Students coming to study in the United States are often excited at the prospect of many years of hard work and preparation finally coming to fruition. If you are attending an Illinois university this fall, you may have many questions about what your student visa allows you to do now that you are here. If you have not yet applied to an Illinois university, you likely have questions about student visas and perhaps even what your options may be once your studies are through. Whatever your situation may be, you can get help from an Illinois immigration attorney who knows the law and can answer your questions.
F-1 and M-1 Student Visas
An F-1 student visa allows a student to come to the U.S. and attend an accredited college or training program and work towards a degree or certificate. An M-1 student visa is similar to an F-1 student visa, except that it allows students to attend non-academic programs, such as vocational training in mechanics, cosmetology, or a similar non-academic field.
F-1 student visa holders can usually only work for their university during the first year. Even with on-campus work, not any job will do; the job must generally be located on the university’s campus and the student must be paid from their university’s payroll. Students cannot work more than 20 hours per week during the school year, but they may work more than 20 hours between semesters or during summer vacation. Any off-campus work must usually be related to the student’s area of study and needs to be authorized beforehand.
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