The U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) provides two nonimmigrant visa classifications for persons wishing to study in the United States. At an educational institution approved by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the "F" visa is for academic studies, and the "M" visa is for nonacademic or vocational studies. 

Effective 15 February 2003, all academic and vocational educational institutions and exchange visitor program sponsors must enter student and exchange visitor data into the USCIS electronic Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) to be able to issue the new Forms I-20 or DS-2019.

Students accepted at academic institutions will receive, from the school, Form I-20A-B, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status for Academic and Language Students (F-1). Nonacademic or vocational institutions issue Form I-20M-N, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status for Vocational Students (M-1). 

Any returning students or exchange visitors, who departed the United States on or after 15 February 2003, must bear SEVIS-generated documents, and SEVIS rules apply.

All continuing students and exchange visitors must present SEVIS-generated Forms I-20 or DS-2019, respectively, to fulfill the statutory requirement for electronic verification of student and exchange visitor status. All student and exchange visitor data entered into the Interim Student and Exchange Authentication System or ISEAS prior to 15 February 2003 will remain available to Consulates for verification purposes.

Please be aware that U.S. Department of Homeland Security regulations state that holders of F, M, or J nonimmigrant visas will not be admitted to the United States at least thirty days or less prior to the beginning of the program date, or start date, as given on the Form I-20 (for F or M visas) or DS-2019 (for J visas). Please consider that date carefully when making travel plans to the United States.

The spouse and unmarried children under 21 years old of the F, J or M visa holder may be given F-2, J-2 or M-2 visas, respectively, if they seek to accompany or "follow to join" the primary visa holder. 

Being accepted by a U.S. school and being issued a Form I-20 will not by itself result in issuance of a student visa. 

Students must demonstrate that the primary purpose for their travel to the United States is for study. Under Section 214(b) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act, applicants still must prove that they will leave the United States upon expiration of their authorized period of stay. A school admission as demonstrated by the Form I-20 is only one of the factors we must consider. 

Student visas cannot be used to circumvent ineligibility for other types of visas. On occasion student visa applications are submitted for children, whose family members have immigrated to the United States, it is often difficult for such applicants to qualify, as it is difficult to prove that the applicant intends to return to the Philippines.   

Student Visas will generally not be issued solely for English language study. As the Philippines education system is conducted in English, individuals pursuing study in the United States should generally be proficient in English at the time of their application to a U.S. school. 

Plans of study must indicate a reasonable course of academic progress. Applicants planning to pursue a community college degree after already having received a four-year undergraduate degree in the Philippines are unlikely to be issued student visas, as in most instances the proposed program of study does not appear to be a plausible "next step." Applicants who already have a BA/BS degree from an institution in the Philippines are encouraged to pursue graduate study or at least a second BA/BS degree, with credit for prior undergraduate study. 

Please feel free to visit the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page.