What Is An F-1 Visa?

A: Issued in US embassies and consulates around the world, an F-1 Visa is a non-immigrant student visa that allows foreigners to legally study in the United States. To begin the process of applying for an F-1 Visa, you must be officially admitted to a school in the United States which has been approved by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Here are some basic F-1 student visa facts:

•    Students with F-1 visas must enroll full time at a private high school, a college, a university, a conservatory, a seminary, or a language program.
•    While F-1 visa holders are usually exempt from paying Federal Insurance Contribution Act (FICA) taxes, they are subject to other federal and state taxes.
•    Unless authorized, F-1 visa students are only allowed to work up to 20 hours per week at a job on campus.
•    A student with an F-1 visa is allowed to live in the United States for the duration of their academic program, plus any time needed for offical training and internships, plus a 60-day grace period.
•    In 2010, 540,200 F-1 Visas were granted to full-time students, while 154,990 were refused.

Do you need assistance with an F-1 student visa? Contact one of our experienced and helpful immigration law attorneys today.