In general, there are a few requirements for an overseas student to apply for a F-1 visa and study in an academic institution in the United States. These requirements generally include:
1. The applicant of a F-1 visa has a foreign residence outside the U.S. and the applicant has to show he/she intends to return to that residence after finishing school in the U.S.
2. The applicant is a bona fide student and is not using the visa for purposes other thana ttending school (such as waiting for an immigrant visa number).
3. The applicant must obtain an I-20 issued by the school he/she intends to enroll.
4. The applicant has sufficient financial resources to sustain his/her study in the U.S.
5. F-1 students are not allowed to attend public high schools for more than one academic year and have to pay the school district/board their tuition prior to issuance of an I-20.
However, meeting these requirements alone may still be insufficient for you to attend a school in the U.S.
Recently, my alma mater, Brigham Young University (commonly known as BYU), has decided to enforce a new policy regarding F-1 international students. The policy requires all new international students (including freshman or transferred students) to pay a $4,000 deposit to an escrow account upon admission and prior to the issuance of an I-20 for visa application. The rationale of the University is that this policy will ensure international students have sufficient funds to complete their education in the U.S.
This will undoubtedly make it harder for international students to attend my alma mater, but it is not illegal for a school to have admission requirements in addition to the ones set forth by the law. Thus, if you are an itnernational student, be sure to check with the institution you plan to enroll carefully to see whether they have specific admission requirements for international students. Otherwise, you may be disappointed or even abandon your plan to study in the U.S.
Disclaimer: Information included in this post does not constitute as legal advice and receipt of this page does not establish an attorney-client relationship. For specific inquiries, please contact my office for an appointment.
1/10/2010
Facebook Link
Please visit my facebook page, where I often post links and articles from other sources related to immigration law. To access it, please click the facebook badge on the right handside of this blog.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)