Immigration
Info at Mississippi
F-1
International Student Visa:
The international
student visa is known as an F-1 type visa. The vast majority of
student use it to enter the United States. The following
information is beneficial to those who may wish to study in the
U.S. and are unfamiliar with the governmental procedure of doing
so. Please be aware that the candidate must be accepted
into the I-20 (government document needed for the F-1 visa
petitions) issuing institution and provide appropriate financial
documentation before the I-20 can be sent for F-1 visa
issuance.
When Do I
Need to Apply for My Student Visa?
•
Students are encouraged to apply for their visa early to provide
ample processing. Students may apply for their visa as soon as they
are prepared to do so.
• The
consular officer may need to get special clearances depending on
the course of study and nationality of the student. This can take
some additional time.
•
Students should note that Embassies and Consulates are able to
issue your student visa 120 days or less, in advance of the course
of study registration date. If you apply for your visa more than
120 days prior to your start date or registration date as provided
on the Form I-20, the Embassy or Consulate will hold your
application until it is able to issue the visa. Consular officials
will use that extra time to accomplish any of the necessary special
clearances or other processes that may be required.
•
Students are advised of the Department of Homeland Security
regulation which requires that all initial or beginning students
enter the U.S. 30 days or less in advance of the course of study
start/report date as shown on the Form I-20. Please consider this
date carefully when making travel plans to the U.S.
J-1
Exchange Student Visa:
A J-1 visa is issued to a student who needs to obtain
practical training, which is not available in their home country
and/or participate in an academic program. J1 visas require
an official "sponsoring organization" which has been
designated and approved by the US State Department. Sponsors can be
private or public organizations.
Image Credits:
1. Marshall
