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M-1 Visa Info
If you're interested in gaining career training while studying in the United States the M-1 student visa may be a good choice. Most of the application, arrival and registration rules are the same for M-1 as for F-1. For example, M-1 students also need to arrive and register within 30 days of their program start date. Below you will find helpful information about the M-1 Visa.
Eligibility
When you apply to a school as an M-1 student your program must offer practical training aimed at a specific career goal. For example at BIR an M-1 student would be able to train in Computerized Manufacturing (CNC), Computerized Office Support, Health Information Technology, and Medical Assisting.
In addition to practical training you must also be involved in a full course of study, meaning at least 12 semester or quarter hours. No extension can be granted to an M-1 student if the M-1 student is unable to complete the course of study within 3 years of the original program start date. This limit includes extensions that have been granted due to a drop below full course of study, a transfer of schools, or reinstatement.
Applying
To apply for M-1 visa you will need a Form I-94, which is issued for one year or the program end date plus 30 days, whichever date is earlier. By this date, you must leave the country or apply for an extension. The cumulative time of extensions that can be granted to an M-1 student is limited to a period of 3 years from the original start date, plus 30 days.
As an M-1 student you cannot apply for change of status to F-1 or any other type of status. If you come to the U.S. on a different visa and file Form I-539 with USCIS to change status to F-1 or M-1 you may begin taking classes immediately (With the exception of B-1, B-2, F-2, and M-2 nonimmigrants).
Maintaining
As a student in M nonimmigrant status you are admitted for a fixed time period, which is the period necessary to complete the course of study indicated on the Form I-20, plus practical training following completion of the course of study, plus an additional 30 days to depart the United States, but not to exceed a total period of one year. An M-1 student may be admitted for a period up to 30 days before the report date or start date of the course of study listed on the Form I-20. If you fail to maintain a full course of study or otherwise fail to maintain status you are not eligible for the additional 30-day period of stay.
A student must apply to the Service for an extension on Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status. A student's M-2 spouse and children seeking an extension of stay must be included in the application. The student must submit the application to the service center having jurisdiction over the school the student is currently authorized to attend, at least 15 days but not more than 60 days before the program end date on the student's Form I-20. The application must also be accompanied by the student's Form I-20 and the Forms I-94 of the student's spouse and children, if applicable.
Transferring Schools
To be eligible to transfer to another school on an M-1 visa, you must:
- Currently be a full-time student
- Intend to be a full-time student at the new school
- Prove that you have the financial resources required for your education and stay in the U.S.
- Maintain the same educational objective in the new school
- You may only transfer to another school within the first six months from the date you were admitted to the U.S. to begin your studies, or from the date you changed your nonimmigrant status to become an M-1 student
- File Form I-539 with the USCIS
- Submit your current Form I-20I-D (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant M-1 Student Status)
- Submit a complete Form I-20M-N from your new school
- Submit Form I-94
SEVIS Update
A DSO must update SEVIS to recommend that a student be approved for an extension of stay. The SEVIS Form I-20 must be printed with the recommendation and new program end date for submission by mail to the service center, with Form I-539, and Forms I-94 if applicable.
- An M - 1 student may not transfer to another school after six months from the date the student is first admitted as, or changes nonimmigrant classification to that of, an M - 1 student unless the student is unable to remain at the school to which the student was initially admitted due to circumstances beyond the student's control. An M - 1 student may be otherwise eligible to transfer to another school if the student–
- An M - 1 student may not change educational objective.
- When the student is authorized to engage in employment for practical training, he or she will be issued an employment authorization document. The M-1 student may not begin employment until he or she has been issued an employment authorization document by the Service. One month of employment authorization will be granted for each four months of full-time study that the M-1 student has completed. However, an M-1 student may not engage in more than six months of practical training in the aggregate. The student will not be granted employment authorization if he or she cannot complete the requested practical training within six months