moving to the states

Hi Steph,

Welcome to Expat.com

Thank you

Maximilien
Expat-blog Team

To get a student visa you first have to be accepted to a university. The university should also give you an advisor to help you with getting a visa. My friend from the KSA came to study and our university helped her get a work visa after graduation.

okay thank you, but i want to do online studies so i can work
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It is extremely unlikely you are going to find a SEVIS approve school that will provide you with an I-20 to study 'online.' (refer to this site for a list http://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/school-search/) ICE/DHS approves select schools for the F-1 and J-1 visas and ICE strictly monitors them for compliance - and attendance is a requirement which would be very hard to monitor online.

It sounds like you want to work more than study - please take a look at this visa program - http://j1visa.state.gov/

I have to warn you though. There are a couple people who I have know that were on this type of visa and it was not what they expected - rigid schedule and strong oversight by the school.

Unlike other types of visas USCIS has very little to do with SEVIS, I-20s, F1 and J1 visas. ICE (Immigrations and Customs Enforcement is the regulating authority in this case.

thanks very much, ill do some research and see which online schools will help with a visa, and allow me to work... do you know any off hand i can contact?
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hi, thank you for the info... i do want to study, but online, as ill need to work to make some sort of income? id like to do horse or vet studies.... ive heard a few horror stories with visa ect.. 
Steph
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You need to refer to the list I gave you. I do not know of any schools that are approved for online study and I doubt you will find any.

Also be prepared to fork over a lot of money to get a F1 or J1 visa. When I worked for CBP the people getting these types of visas generally came from families that had a lot of money and normally were from countries that qualified for the VWP (as a tourist). That is not to say this was the case always - do not get me wrong or let me discourage you.

You need to prove financial means up front (large sum of money) which will determine the length of your I-20, which can be extended by the school month by month once you arrive. Generally speaking, they look for financial means of $2,800USD a month, in a bank account. So if you want an I-20 for 6 month, you will need to show a lump sum of money in a bank account or multiple accounts adding up to $16,800USD, not including tuition. This figure is an estimate. The school itself will tell you what you need.

wow.... thats alot of cash! i have gotten intouch with a lawyer, whom i HOPE will help me, as my partner is on an O1 in LA and im planing to go over in Feb...
ARG sounds really hard... and i hope i get this right!

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