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New Guidelines for F and M Student Visas Allow Earlier Application and More Flexibility
by David H. Nachman, Esq., Ludka Zimovcak, Esq., Snehal Batra, Esq. and Samantha Chasworth, Esq.
The U.S. Department of State has recently announced changes to the guidelines for F and M student visas. As of February 23, 2023, students are now permitted to apply for their visas up to 365 days before their program start date, which is a significant improvement from the previous limit of 120 days. The Form I-20, which is required for the visa application process, will now also be issued twelve to fourteen months in advance of the program start date, providing students with ample preparation time.
To obtain an F or M student visa, applicants must follow several steps.
First, they must gain acceptance into a qualifying U.S. school or university that has been approved by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). Once accepted, the student must pay a fee to enroll in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and obtain a separate Form I-20 for each individual, including dependents.
After obtaining the Form I-20, the student must complete the DS-160 form, which is the Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application, and pay a nonrefundable visa application fee. Once within 365 days of the program start date, the student can log into the online portal and schedule an F or M visa appointment.
During the visa application process, students and their dependents may be required to attend in-person visa interviews at a U.S. embassy or consulate. If the officer determines that the applicant qualifies for the F or M student visa, they will take digital fingerprint scans and take the applicant's passport to complete the visa stamping process. Applicants will then receive their passports with the visas in the mail, or a pickup time will be scheduled for them.
Overall, the recent updates to the guidelines for F and M student visas will give students more time to apply for their visas and properly prepare for their studies in the United States. It is essential for students to adhere to the proper steps and guidelines to ensure a smooth visa application process.
About The Author
David H. Nachman, Esq. is one of the Managing Attorneys at the Nachman Phulwani Zimovcak (NPZ) Law Group, P.C., a pre-eminent International Immigration and Nationality Law Firm dedicated to providing a wide array of business and family immigration law services for skilled U.S.-and Canada-bound workers. The Attorneys in our Law Firm assist clients with waivers, marriage cases, citizenship applications, I-130 sponsorship for family, etc.
If you have any questions about how the immigration and nationality laws in the United States may impact you or your family members or if you want to access additional information about the United States or Canadian immigration and nationality laws, please feel free to get in touch with the immigration and nationality lawyers at NPZ Law Group. You can send us an email at info@visaserve.com or you can call us at 201-670-0006 extension 104. In addition, we invite you to find more information on our website at www.visaserve.com
Ludka Zimovcak, Esq. is a Managing Attorney at NPZ Law Group, PC. Mrs. Zimovcak's passion for excellence in immigration law derives from her own family's first-hand immigration experiences. She is fully licensed to practice as an Attorney in Slovakia and New York
Snehal Batra, Esq. is Managing Attorney of our Raritan, NJ office at the Nachman Phulwani Zimovcak (NPZ) Law Group, P.C., a pre-eminent International Immigration and Nationality Law Firm dedicated to providing a wide array of business and family immigration law services for skilled U.S.-and Canada-bound workers. Ms. Batra is an Indian-American attorney with a passion for immigration law which derives from being an immigrant herself. Having been born in India and raised in New Jersey, Ms. Batra understands firsthand the many difficulties and challenges that immigrants commonly experience while engaged in the U.S. immigration process. As such, she is eager to help families, businesses and individual immigrants to realize the American dream.
Samantha Chasworth, Esq. is Counsel at the Nachman Phulwani Zimovcak (NPZ) Law Group, P.C., a pre-eminent International Immigration and Nationality Law Firm dedicated to providing a wide array of business and family immigration law services for skilled U.S.-and Canada-bound workers. Ms. Chasworth earned a Juris Doctorate (JD) from the St. John's University School of Law in Queens, New York, where she was an editor on the Journal of Civil Rights and Economic Development and participated in numerous immigration and family law clinics and internships including time at the US-Mexico Border at the Karnes County Civil Detention Center.
