Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Details About F Visas and Eligibility Criteria

The F visas are a cluster of visas referred to as non-immigrant student visas, meaning that they are intended for individuals looking to study in the United States and return to their home countries after completing their education programs. The F visas offer different opportunities to those who qualify for them, as you will see below.

Types of F VisasThere are 3 main kinds of F visas, these are:
F-1, F-2, and F-3 visas. Each of these has different eligibility requirements and different privileges. Most of the time, applying for the F cluster of visas is straightforward, but in case of any problems, it is best to consult an immigration attorney for legal advice.

F-1 Visa
The F-1 visa is ideal for academic and language students who want to study in the U.S. The first requirement to qualify for this visa is to be accepted in a recognized US university as a full time student. It is also suitable for college, high school, private elementary school, seminary, conservatory and language institutions in the U.S., as long as the institution is accredited and recognized in the States.

F-2 Visa
The F-2 visa is dependent on the F-1 and is suitable for the family members of a student learning in the U.S. who already has the F-1 visa. This means that if you are the student in a U.S. institution, you can invite your spouse or child to stay with you via the F-2 visa. However, to qualify for this, you must produce proof of marriage and any children should be unmarried and below 21 years old.

F-3 Visa
The F-3 visa is also known as the border commuter visa, and is the ideal solution if you have to, or choose to, commute from one country to the U.S. for your studies. The countries that allow for this visa include Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and Bahamian nations, since the students from these countries may opt to commute to their classes in the U.S. institutions.

Other Requirements for F VisasAs mentioned above, the common denominator in all F category visas is the acceptance to a recognized academic or language institution in the U.S. Another important requirement is proof of financial capability, particularly a strong bank statement. This is required regardless of whether you are a self-sponsored student or in a scholarship program.  An
immigration lawyer would be able to assist you to prepare the relevant documents.

You will also be required to provide proof of citizenship and show no intention of fleeing your home country for the U.S. while on your studies. This is part of the reason why many financial aid providers make it mandatory for beneficiaries to return home.
F Visa Restrictions
The F class visas are essentially student visas and this means that holders are not allowed to work in the U.S. while in school. You could seek out the assistance of immigration lawyers in an international immigration law firm to assist you with this matter. On the other hand, there are no travel restrictions for the F visas, meaning that you can travel in and out of the US, for example during holidays to visit you home country.

As this website says, the best way to get any of the F visas is via an experienced immigration attorney. Immigration attorneys usually assist their clients to navigate through the complicated legal issues that might arise when applying for a US visa.

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