Foreign Students Visas Since September 11

Summary

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All non-immigrant students are issued visas from one of three categories, and are monitored and tracked by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The three visa categories used by foreign students are F visas for academic study; M visas for vocational study; and J visas for cultural exchange. The numbers admitted have more than doubled over the past two decades. In FY1979, the total number of foreign student and cultural exchange visas issued by DOS consular officers was 224,030 and comprised four per cent of all non-immigrant visas issued. In FY2005, DOS issued 565,790 visas to F, J, and M non-immigrants, making up 10.5 per cent of all non-immigrant visas issued. The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) aims to manage the tracking and monitoring of foreign students. Participation in the SEVIS programme is now mandatory for all higher education institutions enrolling foreign students.

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Foreign Students Visas Since September 11

THE MOST common visa for foreign students is the F-I visa. It is tailored for international students pursuing a fulltime academic education. The F-I student is generally admitted as a non-immigrant for th...

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