Student Visa Types

F-1 Students

Most international students will come to the United States on an F-1 student visa. Upon your acceptance into JMU, the undergraduate admissions office will forward your paperwork to the Designated School Official (DSO) in the Office of International Student and Scholar Services. When the DSO has received all necessary documentation, a Form I-20 will be issued and sent to you. In order to qualify for an F-1 visa you must:

• Be accepted into a program of study at an accredited institution in the United States which has the authority to sponsor F-1 students;
• Have the monetary funds available to you for your education. You may be able to satisfy this requirement with family funds, scholarships or sponsors, but do NOT plan to satisfy it by working in the U.S . F-1 students are eligible for only very limited on-campus employment, with few exceptions;
• Have the intention of returning to your home country after graduation. The F-1 visa is a temporary visa, and when you visit the U.S. Embassy or Consulate to apply you will be asked about your intentions to return following graduation;
• Abide by all immigration regulations to maintain F-1 status once you have entered the U.S. as a student.

J-1 Students

Many non-traditional students come to the United States on a J-1 rather than an F-1 visa. If you are a student who plans to study in a non-degree program for one year or less, if you have a home country educational sponsor, or if you are coming to JMU through an established exchange program, you will be required to obtain a J-1 visa. Upon your acceptance into JMU, the Responsible Officer (RO) in the Office of International Student and Scholar Services will issue a Form DS-2019 and send it to you. In order to qualify for a J-1 visa you must:

• Be accepted into a program of study at an accredited institution in the United States which has the authority to sponsor J-1 students;
• Have the monetary funds available to you for your education. You may be able to satisfy this requirement with family funds, scholarships or sponsors, but do NOT plan to satisfy it by working in the U.S . J-1 students are eligible for only very limited on-campus employment, with very limited exceptions;
• Have the intention of returning to your home country after graduation. The J-1 visa is a temporary visa, and when you visit the U.S. Embassy or Consulate to apply you will be asked about your intentions to return following graduation. Be aware that many J-1 visa holders are subject to a 2-year foreign residency requirement. This means that following your stay in the U.S., you may be unable to obtain certain other visas or immigration benefits until you have returned home for at least two years;
• Abide by all immigration regulations to maintain J-1 status once you have entered the U.S. as a student.

Other Nonimmigrant Visas Allowing Full-time Study

Some students come to the United States as dependents of diplomats or other nonimmigrant parents or spouses. Under most of those visa types, such as A, G, or H, the dependent may study full-time. If you will be joining JMU as a visa holder in these categories, you are invited to attend the International Orientation and participate in other international student activities. In order to qualify for a dependent visa you must:

• Be the dependent of a spouse or parent in appropriate visa status;
• Abide by all immigration regulations to maintain nonimmigrant status once you have entered the U.S. as a dependent student.

Change of Nonimmigrant Status

If you have entered the United States in a nonimmigrant visa category that does not allow full-time study, such as a visitor's or B visa, you may be permitted to submit an application for a change of status to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service in order to obtain appropriate student visa status. However, immigration rules do not permit you to begin studies prior to the approval of your change of status, which may take many months. In addition, a change of status is difficult to obtain. Therefore, if you have been accepted at JMU after entering the country as a visitor, you are encouraged to travel back to your home country to apply for an appropriate student visa rather than to apply to change your status here in the United States.