The fees for applying for a visa vary considerably depending on the category and may regularly increase or decrease, also as a result of exchange rate fluctuations. Therefore, every applicant should inform himself about the current fees before applying.
The application for a U.S. visa must be made through the official U.S. authorities, e.g. the U.S. consulates and U.S. embassies. The actual visa application is placed online, but almost every applicant must go to the consulate in person for a visa interview. With some work visas, it is sometimes necessary to send extensive files by mail to the U.S. authorities in the USA prior to the consular application procedure.
We advise and support companies and private individuals in all matters relating to visa applications. Read more about the requirements, duration and costs of a visa application.
Some universities or colleges in the U.S. require their students to present their Social Security Number. However, normally the number is not issued to persons who are temporarily in the United States on an F-1, J-1 or M-1 visa. In this case, the universities should be able to assign a different identification number to the foreign students concerned.
If you want to take up employment that is permitted under the respective student visa, you can apply for a Social Security Number.
F-1 visas only allow you to attend an academic / scientific educational institution in the United States. It is not allowed to get a job in the U.S. as an international student.
Yes, it is possible to extend a F-1 visa under certain conditions.
If there is a delay in the duration of study, for example due to illness or if the main subject has been changed, the international student can apply for an extension at the respective educational institution.
SEVIS stands for Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. This is an online database of the U.S. government which enables the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of State to access data of all exchange students who are in the United States. The educational institution's SEVIS registration is required in order to issue the I-20 form which is mandatory for the visa application. To pay the SEVIS fee, a SEVIS number is required, which can be found on the I-20 document.
The I-20 form is issued by the respective educational institution provided that the U.S. educational institution is SEVIS registered. You can find out whether this is the case by using the school search tool of the U.S. authorities.
Please note: The I-20 is not an application form that you can download from the Internet.
We work together with the visa sponsors InterExchange and TravelWorks and act as an interface between the main applicant (graduate), the employer in the home country, the host company in the United States, the U.S. authorities and the respective exchange organisation. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Further visa sponsors can be researched on the official website of the U.S. authorities.
Spouses and unmarried children under the age of 21 will be issued a derived J-2 visa for the same period as the principal applicant and may travel to the United States on that visa.
The F-1 visa allows for attendance at a ("SEVIS-registered") academic/scientific educational institution in the U.S. (e.g. university, college, etc.). Language school stays also fall under this visa category.
A non-academic short-term language course often does not require an F-1 visa and can be taken under the Visa Waiver Program if the requirements are met. However, you should always clarify this with the respective language school in advance.
The validity period of an F-1 visa depends on the nationality of the applicant. Depending on the nationality, is determined on the basis of the so-called Reciprocity Schedule decided how long the visa will be valid. For example, German citizens receive a five-year F-1 visa. But the visa is to be distinguished from the residence status.
The residency status is valid for the entire duration of the study program and is noted on the I-20 form. If there is a delay in the duration of study, for example, because the major has been changed or an illness occurs, the student may request an extension from the respective educational institution. The F-1 visa holder is also permitted to enter the United States as early as 30 days prior to the start of studies and to remain in the United States for up to a maximum of 60 days after graduation.
Under certain circ*mstances, F-1 visa holders may be allowed to complete an internship subsequent to their U.S. studies.
It is crucial that the educational institution has a SEVIS registration. SEVIS stands for "Student and Exchange Visitor Information System" and is a U.S. government web-based database that allows the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of State to view the data of all exchange students who are in the United States. SEVIS includes information on the student's location, educational institution, and legal status, among other information. Only if the educational institution is SEVIS-registered, it can issue the so-called I-20 form, which is mandatory for applying for the F-1 visa at the U.S. consulate.
Not all schools are authorized to issue this form. Please find out in advance whether the educational institution you are targeting also has a SEVIS registration. You can read about this a thttp://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/school-search.
There are three options of student employment with the F-1 visa:
- On campus (On-Campus Employment)
During the lecture period, there is the possibility to accept a part-time position on campus of up to 20 hours per week. During semester breaks, students may also work on a full-time basis. On-campus employment includes, for example, jobs in the bookstore or cafeteria if they are located on the premises of the educational institution, or off-campus facilities if they are affiliated with the university. - Off-Campus Employment (Off-Campus Employment).
Holders of the F-1 visa may work off campus if an unexpected financial emergency situation has arisen over which the student had no control. The requirement is that the student has already completed one full academic year, has good academic records, and demonstrates that the work will not interfere with the student's studies. If approved, 20 hours per week are allowed during the semester as well as full-time work during semester breaks. - Internship
A distinction must be made between Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT). The CPT can be completed during the semester. There is no restriction on the maximum hours of work allowed per week. However, it is important to note that pursuing CPT on a full-time basis for a year or more will result in the student no longer qualifying for OPT. OPT may be pursued after graduation for a period not to exceed 12 months. Students with degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) may be eligible for longer OPT (17 months, or 24 months from May 102016) graduate. To qualify for OPT, the student must apply for work authorization directly to U.S. Immigration using Form I-765. For both OPT and CPT, the student must first obtain permission from the educational institution and a clear connection to the student's major must be demonstrated.
Accompanying spouses and unmarried children up to age 21 will be granted derivative status upon application, and thus an F-2 visa. Children who turn 21 or marry while in the U.S. must change their nonimmigrant status or leave the country.
Work not allowed
However, with this visa, the spouses and children are allowed to not permitted to work, i.e. the acquisition of a General Work Permit (Employment Authorization Document, EAD) in the USA is excluded (unlike other categories such as L-1 or E-1/E-2).
Study only possible to a limited extent
Children may attend an "elementary" or "secondary" school (kindergarten to high school). If a higher educational institution (e.g. university) is to be attended, a separate F-1 visa must be applied for.
Spouses may only:
- Study occasionally and for fun, or
- Attend an SEVP-approved educational institution as a part-time student.
If the spouse wishes to study full-time, he or she must apply for an F-1 visa.
As a rule, applicants find out on the day of their interview whether the visa will be granted or not.
In certain cases, the visa applicant receives a letter of refusal from the consulate after a certain processing time. Incidentally, no reasons need to be given for a refusal. The reasons for this can be manifold and range - depending on the visa category - from the assumption of an immigration intention, to the presumption of illegal employment, to insufficient application documentation.
Once this has happened, a new visa can usually only be (successfully) applied for after several months or even years. Theoretically, there is no waiting period for the applicant until the next submission. However, experience shows that without a blatant improvement in the requirements of the respective visa category (e.g. proof of the intention to return to the home country, financial means, proof of specialized professional knowledge, etc.), a new application does not appear to make much sense.
