Five years after the September 11, 2001, the number of foreign students and scholars coming to the US is soaring again. In fiscal year 2005, Department of State issued 565,790 student visas to F, J, and M students, making up 10.5% of all nonimmigrant visas issued. J cultural exchange visitors lead with 303,822 visas issued in FY2005. The F academic students followed with 255,993, and the M students trailed with only 5,975 visas issued in FY2005.

The largest sending regions of the world are Asia and Europe. Although Asia had led with well over half of all student visas for many years, the latest available data shows Europe having 40.7% and Asia having 40.3% of the 589,368 visas issued to F, J, and M nonimmigrants in FY2005. North and South American countries had smaller portions, with 5.1% and 8.4% respectively. Africa and Oceania combined constitute only 5.5% of the visas issued in FY2005.

Hooyou Immigration Library:

Foreign students can enter the US under three categories of visa: F, J and M.

F Visa

The most common visa for foreign students is the F-1 visa. It is tailored for international students pursuing a full-time academic education. The F-1 student is generally admitted as a nonimmigrant for the period of the program of study, referred to as the duration of status.3 The law requires that the student have a foreign residence that they have no intention of abandoning. Their spouses and children may accompany them as F-2 nonimmigrants.

J Visa

Foreign students are just one of many types of aliens who may enter the United States on a J-1 visa, sometimes referred to as the Fulbright program. Others admitted under this cultural exchange visa include scholars, professors, teachers, trainees, specialists, foreign medical graduates, international visitors, au pairs, and participants in student travel/work programs. Those seeking admission as a J-1 nonimmigrant must be participating in a cultural exchange program that the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (BECA)7 has designated. They are admitted for the period of the program. Their spouses and children may accompany them as J-2 nonimmigrants.

M Visa

Foreign students who wish to pursue a non-academic (e.g., vocational) course of study apply for an M visa. This visa is the least used of the foreign student visas. Much as the F students, those seeking an M visa must show that they have been accepted by an approved school, have the financial means to pay for tuition and expenses and otherwise support themselves for one year, and have the scholastic preparation and language skills appropriate for the course of study. Their spouses and children may accompany them as M-2 nonimmigrants. As with all of the student visa categories, they must have a foreign residence they have no intention of abandoning. Those with M visas are also barred from working in the United States, including in on-campus employment.

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