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F-1 visas are issued for visits to High schools, American universities, Colleges, Language courses, Training and further education.
F-1 visas, officially known as "student visas", allow foreign nationals to attend academic and scientific educational institutions in the USA.
These visas are required to enter the US to attend a college, public or private secondary school, private elementary school, seminary, conservatory or other academic institution, including a language program.
Shortly put, F-1 visas cover the following stays:
For the approval of F-1 visas, both the applicants and the relevant educational institutions must fulfill certain requirements.
I-20 Form and SEVIS
The educational institution in the USA must be SEVP-certified and have a SEVIS registration. This certification and registration are required so that the I-20 form (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status) can be issued. This form must be presented to the US Consulate when applying for the F-1 visa.
An F-1 visa can only be issued if a properly completed and valid I-20 form signed by the Designated School Official (DSO) is provided by the educational institution.
The SEVP is a program of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. It collects, manages, analyzes, and provides information to ensure that only eligible foreign students and exchange visitors are admitted to the United States. SEVP also ensures that educational institutions that accept non-immigrant students and pupils are certified and comply with applicable federal rules and regulations.
SEVP administers SEVIS, a web-based information system that stores the relevant data records and enables them to be checked.
Study place/acceptance by an educational institution
Before the F-1 visa application can be started, applicants must first be successfully accepted into a full-time program at an SEVP-certified educational institution so that the required I-20 form can be issued.
Visit of an educational institution as the purpose of the trip
Applicants must be traveling to the US for the purpose of education or training, whether for a full course of study, a student exchange or a language course at an approved institution.
Financing
The financing of studies, high school attendance or language studies as well as living expenses must be secured through personal funds or scholarships.
Intention to return
Applicants must intend to leave the USA after completing their program. This can be proven by evidence such as a permanent residence in the home country and other documents showing the intention to return.
The I-20 form is only issued by accredited institutions to students who are completing a full course of study or exchange program. Not all educational institutions in the US are authorized to issue the I-20 form. It is important to check in advance whether the educational institution is SEVIS-registered. This can be verified using the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's web-based School Search Tool.
The status of residence in the USA with an F-1 visa is valid for the entire duration of the course of study or attendance at the educational institution (e.g., language school). The maximum length of stay is based on the end date stated on the I-20 form and can be viewed there at any time. Furthermore, you can check your status of stay (D/S – Duration of Status) on the I-94 form issued by the US authorities.
Important: When attending a public SEVP-certified high school, your stay in the USA is limited to a maximum of 12 months. Private educational institutions can be attended for longer than one year (or shorter).
If the program duration is extended (e.g., due to a change of major or illness), students can apply for an extension of their stay at the respective educational institution.
In addition to the program duration, F-1 visa holders may stay in the US for up to 30 days before the start of their studies and up to 60 days after graduation. During this so-called “grace period,” travel within the US is permitted, but starting school earlier or finishing school later is not allowed.
Please note: If you stay outside the US for more than five months without any connection to your studies or school attendance, your student status and thus your F-1 visa may become invalid.
The F-1 visa for German nationals is usually issued for up to five years. The period of validity depends on the nationality of the applicant and is decided on the basis of the so-called Reciprocity Schedule.
It is important to note that F-1 visas are only valid in conjunction with a valid I-20 form.
This means that the validity of an F-1 visa does not automatically mean that you are allowed to stay in the USA for the entire duration. It is important to distinguish between the validity of the visa and the given residence status. If the I-20 form expires but the visa is still valid, you must still leave the USA, as your residence status expires when the I-20 form expires. If you receive an extension or a new I-20 form, you can continue your stay.
The validity period of the visa refers to the period between the issue date and the expiration date, within which the applicant can request entry at the border. The validity period is determined by the US consulate or embassy where the F-1 application was submitted and is indicated on the visa on the expiration date.
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