Before an ‘F-1 Academic Student Visa’ for a public institution can be issued, the student must show the public institution in the US has been reimbursed.
A student who is a non-U.S citizen and who wishes to study in the United States will require a F-1 Academic Student Visa. This visa is the most common for students who wish to engage in academic studies in the United States. It is for any students who want to study at an accredited U.S college or university or undertake a course at an intensive English language institute.
A foreign student seeking to study in the US may apply for this type of visa provided they meet the following criteria:
• the student must be enrolled in an academic educational programme, a vocational programme or another type of training programme,
• the school must be approved by the U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services
• the student must be enrolled as a full-time student
• the student must have sufficient funds available for self-support during the proposed course
• the student must maintain a residence abroad which they do not intend to give up.
The U.S Embassy / Consulate cannot issue a US F-1 Academic Student Visa more than 120 days before the actual start date of the course. Even if a student has been issued with a visa to enter the United States, they will not be allowed to enter the country more than thirty days before the course starts; for example: if the student is to start the programme on November 1st, they will not be permitted to enter the United States until October 1st.