An M-1 Visa may be granted to students to study at a U.S. vocational or other non-academic institution. A form DS-156 is submitted to the U.S. consular office where you live.  The consular officer may require additional documents to verify the purpose for obtaining the visa.  The visa may be issued on the same day you apply in the form of a stamp on your passport.

What are the requirements for an M-1 vocational student visa?

To qualify under M-1 you must meet the following requirements: 

Complete the application, by filing the form DS-156. 

• First, you must have been accepted by an approved school in the U.S. shown by a certificate of eligibility (Form I-20M-N) signed by you;  when you contact a school that you are interested in attending, you should be told immediately if the school accepts foreign national students. If you are accepted, the school should give you INS Form I-20  (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (M-1) Student Status.
• You must have sufficient funds or made other arrangements to cover expenses;
• You must have scholastic preparation and knowledge of the English language to pursue a full course of study, or if your English is inadequate, the school has accepted you for study in a language in which you are familiar or you have made special tutoring arrangements that will enable you to pursue a full course of study.

A full course of study for nonacademic students is satisfied in any of the following situations:

• Study for at least 12 hours weekly in a post-secondary vocational or business school (not in a language training program except one in English at the school where you will engage in technical course that confers associate or other degrees).
• Full time study in a vocational or nonacademic high school curriculum
• Study at a community college or junior university (at least 12 semester or quarter hours in instruction per academic term except where you need a lesser course load to complete the course of study during the current term).
• Study in a vocational or other nonacademic curriculum, (not in a language-training program) at the school where you will engage in the vocational or technical training consisting of 18 hours of classroom attendance a week if the dominant part of the course of study consists of classroom instruction, or at least 22 hours per week of the dominant part of the course of instruction consists of shop or laboratory work.

Can M-1 students accept employment?

You may obtain permission for employed practical training after completion of the course of study.  You may be granted one period of practical training as employment in the field of study, based on one month for every four months of a full course of study but not exceeding a total of six months.

How long is the M-1 visa valid?

The M-1 visa is valid for one year or for the period necessary to complete the course of study plus thirty days to depart, whichever is less.

Who qualifies for an M-2 visa classification?

The spouse and/or child of an M-1 visa applicant/holder.  A Form DS-156 must be submitted to the U.S. consular office where you live. The consular officer may require additional documents to verify the purpose for obtaining the visa. The visa may be issued on the same day you apply in the form of a stamp on your passport.

What are the requirements for an M-2 visa?

A spouse and/or child of an M-1 applicant is eligible for an M-2 visa if you can show that sufficient funds are available to cover your expenses in the U.S. and that you intend to leave the U.S. upon the termination of the status of the M-1 student.

Can M-2 dependents be employed?

No.

How long is the M-2 visa valid?

Applicants for an M-2 visa are eligible to stay in the U.S. for as long at their M-1 principal is under status.