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Post Study Work Visa USA – How to Apply for F1 Visa?

by Anamika Sharma

Post study work visa (USA) is one of the main factors of interest for international students wishing to pursue an education in the USA. Most international students want to work in the US after the completion of their course. Some of the student visa options offered by the United States allow students to work there while studying as well as after the completion of their course for a limited duration. So, an international student with the desire to stay back in the US and work there for a while must gather information about the visa options available to them and know which one would be suitable for their study in USA and work post the completion of the study program. F1 visa is one such post study work visa (USA) that allows a student to stay for a maximum duration of 12 months in the US after his/her study whereas J1 visa and M1 student visa grant a grace period of 30 days to the visa holders to stay in the US.

Here, in this article, you will find details about post study work visa (USA). You will find information on what an international student can expect after the completion of their program in the US as per their visa rules and regulations.

Highlighted below are the US visas that allow international students to work in the USA post study.

Post Study Work Visa USA Types of Visas

As has already been mentioned above, F1 visa, M1 and J1 student visas give students the opportunity to stay in the US after finishing studies for a limited time. Given below are the complete details about the student visa types of the USA and their important features.

Types of US Student Visa

S.No. Type of Visa Particulars
1. F1 Visa
  • F1 visa (often seen by students as post study work visa) is for those non-immigrants who wish to go to the US for academic and language studies.
  • It remains valid until the student completes his/her course of study.
  • This visa allows students to work on campus while continuing their studies and sometimes off campus as well.
  • F1 visa holders can apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) after the completion of their studies.
  • Under OPT, the students can stay in the US for up to one year and apply for employment-authorized practical training in the field they graduated in.
  • This post study work visa (USA) allows students 60 days after the completion of their study and training to depart from the US.
2. M1 Visa
  • M1 visa is for those non-immigrants who wish to go to the USA for non-academic or vocational studies.
  • This visa is only valid for one year.
  • Under the provision of M1 visa, the students can apply for an extension of up to 3 years.
  • The M1 visa holders can work in the US for at least 6 months after the completion of their course as practical training.
  • Under M1 visa, students get 30 days after the completion of their course to depart from the US.
3. J1 Visa
  • J1 visa is for the candidates who visit the USA to participate in an educational or cultural exchange program with a US institution.
  • J1 visa holders are eligible to engage in exchange programs that allow them to teach, study, conduct research, work as trainee/intern, demonstrate special skills, work as foreign physician/camp counsellor, etc.
  • In order to obtain a J1 visa, the candidates need to obtain sponsorship from an appropriate J1 host and J1 sponsor.
  • The J1 visa holders can stay in the USA for a limited period of time that can range from a few weeks to several years.
  • Also, the candidates of J1 exchange visitor program are given a 30-day grace period after the completion of their program to prepare their return to the home country.

Now that you know the main features of the US student visas and know which one can be taken as post study work visa (USA), which is F1 visa, lets read the eligibility requirements of F1 visa and how to apply for it.Study Abroad College Admissions Login

Post Study Work Visa (USA) Requirements for F1 Visa

It has already been mentioned above that F1 visa allows students to apply for OPT and work up to a period of 1 year after completing their studies and apply their gained knowledge in the course of study in their practical training. Highlighted below are the eligibility requirements of F1 visa.

  • The international students applying for F1 visa must have taken admission into an academic educational program/language program at a school/college/university approved by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
  • The students must be enrolled as a regular, full-time candidate at a US educational institution.
  • The international students must be proficient in English language or be enrolled in a program that leads to English language proficiency.
  • Also, the candidates must have sufficient funds with them to support their stay in the US during the entire course of study.

Post Study Work Visa (USA) How to Apply for F1 Visa?

The aspiring students who wish to study full-time academic courses in the US and work afterwards for a short while in the USA must apply for F1 visa. One thing the international students must keep in mind that they should start their visa application only after securing admission to your desired US institution. Given below are the steps needed to apply for F1 visa, also considered by many students as post study work visa (USA).

  • The first step towards starting a visa application is to get admitted into a SEVP-approved US institution. The institution, then, sends Form I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for Non-immigrant Student Status) to the accepted student with his/her SEVIS-ID and other important information mentioned on it.
  • Now, the students need to pay the I-901 SEVIS fee online and take a printout of the confirmation page for future reference.
  • Then, apply for an international student visa through the nearest US embassy or consulate.
  • Now, fill in Form DS I-160 (Non-immigrant Visa Application Form) online and upload the required documents to complete the form and submit it. Take the printout of the confirmation page for future reference.
  • The students, now, need to schedule their visa interview with the nearest US embassy or consulate and pay the visa application fee of USD 160. The candidates are advised to keep the receipt of the payment of visa application fee.
  • As a final step, the students need to attend the visa interview on the designated day. Based on this interview, students are informed if they will receive the US student visa or not.
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