not engage in more than six months of practical training in
the aggregate. The student will not be granted employment authorization
if he or she cannot complete the requested practical training within
six months
See: http://www.f1studentvisa.com/m1_visa.html
