Guide to U.S. Immigration

4. The F Visa Category - Student

Most Japanese Managers are not concerned about the student visa category until they are forced to by the circumstances of their own family situation.

A student visa is issued to bonafide students who desire to study in the U.S. A student is allowed to live in the U.S. for the duration of his schooling. Upon graduation and entry to the next level of education, a student may transfer to the new school and continue his education. Generally a student may not work except under limited circumstances. After graduation from a university, one year of "practical training" (working permission) with an American company may be possible.

The Japanese businessman working in the U.S. under a temporary working visa is confronted with the problem of obtaining a student visa under two common situations. First, he, may be transferred back to Japan while his children are still in U.S. school. In that situation, student visas must be obtained for the children remaining behind in the US. Also when a child reaches the age of 21, he or she must obtain an independent visa from his parents. If that child is in school then a student visa can be obtained.

Under relatively recent changes in the immigration laws, no student visas may be issued to aliens to attend public elementary schools, middle schools, or high schools. An alien may attend private elementary, middle, or high school and obtain a student visa.