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Policy Manual
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Book outline for Policy Manual
  • Policy Manual
    • Search
    • Updates
    • Table of Contents
    • Volume 1 - General Policies and Procedures
    • Volume 2 - Nonimmigrants
      • Part A - Nonimmigrant Policies and Procedures
      • Part B - Diplomatic and International Organization Personnel (A, G)
      • Part C - Visitors for Business or Tourism (B)
      • Part D - Exchange Visitors (J)
      • Part E - Cultural Visitors (Q)
      • Part F - Students (F, M)
        • Chapter 1 - Purpose and Background
        • Chapter 2 - Reserved
        • Chapter 3 - Reserved
        • Chapter 4 - Reserved
        • Chapter 5 - Reserved
        • Chapter 6 - Reserved
        • Chapter 7 - Reserved
        • Chapter 8 - Change of Status
      • Part G - Treaty Traders and Treaty Investors (E-1, E-2)
      • Part H - Specialty Occupation Workers (H-1B, E-3)
      • Part I - Temporary Agricultural and Nonagricultural Workers (H-2)
      • Part J - Trainees (H-3)
      • Part K - Media Representatives (I)
      • Part L - Intracompany Transferees (L)
      • Part M - Nonimmigrants of Extraordinary Ability or Achievement (O)
      • Part N - Athletes and Entertainers (P)
      • Part O - Religious Workers (R)
      • Part P - NAFTA Professionals (TN)
      • Part Q - Nonimmigrants Intending to Adjust Status (K, V)
    • Volume 3 - Humanitarian Protection and Parole
    • Volume 4 - Refugees and Asylees
    • Volume 5 - Adoptions
    • Volume 6 - Immigrants
    • Volume 7 - Adjustment of Status
    • Volume 8 - Admissibility
    • Volume 9 - Waivers and Other Forms of Relief
    • Volume 10 - Employment Authorization
    • Volume 11 - Travel and Identity Documents
    • Volume 12 - Citizenship and Naturalization
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  1. Home
  2. Policy Manual
  3. Volume 2 - Nonimmigrants
  4. Part F - Students (F, M)
  5. Chapter 1 - Purpose and Background

Chapter 1 - Purpose and Background

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  • Guidance
  • Resources (13)
  • Appendices (0)
  • Updates (4)
  • History (0)

A. Purpose

The F and M nonimmigrant visa categories are for noncitizens who seek to study in the United States. The nonimmigrant academic student (F-1) visa category allows a noncitizen to enter the United States as a full-time student at a U.S. college, university, seminary, conservatory, academic high school, private elementary school, other academic institution, or in a language training program.[1]

The nonimmigrant vocational student (M-1) visa category includes students in established vocational or other recognized nonacademic programs but excludes language training programs.[2]

B. Background [Reserved]

C. Legal Authorities

  • INA 101(a)(15)(F) - Academic student definition

  • INA 101(a)(15)(M) - Vocational student definition

  • INA 214(m) - Nonimmigrant elementary and secondary school students

  • INA 248; 8 CFR 248 - Change of nonimmigrant classification

  • 8 CFR 214.2(f) - Students in colleges, universities, seminaries, conservatories, academic high schools, elementary schools, other academic institutions, and in language training programs

  • 8 CFR 214.2(m) - Students in established vocational or other recognized nonacademic institutions, other than in language training programs

  • 8 CFR 214.3 - Approval of schools for enrollment of F and M nonimmigrants

  • 8 CFR 214.13 - SEVIS fee for certain F, J, and M nonimmigrants

  • 8 CFR 274a.12(c) - Aliens who must apply for employment authorization

  • 22 CFR 41.61 - Students - academic and nonacademic

Footnotes


[^ 1] See INA 101(a)(15)(f).

[^ 2] See INA 101(a)(15)(m). See 22 CFR 41.61(b)(1).

Resources

Legal Authorities

22 CFR 41.61 Students - academic and nonacademic

8 CFR 214.13 - SEVIS fee for certain F, J, and M nonimmigrants

8 CFR 214.2(f) - Students in colleges, universities, seminaries, conservatories, academic high schools, elementary schools, other academic institutions, and in language training programs

8 CFR 214.2(m) - Students in established vocational or other recognized nonacademic institutions, other than in language training programs

8 CFR 214.3 - Approval of schools for enrollment of F and M nonimmigrants

8 CFR 274a.12(c) - Aliens who must apply for employment authorization

INA 101(a)(15)(F) - Academic student definition

INA 101(a)(15)(M) - Vocational student definition

INA 214(c) - Admission of nonimmigrants

INA 214(m) - Nonimmigrant elementary and secondary school students

INA 248, 8 CFR 248 - Change of nonimmigrant classification

Forms

G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative

I-539, Application To Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status Application To Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status

Appendices

No appendices available at this time.

Updates

Technical Update - Replacing the Term “Alien”

May 11, 2021

This technical update replaces all instances of the term “alien” with “noncitizen” or other appropriate terms throughout the Policy Manual where possible, as used to refer to a person who meets the definition provided in INA 101(a)(3) [“any person not a citizen or national of the United States”].

Affected Sections

1 USCIS-PM - Volume 1 - General Policies and Procedures

2 USCIS-PM - Volume 2 - Nonimmigrants

6 USCIS-PM - Volume 6 - Immigrants

7 USCIS-PM - Volume 7 - Adjustment of Status

8 USCIS-PM - Volume 8 - Admissibility

9 USCIS-PM - Volume 9 - Waivers and Other Forms of Relief

10 USCIS-PM - Volume 10 - Employment Authorization

11 USCIS-PM - Volume 11 - Travel and Identity Documents

12 USCIS-PM - Volume 12 - Citizenship and Naturalization

POLICY ALERT - Fee Schedule and Changes to Certain Other Immigration Benefit Request Requirements Final Rule

September 02, 2020

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is revising its policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to align with the Fee Schedule and Changes to Certain Other Immigration Benefit Request Requirements Final Rule, published in the Federal Register on August 3, 2020. This guidance becomes effective October 2, 2020. For information regarding implementation, see Appendix: 2020 Fee Rule Litigation Summary.

Read More
Affected Sections

1 USCIS-PM A - Part A - Public Services

1 USCIS-PM B - Part B - Submission of Benefit Requests

2 USCIS-PM - Volume 2 - Nonimmigrants

7 USCIS-PM A - Part A - Adjustment of Status Policies and Procedures

7 USCIS-PM F - Part F - Special Immigrant-Based (EB-4) Adjustment

7 USCIS-PM M - Part M - Asylee Adjustment

11 USCIS-PM A - Part A - Secure Identity Documents Policies and Procedures

Technical Update - Moving the Adjudicator’s Field Manual Content into the USCIS Policy Manual

May 21, 2020

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating and incorporating relevant Adjudicator’s Field Manual (AFM) content into the USCIS Policy Manual. As that process is ongoing, USCIS has moved any remaining AFM content to its corresponding USCIS Policy Manual Part, in PDF format, until relevant AFM content has been properly incorporated into the USCIS Policy Manual. To the extent that a provision in the USCIS Policy Manual conflicts with remaining AFM content or Policy Memoranda, the updated information in the USCIS Policy Manual prevails. To find remaining AFM content, see the crosswalk (PDF, 331.55 KB) between the AFM and the Policy Manual.

Affected Sections

1 USCIS-PM - Volume 1 - General Policies and Procedures

2 USCIS-PM - Volume 2 - Nonimmigrants

3 USCIS-PM - Volume 3 - Humanitarian Protection and Parole

4 USCIS-PM - Volume 4 - Refugees and Asylees

5 USCIS-PM - Volume 5 - Adoptions

6 USCIS-PM - Volume 6 - Immigrants

7 USCIS-PM - Volume 7 - Adjustment of Status

8 USCIS-PM - Volume 8 - Admissibility

9 USCIS-PM - Volume 9 - Waivers and Other Forms of Relief

11 USCIS-PM - Volume 11 - Travel and Identity Documents

12 USCIS-PM - Volume 12 - Citizenship and Naturalization

Technical Update - Replacing the Term “Foreign National”

October 08, 2019

This technical update replaces all instances of the term “foreign national” with “alien” throughout the Policy Manual as used to refer to a person who meets the definition provided in INA 101(a)(3) [“any person not a citizen or national of the United States”].

Affected Sections

1 USCIS-PM - Volume 1 - General Policies and Procedures

2 USCIS-PM - Volume 2 - Nonimmigrants

6 USCIS-PM - Volume 6 - Immigrants

7 USCIS-PM - Volume 7 - Adjustment of Status

8 USCIS-PM - Volume 8 - Admissibility

9 USCIS-PM - Volume 9 - Waivers and Other Forms of Relief

10 USCIS-PM - Volume 10 - Employment Authorization

11 USCIS-PM - Volume 11 - Travel and Identity Documents

12 USCIS-PM - Volume 12 - Citizenship and Naturalization

Version History

No historical versions available.

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