Study Restrictions for Different Types of Visa Holders
|
Type of Visa |
Study Restrictions |
|---|---|
|
A-1 and A-2 Foreign Diplomatic Personnel |
May engage in incidental study. |
|
Dependent of A-1/A-2 Visa Holders |
May engage in full-time study. |
|
A-3 Employee of Foreign Government Officials |
May engage in incidental study |
|
B-2 Visitor for Tourism |
May engage in part-time study incidental to visit - e.g., may enroll in short-term English language courses as long as the course of study is under 18 hours per week (part-time) and of "short-duration." |
|
B-2 Prospective Student or Prospective Scholar |
May engage in full-time study but must apply for a change of status to F-1 or J-1 immediately after entry. Full-time study is permitted while change of status is pending. |
|
C-1 Aliens in Transit |
No study allowed. |
|
D-1/D-2 Alien Crewman |
No study allowed. |
|
E-1 Treaty Trader and E-2 Treaty Investor |
Principal E-1/E-2 may engage in incidental study. E-1/E-2 dependents may engage in full-time study. |
|
F-1 Student |
Must maintain full-time enrollment as defined by academic institutions; part-time study only with approval of DSO in accordance with INS guidance. |
|
F-2 Dependents of F-1 Visa Holders |
Many engage in full-or part-time study. |
|
Visa Waver for Business (VWB) and Tourism (VWT) |
See B-1 Business and B-2 Tourism above. |
|
G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4 Representative of International Organizations |
Principal G visa holder may engage in part-time study. G dependents may engage in full-time study. |
|
G-5 Personal Employee of G Visa Holders |
May engage in part-time study. |
|
H-1A, H-1B, H-2A, H-2B, and H-3 Visa Holders |
May engage in part-time study while maintaining H visa status. |
|
H-4 Dependent of H Visa Holder |
May engage in full-or part-time study. |
|
I Representative of Foreign Information Media |
Principal I holder may engage in part-time study. Dependents are permitted to engage in full-time study. |
|
J-1 Exchange Visitor (Student) |
Must maintain full-time enrollment. May engage in part-time study only if authorized by RO of Designated Program Sponsor. |
|
J-1 Exchange Visitor (Short- term Scholar, Professor, Researcher, or Specialist) |
May engage in part-time study related to principal activity provided program can be completed within limitations of stay. |
|
J-1 Au Pair |
May enroll in "post secondary institutions" while maintaining J-1 status as an au pair. |
|
J-2 dependents of J-1 Visa Holder |
May engage in full-or part-time study. |
|
L-1 Intracompany Transferee and L-2 Dependents of L-1 Visa Holders |
L-1 may engage in part-time study. L-2 dependents may engage in full-time study. |
|
M-1 Vocational Student |
Must study full-time; part-time study only if authorized by DSO. |
|
M-2 dependents of M-1 Visa Holder |
May engage in full-or part-time study. |
|
NATO 1-6 Personnel |
May engage in full-or part-time study. |
|
O-1 Person of Extraordinary Ability and O-2 Accompanying Personnel |
May engage in part-time study while maintaining O status. |
|
O-3 Dependents of O-1/O-2 Visa Holder |
May engage in full-time study. |
|
P-1, P-2 and P-3 Visa Holders |
May engage in part-time study while maintaining P status. |
|
P-4 Dependent of P-1, P-2, P-3 Visa Holders |
May engage in full-time study. |
|
Q Participant in an International Cultural Exchange Program |
May engage in part-time study. |
|
R-1 Religious Worker |
May engage in full-time study. |
|
R-2 Dependent of R-1 Visa Holder |
May engage in full-time study. |
|
TN Trade Nafta |
May engage in part-time study. |
|
T-D Dependents of TN Visa Holder |
May engage in full-time study. |
Return to section 9.0 "International Tax Reporting"
Return to Appendix B
