If you’re looking to attend college in the United States at a vocational or non-academic institution, then the M-1 student visa is your key to obtaining full-time status at a technical institution. It is a visa designed for students from abroad who would like to do practical training or non-academic studies in the United States (at a trade school, a language school, or other special education).
Here’s a guide to everything you need to know about the M-1 visa from cost and process to application and requirements. If you are a first-time visitor interested in the M-1 visa or an applicant preparing to apply, this guide will show you how to apply and what to expect from the process.
How To Apply For The M-1 Student Visa?
With the M-1 visa, you can attend a non-academic institution (e.g., trade or technical school) in the United States. It is the equivalent of the F-1 visa, which is for students enrolled in universities and colleges. Yet the M-1 visa is meant for students who are going to non-academic or vocational schools.
Unlike the F-1 visa, where you are an educational student, the M-1 visa works best for those who are going for short non-degree courses such as language, technical, or other vocational training. Also, keep in mind that the M-1 is a non-immigrant visa, which means that you will need to show that you’ll return home after you graduate from your program in the U.S.
You, and Law and Visas, How Law and Visas Can Support You?
It doesn’t have to be complicated when it comes to an M-1 visa application. Law and Visas are there to help foreign students for an M-1 visa in all ways. We help you with applying, preparing you for the visa interview, and with any query you might have. Now, with our assistance, you can ace your application and proceed to study in the U.S.
M-1 Visa Costs and Fees
You will need to know these basic fees if you want to get an M-1 visa:
SEVIS I-901 Fee: $330. It’s an amount you send to the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and it’s used to apply for your visa.
Application Fee: $185. That’s the average visa application fee.
Issuance Fee (Reciprocity Fee): If your visa is granted, you might be charged an issuance fee in your country of origin too.
You’ll need to check specific charges for your home country as these can depend on reciprocity arrangements between the U.S. and your home country. Don’t forget to pay all fees and move on to the application procedure.
M-1 Visa Timeline
Your M-1 student visa can take some time depending on your application country. You will generally be waiting a few days to several weeks for an appointment. If you’re applying in London for example, you could be waiting 14 days for an interview, but if you’re applying in Tokyo, it could be only 3 days.
Plan and visit the U.S. Department of State Visa Appointment Wait Times tool for the latest updates.
Also there are some vital points on when your visa will be granted:
Validity of the visa: The M-1 visa is only valid 365 days before your program starting date. That was just extended from 120 days in February 2023.
US: You can’t be admitted to the U.S. after 30 days of your program date. Do keep this in mind when booking travel.
M-1 Visa Requirements
You will have to comply with some of the following to be eligible for the M-1 student visa:
Full-Time Embarkation in an Appraised Program: You need to be a full-time student enrolled in an approved vocational or non-academic program of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).
English fluency: you must know English well or take an English class.
Budget Disturbance: You will have to show that you are financially capable of making ends meet while studying in the U.S. without the assistance of the public.
Home Country Outside the U.S.: You need a home country that you plan to move back to after your studies.
SEVP Certification: Your program needs to be entered in the SEVIS database — this means your program is US government-approved.
Where to Apply for an M-1 Visa?
You’ll take a couple of steps, and you’ll need to do these when you’re enrolled in an SEVP-approved trade course:
Fee I-901 of SEVIS: This is the fee you need to complete to get you activated in the SEVIS system.
Sign I-20: Your school will send you the Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status after you’ve registered with SEVIS. You will need this form for the visa application.
Fill in the DS-160 Form: Fill out the DS-160 form, a nonimmigrant visa application via the Internet. Don’t forget to upload a photo per the State Department’s requirements and print the confirmation page.
Request Your Visa Interview: Once you’ve completed the DS-160, request an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate in your country of residence. And don’t forget, you will be required to go for an interview unless you are under 13 or over 80.
M-1 Visa Interview Preparation
Bring all documents with you to your interview:
I-20 by you and an administrator of your school.
Passport with validity of at least 6 months after you plan to enter.
Form DS-160 Confirmation Page.
Visa Application Fee Refund (if any).
New passport-sized photo (unless it is uploaded during DS-160).
There might also be a requirement for academic evidence (transcripts or diplomas) to prove qualifications. Secondly, be prepared to provide proof that you can afford your studies, travel, and housing costs while in the U.S.
What Happens at the Visa Interview?
When you’re questioned by a consular officer, you’ll be told if you qualify for the M-1 visa. And they may even take your digital fingerprints (although not all embassies do this). You may incur a further issuance fee if you get approved (this varies from country to country).
Once you have your visa, you’ll have to bring your M-1 visa, Form I-20, and passport with you to the United States. Important: visa doesn’t guarantee you U.S. The decision will be made by the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent at the entry point.
Is It Possible to Work On An M-1 Visa?
There are some exceptions to the work while you’re on an M-1 visa. You’ll have to graduate and go through a practical training program first. You can only work for 6 months, and you need to request an EAD to start work.
FAQs
Can I go to University on Another Visa? You can’t study with most other nonimmigrant visas, of course. You will have to make a status change and apply for an M-1 visa if you want to migrate to an M-1 visa.
Can I Get to the U.S. Over 30 Days Ahead Of Time Of The Program Commencement? No, M-1 students can arrive in the United States only 30 days before the course start date. But you could have a B visa to come sooner and upgrade to M-1 once in the US.
Law and Visas: Advising You At Every Turn Legal and Visas: Supporting You, Day After Day.
The application process for an M-1 student visa can be confusing but with Law and Visas, you do not need to go through it alone. We will take you from top to bottom to make sure you complete all the forms, get ready for your interview, and boost your chances of getting approved for a visa. So let us get started today and let us get you to where you want to be in the U.S.
