| M-1 Vocational Foreign Students
This is the nonacademic or vocational student category.
A preliminary requirement for this category is that successful
completion of the course of study must lead to the attainment
of a specific educational or vocational objective. The ''full
course of study'' requirement for nonacademic students will
be satisfied in the following situations:
- Study at a community college or junior college certified
by a school official to consist of at least 12 semester
or quarter hours of instruction per academic term, except
where the student needs a lesser course load to complete
the course of study during the current term.
- Study for at least 12 hours weekly or its equivalent in
a postsecondary vocational or other business school, but
not in a language training program except one in the English
language at the school where he or she will engage in a
vocational or technical course, which confers associate
or other degrees or whose credits are accepted unconditionally
by at least three institutions of higher learning.
- Study in a vocational or other nonacademic curriculum,
but not in a language training program except one in the
English language at the school where he or she will engage
in the vocational or technical training, certified by a
designated school official to consist of 18 hours of classroom
attendance a week if the dominant part of the course of
study consists of classroom instruction, or at least 22
hours a week if the dominant part of the course of instruction
consists of shop or laboratory work.
- Study in a vocational or other nonacademic high school
curriculum, for not less than the minimum hours prescribed
by the school for normal progress towards graduation.
The foreign student must first contact the school that they
wish to attend. The Designated School Official (DSO) at the
school will determine whether the student meets the eligibility
requirements for attendance. Once the DSO is satisfied, the
school issues a Certificate of Eligibility on form I-20M.
Once the I-20M has been issued, the foreign student may
then apply for the visa at the consulate. It is possible to
apply for a change of status from another nonimmigrant classification
to the M-1 classification, but a recent INS rule has limited
the ability of foreign students to change their status in
the United States. As of April 12, 2002, in order to be eligible
to change status, the foreign student must notify the Immigration
Inspector upon admission that they intend to pursue a course
of study in the United States and to change to M-1 status
upon finding a suitable school. The Immigration Inspector
is then required to note “Prospective Student” on the foreign
student’s I-94 form.
Foreign students seeking M-1 status must establish the following
to the satisfaction of the consular officer:
- That they have been accepted by an approved school in
the United States, evidenced by the certificate of eligibility
(Form I-20M-N), signed by the student;
- Possesses sufficient funds or have made other arrangements
to cover expenses; and
- Have sufficient scholastic preparation and knowledge of
the English language to pursue a full course of study, or
if the student's knowledge of English is inadequate, the
approved school has accepted him or her for study in a language
with which the student is familiar, or has made special
tutoring arrangements that are adequate to enable the student
to pursue a full course of study.
Nonacademic students (M-1) are admitted for one year or for
the period necessary to complete their course of study plus
30 days thereafter to depart, whichever is less. Their spouses
and children are eligible to accompany them in M-2 status and
are admitted for the same period as the M-1 student.
M-1 students may obtain permission for practical training
to begin only after completion of the course of study. The
application for such permission must be submitted before the
expiration of the student's authorized period of stay and
not more than 60 days before or more than 30 days after completion
of the course of study. M-1 students seeking approval for
practical training must submit Form I-765 and a I-20 ID endorsed
for training by the DSO. A personal appearance by the student
is also required.
Spouses and children of M-1 nonimmigrants are admitted in
M-2 status. They may not accept employment without an independent
nonimmigrant classification permitting employment or another
independent basis for employment authorization.
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