|
Visa status |
Principal
activity, enrollment in school |
Work
authorization |
Limitations
of stay |
Required
documentation if enrolled as a student |
|
F-1
Student,
a
program of Dept. of Homeland Security |
Full-time
enrollment in a degree program
-
Graduate: min. 9 credits
-
Dissertator :3 credits
-
Undergrad: min. 12 credits
- ESL:
min. 20 clock hrs
|
On-campus
w/o special authorization (max. 20 hrs/wk when school is in
session, up to 40 hrs/wk during summer and winter breaks, if
not enrolled.
Off-campus
with INS authorization or DSO's approval (for CPT) |
Duration of status
May apply to
change to any other non-immigrant status (if meets all the
requirements for that classification) |
- I-20
form
- I-94
form
- valid
passport
|
|
F-2
Spouse or
child of F-1 student |
Dependent,
no obligations
May enroll
in avocational/recreational course. May not pursue a degree
program or enroll full-time. May not enroll at UNT. |
May NOT
accept employment under any circumstances |
Duration of
status of F-1 spouse
May apply to
change to any other non-immigrant status (if meets all the
requirements for that classification) |
- valid
passport
- I-94
form
-
Dependent I-20
|
|
J-1
Student,
A program of
Department of State. |
Full-time
student
-
Graduate: min. 9 credit
-
Undergrad: min. 12 credits
|
On-campus
w/o special authorization (max. 20 hrs/wk when school is in
session, up to 40 hrs/wk during summer and winter breaks
Off-campus
with the approval of Responsible Officer of J sponsor. |
Duration of status
May apply to
change to other non-immigrant status IF NOT SUBJECT to the
2-year home rule (212(e))
Must obtain
waiver if subject to 212(e)
Change of
category within J-1 is NOT permitted: e.g. from student to
scholar |
-
DS-2019 form
- I-94
form
- valid
passport
|
|
J-1
Scholar,
A program of
Department of State |
Teaching,
lecturing, consulting or research
May take a
class on a part-time basis. May NOT enroll in a degree
program |
Permitted to
work as described on the DS-2019. |
36 months (a
6 months extension may be granted by Responsible Officer)
for Research Scholars and Professors.
6 months for
Short-Term Scholars (no extensions)
May change
to other non-immigrant status IF NOT SUBJECT to the
2-year home rule (212(e))
Must obtain
waiver is subject to 212(e)
Change of
category within J-1 is NOT permitted: e.g. from scholar to
student |
-
DS-2019
- I-94
form
- valid
passport
|
|
J-2
Spouse or
child of J-1 student or scholar |
Dependent,
no obligations
May enroll
part-time or full-time |
May work
with INS authorization only |
Duration of
status of J-1 spouse
May change
to other non-immigrant status IF NOT SUBJECT to the
2-year home rule (212(e)) |
- Valid
passport
- I-94
form
-
Dependent DS-2019
|
|
H-1B
Specialty
Occupation |
Work for
employer(s) approved by INS
May enroll
full or part-time as long as authorized employment is
maintained |
Only as
approved by immigration for the employer in the position
specified on the I-129 form |
Total
maximum of stay for 6 years (initially 3 yrs with option to
extend for 3 more yrs)
May apply to
change to any other non-immigrant status (if meets all the
requirements for that classification) |
-
Passport
- I-94
form
- H-1B
approval notification
|
|
H-4
Spouse and
child of H-1B worker |
Dependent,
no obligations
May enroll
full or part-time if meets all admission requirements |
May NOT
accept employment under any circumstances |
Duration of
status of H-1 principal
May change
to any other non-immigrant status (if meets all the
requirements for that classification) |
|
|
A-1/2
Diplomats
and government officials' family members |
May enroll
full or part-time if meets all admission requirements while
maintaining A-1/2 status |
May be
employed only by the foreign government entity |
Duration of
status
May change
to any other non-immigrant status if meets all the
requirements for that classification |
|
|
B-1/2
Visitor
(Tourist) |
Business or
pleasure
If intends
to enroll in a degree program, must leave the U.S. and
return in the appropriate visa status (usually F-1)
Change of
status may be approved in some cases. Must have F-1, or
other appropriate status before enrolling. |
Employment
NOT permitted under any circumstances
B-1 (visitor
for business) may receive reimbursement for expenses related
to the business |
Until
expiration of I-94 card; May be extended for 6 months with
USCIS approval |
|
|
B-2
Prospective
student (status noted on the visa and I-94 card) |
Intend to
enroll in a school full-time
Should
change to F-1 or J-1 status or return home. May not enroll
until change of status to appropriate status (usually F-1)
has been approved. |
Employment
NOT permitted under any circumstances |
Until
expiration of I-94 form |
|
|
E-1
trader,E-2 Investor, and their dependents |
Trader or
Investor -May enroll incident to status maintaining E
status. Dependents may enroll full or part-time. |
May be
employed only as authorized. Dependent spouse may apply to
USCIS for work authorization. Child dependent not allowed to
work. |
One year
validity, two year extensions indefinitely. Consult attorney
concerning change of status. Dependent children may apply to
change status to F-1.
|
|
|
L-1
Intra-company employee |
Work for
company as described in immigration authorization.
May enroll
part-time while maintaining L-1 status |
Work for
company as described in immigration authorization |
3 years plus
extensions (max. 7 years) |
|
|
L-2
Intra-company employee's dependents |
Dependents,
no obligation
May enroll
full or part-time while maintaining L-2 status |
L-2 spouse
may apply to USCIS for work authorization. L-2 child may not
work. |
Until
expiration of principal L-1's status
May apply to
change to any other non-immigrant status if meets all the
requirements for that classification |
|
|
R-1
Religious
Workers |
Employment
as described in the R petition and approved by immigration.
Enrollment
incident to status. |
Only as
approved by immigration (for the employer in the
position/event specified on the I-129 form) |
3 years plus
3 year extensions |
|
|
R-2
Spouse and
dependent children of R-1 |
May enroll
full or part-time while maintaining R-2 status |
Employment
NOT permitted under any circumstances |
For duration
of status of R-1
May apply to
change to any other non-immigrant status if meets all the
requirements for that classification |
|
