F1 to elementary or highschool

[paustin 1]

Does anyone ever come to the US to study high school or elementary school on F1? I heard you can only come here for a year only? can the student be here until graduation and possibly go to college?

[Harsh_77 718]

I have never heard of elementary or high school issue an I-20, but I could be wrong there might be school who has international advisor and who would issue an I-20.

[milimelo 4,500]

The OP will need to look for a private school that he will pay in full for - he will never get a student visa if any tax payers' money is used to cover his education. So, $15k-20k tuition plus room and board - are you independently wealthy to be able to afford this?

[aaron2020 11,651]

Does anyone ever come to the US to study high school or elementary school on F1? I heard you can only come here for a year only? can the student be here until graduation and possibly go to college?

Private elementary or private high school is possible.

Public school is limited to one year in high school & tuition is required. For a public high school, an F-1 is valid for only 12 months. A foreign student cannot attend for more than 12 months. Furthermore, the F1 student does not get to attend public school for free. The foreign student must pay tuition.

http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1269.html

Foreign Students (F-1) in Public Schools

Overview

There are limitations and requirements related to foreign (F-1) students attending public secondary/high schools (grades nine through twelve), under U.S. law. Student F-1 visas cannot be issued to persons seeking to enter the United States in order to attend a public primary/elementary school or a publicly funded adult education program.

Dependents of a nonimmigrant visa holder of any type, including F-1, are not prohibited from attendance at either a public primary school, an adult education program, or another public educational institution, as appropriate.

Requirements List

Secondary school attendance is limited to twelve months.

F-1 secondary school students are required to pay the school the full cost of education by repaying the school system for the full, unsubsidized, per capita cost of providing the education to him or her.

F-1 students are prohibited from attending public elementary schools or publicly-funded adult education programs.

Restrictions are for F-1 Students Only

The following restrictions apply to foreign students who are:

Students in F-1 status who need an I-20 to study in the United States;

Students in F-1 status in public schools who leave the United States and want to return to continue their studies; and

Students in F-1 status who want to transfer from a private school or program into a public school or program.

The following restrictions do not apply to foreign students who are:

Students in another visa status (i.e., J-2, L-1, M-2, or G-4) or

Students in F-1 status who attend private schools or private training or language programs.

How is the 12 month attendance limit applied?

The length of study indicated on the Form I-20 must be limited to 12 months. It should be noted that public secondary attendance in a status other than F-1 does not count against the 12-month limit. For example, if you were the child of an A-2 visa holder previously attending secondary school, this would not count toward the 12 month limit.

Students Must Pay the Costs of Secondary School Education

Foreign students who want to attend public secondary school (high school) must pay the full cost of education. This amount is listed under "tuition" on the student's Form I-20. If the Form I-20 does not include the cost of tuition, the student must have a notarized statement, signed by the designated school official (DSO) who signed the Form I-20, stating the full cost of tuition and that the student paid the tuition in full. The full, unsubsidized per capita (for each student) cost of education is the cost of providing education to each student in the school district where the public school is located. Costs normally range between $3000 and $10,000. The student secondary school cost reimbursement requirement is mandatory and school systems cannot waive the reimbursement requirement.

Can our school waive the tuition requirement for a high school student?

No. The law does not allow a student in F-1 status to attend public secondary school without paying tuition. The student must pay the full, unsubsidized per capita (for each student) cost of education in all cases.

Does the Section 625 of the law affect all foreign students?

No. The law affects only students in F-1 status, or applicants for F-1 visas, who plan to attend public schools or publicly funded adult education. The law does not affect other students, such as children of exchange visitors, diplomats or foreign workers.

How does the law affect F-1 students in private schools?

Students who attend private schools or privately funded adult education or language programs are not affected by the law. However, if a private school student wants to transfer to a public school or a publicly funded adult education or language program, he or she must follow the requirements of Section 625 of Public Law 104-208.

Can adult education programs issue I-20s if we charge full tuition?

The law prohibits the issuance of F-1 visas to attend publicly funded adult education programs. Publicly funded adult education is defined as: "Education, training or English as second language programs operated by, through, or for a local public school district, system, agency or authority, regardless of whether such a program charges fees or tuition." Programs under this definition cannot accept students in F-1 status, even if tuition is charged.

Can organizations or individuals sponsor an F-1 student to attend public secondary school?

Yes. Nothing in the law prevents an organization or an individual from paying the full tuition costs for the student. However, the payment cannot come from public funds. The student must still show that he or she has sufficient funds to cover education and living expenses while in the United States.

Can students come to live with U.S. citizen relatives while attending public school?

Foreign students may come to the U.S. to live with U.S. citizen relatives while attending public school. The child is limited to twelve months of study in secondary school (high school). The child may not study in elementary school. It should be noted however, that the student's status as a resident of the school district and the fact that the U.S. citizen has paid local property/school taxes is irrelevant and does not fulfill the cost reimbursement requirement of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) 214 (m). Therefore, the full tuition costs must be paid to the school or school district.

Additional Web Resources

For more information about studying in the U.S., you may also visit the student visa webpage and www.ice.gov/sevis.

References - U.S. Law

In 1996 Congress enacted a law, Section 625 of Public Law 104-208, establishing section 214(m) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, placing limitations on foreign students (F-1) attending publicly funded institutions.

Edited January 24, 2012 by aaron2020

[paustin 1]

This is so helpful Aaron, so if she will come here to study at private school, then she can continue until college if she desires for? Do you know what are the requirements for this type of education?

Private elementary or private high school is possible.

Public school is limited to one year in high school & tuition is required. For a public high school, an F-1 is valid for only 12 months. A foreign student cannot attend for more than 12 months. Furthermore, the F1 student does not get to attend public school for free. The foreign student must pay tuition.

http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1269.html

Foreign Students (F-1) in Public Schools

Overview

There are limitations and requirements related to foreign (F-1) students attending public secondary/high schools (grades nine through twelve), under U.S. law. Student F-1 visas cannot be issued to persons seeking to enter the United States in order to attend a public primary/elementary school or a publicly funded adult education program.

Dependents of a nonimmigrant visa holder of any type, including F-1, are not prohibited from attendance at either a public primary school, an adult education program, or another public educational institution, as appropriate.

Requirements List

Secondary school attendance is limited to twelve months.

F-1 secondary school students are required to pay the school the full cost of education by repaying the school system for the full, unsubsidized, per capita cost of providing the education to him or her.

F-1 students are prohibited from attending public elementary schools or publicly-funded adult education programs.

Restrictions are for F-1 Students Only

The following restrictions apply to foreign students who are:

Students in F-1 status who need an I-20 to study in the United States;

Students in F-1 status in public schools who leave the United States and want to return to continue their studies; and

Students in F-1 status who want to transfer from a private school or program into a public school or program.

The following restrictions do not apply to foreign students who are:

Students in another visa status (i.e., J-2, L-1, M-2, or G-4) or

Students in F-1 status who attend private schools or private training or language programs.

How is the 12 month attendance limit applied?

The length of study indicated on the Form I-20 must be limited to 12 months. It should be noted that public secondary attendance in a status other than F-1 does not count against the 12-month limit. For example, if you were the child of an A-2 visa holder previously attending secondary school, this would not count toward the 12 month limit.

Students Must Pay the Costs of Secondary School Education

Foreign students who want to attend public secondary school (high school) must pay the full cost of education. This amount is listed under "tuition" on the student's Form I-20. If the Form I-20 does not include the cost of tuition, the student must have a notarized statement, signed by the designated school official (DSO) who signed the Form I-20, stating the full cost of tuition and that the student paid the tuition in full. The full, unsubsidized per capita (for each student) cost of education is the cost of providing education to each student in the school district where the public school is located. Costs normally range between $3000 and $10,000. The student secondary school cost reimbursement requirement is mandatory and school systems cannot waive the reimbursement requirement.

Can our school waive the tuition requirement for a high school student?

No. The law does not allow a student in F-1 status to attend public secondary school without paying tuition. The student must pay the full, unsubsidized per capita (for each student) cost of education in all cases.

Does the Section 625 of the law affect all foreign students?

No. The law affects only students in F-1 status, or applicants for F-1 visas, who plan to attend public schools or publicly funded adult education. The law does not affect other students, such as children of exchange visitors, diplomats or foreign workers.

How does the law affect F-1 students in private schools?

Students who attend private schools or privately funded adult education or language programs are not affected by the law. However, if a private school student wants to transfer to a public school or a publicly funded adult education or language program, he or she must follow the requirements of Section 625 of Public Law 104-208.

Can adult education programs issue I-20s if we charge full tuition?

The law prohibits the issuance of F-1 visas to attend publicly funded adult education programs. Publicly funded adult education is defined as: "Education, training or English as second language programs operated by, through, or for a local public school district, system, agency or authority, regardless of whether such a program charges fees or tuition." Programs under this definition cannot accept students in F-1 status, even if tuition is charged.

Can organizations or individuals sponsor an F-1 student to attend public secondary school?

Yes. Nothing in the law prevents an organization or an individual from paying the full tuition costs for the student. However, the payment cannot come from public funds. The student must still show that he or she has sufficient funds to cover education and living expenses while in the United States.

Can students come to live with U.S. citizen relatives while attending public school?

Foreign students may come to the U.S. to live with U.S. citizen relatives while attending public school. The child is limited to twelve months of study in secondary school (high school). The child may not study in elementary school. It should be noted however, that the student's status as a resident of the school district and the fact that the U.S. citizen has paid local property/school taxes is irrelevant and does not fulfill the cost reimbursement requirement of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) 214 (m). Therefore, the full tuition costs must be paid to the school or school district.

Additional Web Resources

For more information about studying in the U.S., you may also visit the student visa webpage and www.ice.gov/sevis.

References - U.S. Law

In 1996 Congress enacted a law, Section 625 of Public Law 104-208, establishing section 214(m) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, placing limitations on foreign students (F-1) attending publicly funded institutions.

[aaron2020 11,651]

This is so helpful Aaron, so if she will come here to study at private school, then she can continue until college if she desires for? Do you know what are the requirements for this type of education?

Lots of $$$$$. The F-1 applicant must show he/she has the $$$$ for the entire course of study - this means tuition and cost of living. That's $20K to $40K per year. For 4 years of private high school, that's a freaking lot of money.

------------

Here are the basic requirements for an F-1 visa.

http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1268.html

Edited January 24, 2012 by aaron2020

[Nina~ 431]

I came here on an F1 for my highshcool. Tuition cost was around 7k per year for a public school in a wealthy neighborhood in California. My uncle took care of room & board plus other expenses. However, this was about 12 years ago. Contact your local school district about the fees, etc. The I-20 will be issued only 1 year at a time, and this can be renewed every year.

Edited for Spelling

Edited January 24, 2012 by Nina~

[paustin 1]

Nina, are you saying that it can be renewed every year in the US or my niece has to go back to her country and reapply for F1 visa? I certainly can provide her room and board and other expenses as well so she'll need to worry is to get good grades and pay for tuition lol.

I came here on an F1 for my highshcool. Tuition cost was around 7k per year for a public school in a wealthy neighborhood in California. My uncle took care of room & board plus other expenses. However, this was about 12 years ago. Contact your local school district about the fees, etc. The I-20 will be issued only 1 year at a time, and this can be renewed every year.

Edited for Spelling

[Nina~ 431]

Nina, are you saying that it can be renewed every year in the US or my niece has to go back to her country and reapply for F1 visa? I certainly can provide her room and board and other expenses as well so she'll need to worry is to get good grades and pay for tuition lol.

Her I-20 can be renewed every year and that is all she needs to maintain a legal status in the US. Once she gets to college, they will typically issue an I-20 for the duration of her studies (i.e 4 years for a bachelors, 2 years for a Masters or Associates). She does not need to leave the country to renew her I-20. However if she leaves the country on an expired F1, she will have to reapply for a new F1 to enter the country.