M-1 Vocational Training Visa

Introduction

A M-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa for international students who are hoping to pursue a course of study that is not academic in nature at a vocational or nonacademic institution.
The benefits of a M-1 visa includes that an individual can:

  • Enter the United States as a full time vocational student
  • Legally work part-time on campus or off campus as necessary. To work off campus approval from the USCI must happen first,
  • Freely travel in and out of the US while on a valid visa
  • Have dependents live with them as long as they maintain their M-1 status 
  • Get an M-1 visa rather quickly.

To get a M-1 visa an individual must prove that:

  • They have successfully completed a course of study normally required for enrollment
  • They have been accepted for a full course of study by a vocational institution approves by the US. The institution has to send a Form I-20 certificate f the eligibility of the non-immigrant vocational student
  • They sufficiently understand English or the intended school of study will them English
  • They have sufficient funds to cover their first year of study and can access sufficient funds to cover other years
  • They intend to depart the US after completing their course of study. They can prove this by presenting evidence of family or economic ties that would induce them to return home
  • Their proposed studies will be useful in their homeland and will make them likely to return home after their completion of studies.

The individual must sign up for The Student Exchange Visitor Information System. The purpose of the SEVIS is to monitor the visa application process and oversee the academic career of the foreign students entering the US under the M-1 or M-2 visa. Under the SEVIS guidelines students must submit:

  • Their full student name
  • Date and place of birth of the student
  • Citizenship of the student
  • School program and name