The Immigration and Nationality Act provides two nonimmigrant visa categories for persons wishing to study in the United States . The "F" visa is reserved for nonimmigrant wishing to pursue academic studies and/or language training programs, and the "M" visa is reserved for nonimmigrant wishing to pursue nonacademic or vocational studies.

F-Academic Students and M-Vocational Students Requirements

Foreign students seeking to study in the U.S. may enter in the F-1 or M-1 category provided they meet the following criteria:

• The student must be enrolled in an "academic" educational program, a language-training program, or a vocational program;
• The school must be approved by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS);
• The student must be enrolled as a full-time student at the institution;
• The student must be proficient in English or be enrolled in courses leading to English proficiency;
• The student must have sufficient funds available for self-support during the entire proposed course of study; and
• The student must maintain a residence abroad, which he/she has no intention of giving up.

Current USCIS regulations recognize the following as approved schools:

• A school operated as a public educational institution by federal, state, or local government; and
• A school accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency.