Foreign students who wish to come to the U.S to attend a vocational or non-academic school, like trade or practical training school need to obtain U.S M-1 vocational student visa. The students are allowed to stay in the U.S with this visa as long as they are engaged in a full time vocational course. The maximum time period for this visa is one year and students can get an extension of up to 3 years if they are full-time students. After the completion of the vocational courses, students are given an additional 30 days to prepare for returning. Vocational students with M-1 visa are allowed to engage in Optional Practical Training if it is directly related to the student’s area of study. The time period allowed for this training is one month for every four months of vocational training.
Benefits Allowed
Students entering the U.S with M-1 visa are granted the following privileges during their stay in the U.S:
• Students come to the U.S. as fulltime vocational students.
• M-1 visa holders can lawfully work part-time on campus and if required they can also work off campus after taking prior approval from the USCIS.
• Students are free to travel in and out of the U.S if they hold valid visa.
• Dependents of M-1 visa holders are allowed to accompany them for the entire period of their vocational course or till they maintain their M-1 status.
• M1 visas are quickly and easily issued.
Essential Requirements
Applicants applying for M-1 visa have to fulfill certain eligibility criteria in order to obtain this visa. The following are must be fulfilled by each applicant:
• Applicants applying for M-1 visa have to successfully complete a course of study that is essential for the enrollment in the vocational course in U.S.
• Vocational institution must have accepted the applicants for a full course of study and the vocational institute must be approved by the U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services. The institution must issue a certificate of eligibility for nonimmigrant student status or M-1 status for vocational students.
• In order to qualify for the M-1 visa the applicants must prove their proficiency in English language so that they can pursue the intended course of study. If the applicants do not have proficiency in the English language then the institution or the school they have enrolled should make special arrangements to teach them the English language.
• Proof of sufficient funds is necessary for the applicants at least for the first year of study and they should have easy access to funds to cover their expenses of the subsequent years.
• Applicants of the M-1 visa must have a permanent residence in their home country, with the intention of not abandoning it.
• Applicants must depart the U.S. upon completion of the course of study and they have to prove this by presenting evidence of economic, social or family ties back in the home country.
• M-1 visa holders have to assure that their vocational courses in the U.S. would be useful in their home country and thus, they will leave the U.S. upon completion of studies.
Spouse Immigration and Dependent Immigration
M-1 visa holders while their vocational courses in the U.S are allowed to bring their spouse and unmarried children under the age of twenty one years. This visa is not considered as a route to permanent settlement as the M-1 visa holders are allowed to stay only for the course duration. Thus, the dependents can accompany them for this period with the M-2 visa. The dependents of M-1 visa holders are not allowed to engage in the employment.
