Understanding your visa is the main key to be successful
All About Visa Types
F-1 Student Visa: This is the most common type of visa for international students in the US. It allows them to study full-time at a US academic institution and work on-campus for up to 20 hours per week during the academic year.
J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa: This visa is for individuals participating in a US government-approved exchange program. It is commonly used for study abroad programs, research scholars, and professors.
M-1 Vocational Student Visa: This visa is for students enrolled in non-academic or vocational programs, such as technical or trade schools.
International students may also be eligible for other types of visas, such as H-1B visas for temporary workers or O-1 visas for individuals with extraordinary abilities in their field. However, these visas are typically more difficult to obtain and require specific eligibility criteria to be met. It's important for international students to consult with their school's International Student Office or an immigration lawyer to determine which visa category is most appropriate for their specific situation.
Commonly, F-1 visa is the type of most international students are holding on, thus, the guidance will focus to help the audience understand the key law and regulation are related to student. Moreover, your country citizenship will determine different scenarios for your visa, thus, you should more research on yourself.
F-1 Visa
The F-1 visa is a non-immigrant student visa that allows international students to study full-time at a US academic institution.
Full-time Enrollment: F-1 visa students must be enrolled full-time in a program of study at a US academic institution. Full-time enrollment is typically defined as taking at least 12 credit hours per semester for undergraduate students and 9 credit hours per semester for graduate students.
Employment: F-1 visa students are generally only allowed to work on-campus for up to 20 hours per week during the academic year. They may also be eligible for off-campus employment through Optional Practical Training (OPT) or Curricular Practical Training (CPT) programs, but these require specific eligibility criteria to be met.
Maintaining Status: F-1 visa students are required to maintain their status by following certain regulations, such as attending classes, maintaining a valid passport, and reporting any changes in their academic program or address to their school's International Student Office.
"Visa validity is the bridge that connects you to new horizons. Tread it with care and responsibility." - IS USA Online
Duration of Status: F-1 visa students are admitted to the US for the duration of their program of study, as indicated on their Form I-20. They are also allowed a period of Optional Practical Training (OPT) after graduation to gain practical work experience related to their field of study.
For F-1 visa students, they must understand and follow these laws and regulations in order to maintain their legal status in the US. Violating these laws and regulations can result in serious consequences, such as losing their visa status or being deported from the US.
Your school international student advisors is the best resource in-campus. They are responsible for helping international students navigate the complexities of studying and living in a foreign country, and ensure that they have a positive and successful experience. Therefore, you always have to discuss with them if you have any confusion about the program, immigration-related issues and life activities.
Attentionally and importantly, "An F-1 student must have remained enrolled for at least one academic year, in status and in good academic standing before USCIS will authorize off-campus employment. The F-1 student must be unable to get on-campus employment, or the pay from available on-campus employment must be insufficient to meet financial needs." [1] as U.S Immigration and Customer and Enforcement emphasized in the website.
USCIS = United Stated Citizenship and Immigration Services
[1] More information https://www.ice.gov/sevis/employment
