You should apply for an F-1 Student Visa if your goal is to study English for more than 17.5 hours per week, and for longer than 3 months.

Obtaining an F-1 Student Visa
Apply for your F-1 Visa early. Because of new security procedures, the waiting period can be lengthy. To apply for an F-1 Student Visa from outside the United States, you need to do the following steps:

1. Application Process:

• Complete the On-line Application
• Complete the Sponsorship Information (Financial Certification) about who will pay for your stay in the United States. The required amount is between $1,300 and $1,450 per month consisting of : Tuition ($500 or $650) + Living Expenses ($800) = $1,300 or $1,450.
• Send copies of last three months bankstatements and a copy of your passport by email attachment to info@afint.com.
• Pay the I-901 Sevis fee of $200. AFInternational will send the SEVIS payment receipt along with your I-20 if you included the $200 SEVIS fee payment with your application fee. If you did not include the payment, go to https://www.fmjfee.com/index.html to pay online or to find out more information.
• Pay the DHL Express mail fee.

2. FORM I-20 Package: We will mail you the Form I-20 package containing the following:

• Form I-20 (which is the application for the F-1 student visa)
• Acceptance Letter
• Receipt for fees paid
• SEVIS fee I-901 receipt

3. Consulate Interview:

When you receive the Form I-20 Package, read the instructions and make sure that you have all the documents necessary ready.

Make an appointment at a U.S. embassy or consulate if required (see: Visa wait times.. Consider the interview a formal event. Business clothes are appropriate. Apply online for the I-160, as instructed. )
Take all required documents to the embassy or consulate:

• I-20 from A F International
• SEVIS I-901 payment receipt
• Receipt for payment of application fee
• Financial documents
• A F International letter of acceptance
• Confirmation sheet from the DS-160 form
• One 2x2 photograph

The F-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa. It is only issued to applicants who plan to return to their home country. You will need to prove to the visa officer that you plan to return to your country. Here are some suggestions.

• Be clear and specific, but do not memorize a speech. The officers want you to be honest.
• Take evidence that you plan to return home after your studies in the U.S., for example:
  • A letter from someone in a government position or business management who plans to offer you a job when you return
    Documents that show land ownership or a family business
  • If brother or sister studied in the U.S. and then returned home, a copy of their diploma and a letter from their employer stating that they returned home for employment. You can also bring their passport to show that they returned.
  • A letter from your employer stating that your job will be held for you while you are away and that English will be useful for your future employment with the company.
  • If close family members have important positions in the government, in education, or with private corporations, you can bring supporting documentation.
  • You should be ready to discuss your plans for the future. Be prepared to answer these two questions:
    "Why do you need to go to the United States to study English?"
    "Why did you choose to go to school in Los Angeles?"

4. Please let AFI College know how your Visa Interview went.

Entering the U.S. in F-1 Status
After you have your student visa, check it to verify all the information is correct, for example, the spelling of your name and your date of birth. Also verify that they have given you the correct visa classification.
When you travel, you should carry your immigration documents on your person— do not put them in your luggage! You will need to show them to the immigration officer. Here are the documents you should carry with you:

• Your passport
• Your I-20
• Your evidence of financial resources

If you are traveling by air, the flight attendant will give you a Customs Declaration Form and an I-94 Arrival-Departure Record Form. You must fill this out to give it to the immigration officer when you arrive. If you do not understand the form, ask the flight attendant for assistance.
Upon arrival, proceed to the area for entry inspection by the Department of Homeland Security (immigration). Have ready your passport, I-20, I-94 form, and Customs Declaration form (CF-6059).

You will be asked to state the reason you are entering the U.S. It is important that you tell the officer that you will be a student.
All visitors holding non-immigrant visas will be photographed digitally and have an index finger scan.
If the Homeland Security officer wants to verify your admission in A F International, he or she can call the A F International office at 213.381.6707 and speak to the DSO or PDSO.

Maintaining Your F-1 Status
Types of "Status"

• Initial Status: You have received the Form I-20 but have not yet reported to the school.
  On your first day of class, bring your F-1 Visa, I-94 card and your signed and stamped Form I-20. If you do not report to AFI College, your status will be terminated automatically in the government database system known as SEVIS.
• Active Status: You have reported to the school and presented all important documents. Your I-20 should be in Active Status for the majority of your time in the U.S. if you follow the rules listed below in "maintaining your status."
• Completed Status: Your studies in the U.S. are complete. You have returned home or transferred to another school.
• Canceled Status: You decided not to attend the school that issued the I-20 Form to you. When an I-20 is in Canceled Status, it may not be used to obtain an F-1 visa or for entry into the U.S.
• Transfer Pending: You have completed your studies at one school but have not yet reported to the school to which you are transferring. Students have 60 days from the last class date to transfer before the record goes to completed status. Students must report to their new school and begin study by the next available start date after leaving the initial institution.
• Terminated Status — Try to avoid this at all costs! You have violated your status as a student and are no longer an F-1 Student and you must leave the U.S. immediately or apply for Reinstatement to F-1 Status.
• Maintaining Your F-1 Status
  Your F-1 Visa gives you permission to enter the United States and maintaining your status gives you permission to stay here. You are permitted to stay in the U.S as long as you maintain your status for which you must obey the following rules:

You should read and understand everything on page 2 of your Form I-20, as this is the agreement you signed with the U.S. government and it explains your responsibilities as an F-1 student.
You are responsible, as our student, to inform us of all changes, updates, (address, names etc.) while you are here. We must, by law, report any changes or violations of status.
You must attend at least 80% of your classes at all times.
You must remain enrolled in at least 18 hours of class and cannot drop below full time status. REMEMBER: You are not allowed to work while in the U.S on a student visa.

Violations of Status
Most violations of status can be avoided by simply speaking to the official student advisor at the school (the person authorized by the government to sign your I-20) DSO before making any decisions about your course of study. It does not matter whether you violated your status on purpose or by accident; a violation means that your visa will be in Terminated Status.

The most common violations of status are:
1. Failure to enroll: This means that you did not report to the school on the appointed date. This can usually be avoided by speaking to the DSO before your arrival and asking to defer your attendance.

2. Failure to pursue a full course of study: Your attendance in your course is less than 85% (too many absences). This can usually be avoided by keeping track of your attendance and speaking to your DSO before taking time off.

3. Failure to meet deadlines: This means that you did not do something you were supposed to do within the time required. An example of this is not applying for a school transfer within the 60 days allowed. Again, you can avoid this violation by simply speaking to your DSO before making any changes.

4. Working without permission: This is obvious... You are not permitted to work, except under very particular circumstances, on an F-1 Visa. Before you even think about getting a job, speak to your DSO and see if it is permitted.

Reinstatement to F-1 Status
Reinstatement is an application procedure whereby a student who has lost his/her status (by Termination or Completion) asks to be given a second chance at maintaining status. This is not a simple process. It is often a long process and success is by no means guaranteed.

If your status is currently in Terminated or Completed status and you intend to continue your studies in the U.S., you should speak to a DSO immediately.

The content in this section is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Additional information on these topics is available at the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services web sites.

1. Application Process:

• Ensure that your current visa is valid for at least 4 weeks. Visa waivers do not qualify for a Change of Status.
• Complete the On-line Application and pay the application fee
• Complete the Sponsorship Information (Financial Certification) about who will pay for your stay in the United States. Send copies of last three months bankstatements and a copy of your passport by email attachment to info@afint.com.

2. I-20 Package: After receiving your application and Financial Certification, we will prepare your I-20 package containing Form I-20 (which is the application for the F-1 student visa), the Acceptance Letter, Letter of Support, and Receipt for application fee payment.

3. Complete Form I-539 online; collect all required documentation. Please contact us at 1 213 381 6707 if you have any questions and before you mail all documentation.

4. Mail all documentation, with required fees, to DHS, 24000 Avila Road, 2nd Floor, Room 2312, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 with request for a return receipt.