M-1 Visa

The M-1 student visa is a nonimmigrant visa which allows foreign students wishing to pursue vocational or non-academic studies, other than language training, to enter into the U.S.

Typical institutions that accept M students include community and junior colleges that provide vocational and technical training, vocational high schools, and other schools that provide nonacademic training, other than English language instruction. The school must demonstrate that its international student program will fulfill educational objectives and will not be used as a means of making the students work. Your program must have a goal and you must be involved in a “full course of study.” A full course of study means study in a community or junior college, with at least 12 semester or quarter hours. It must be in a school where anyone attending for at least 12 semester or quarter hours is charged full tuition, or considered full-time.

Generally Students get M-1 Visa for one year or for the amount of time required to complete the course of study. They are also given 30 days grace period in which to depart following completion of the course. M-1 students are not allowed to continue on to the university level.
    
M-1 students are not authorized to work on- or off campus employment. They are, however, allowed to participate in practical training following the completion of their course of study. A request for practical training must be submitted no more than 60 days before the completion of studies, and no later than 30 days after completion. The period of practical training is determined by authorizing one month of training for each four-month period of study, however, the practical training is not to exceed six months.

M-1 students’ spouse and children can apply for M-2 Visa. The spouse and/or children of the holder of an M-1 visa may not work on derivative M-2 visa; they may, however, study at an academic institution.