1.Overview1.概述The United States welcomes foreign citizens who come to the United States to study. Before applying for a visa, all student visa applicants are required to be accepted and approved by their school or program. Once accepted, educational institutions will provide each applicant the necessary approval documentation to be submitted when applying for a student visa.
美国政府热诚欢迎外国公民赴美求学。申请人必须首先被美国的学校或项目录取，然后才能申请学生签证。一旦录取，美国教育机构就会为每位申请人提供申请学生签证所需的批准文件。2.Visa Descriptions and Qualifications2.签证说明和申请条件F-1 Visa
F-1签证
This is the most common type of student visa. If you wish to engage in academic studies in the United States at an approved school, such as an accredited U.S. college or university, private secondary school, or approved English language program then you need an F-1 visa.
这是最常见的学生签证类型。如果您希望在获得美国政府承认的学校（包括获得认证的美国大学或学院、私立中学或获得批准的英语学习项目等等）就读，应申请F-1签证。
M-1 Visa
M-1签证
If you plan to engage in non-academic or vocational study or training at a U.S. institution then you need an M-1 visa.
如果您希望在美国的非学术或职业教育机构进行学习或培训，应申请M-1签证。3.U.S. Public Schools
3.美国公立学校
U.S. law does not permit foreign students to attend public elementary school (kindergarten to 8th grade) or a publicly funded adult education program. Hence, F-1 visas cannot be issued for study at such schools.
根据美国法律，外国学生不得进入公立小学（从幼儿园到八年级）或政府资助的成人教育项目就读。因此，F-1签证不适用于此类学校。
An F-1 visa can be issued for attendance at a public secondary school (grades 9 to 12), but the student is limited to a maximum of 12 months at the school. The school must also indicate on the Form I-20 that the student has paid the unsubsidized cost of the education and the amount submitted by the student for that purpose.
准备在公立中学（从九年级到十二年级）就读的申请人可以申请F-1签证，但外国学生在学校学习的时间不得超过12个月。此外，学校还必须在I-20表上标注学生已缴纳教育费用而未接受任何资助，同时说明缴费金额。
Note: Holders of A, E, F-2, G, H-4, J-2, L-2, M-2 or other derivative nonimmigrant visas may enroll in public elementary and secondary schools.
注意： A类、E类、F-2类、G类、H-4类、J-2类、L-2类、M-2类或其他衍生非移民签证持有人可以进入公立小学和中学就读。4.When to Apply4.何时申请
120-day rule: Please note that student (F and M) visas for new students can be issued up to 120 days in advance of the start date for a course of study.120天规定：请注意，新生的学生签证（F和M）的签发日期不会早于开学日期前120天。
30-day rule: All recipients of an F or M student visa should be aware that Department of Homeland Security regulations require all initial or beginning students enter the US 30 days or less in advance of the program start/report date as shown on the Form I-20. Visa holders traveling to the US before this date may be denied entry at the port of entry. Please consider this date carefully when making your travel plans to the United States. If your program start date specified on the I-20 is already past or you will be unable to meet that date, please request your school to change the program start date in the SEVIS system.
30天规定：所有获得F或M学生签证的人请注意，美国国土安全部的法规规定所有新生只能在I-20表格上所列的课程报到日之前30天内才会被准许入境美国。在规定期间前提早赴美的签注证持有人有可能会在入境口岸被拒绝入境。在您安排行程前往美国时，请慎重考虑该日期。若您I-20上记载的课程开始日已经过期，或您将无法在该日期前到达美国，请要求您的学校或主办单位在SEVIS系统里更改该日期。
Please note that the 120-day and 30-day rules do not apply to continuing students. Continuing students may apply for a new visa at any time, as long as they have been maintaining status in the United States and their SEVIS records are current. Continuing students may also enter the U.S. at any time before their classes/programs start.
请注意，120天及30天的规定不适用于继续就读的学生。续读生可以在任何时期申请新的签证，只要他们一直维持在美国的身份并且被登录在SEVIS系统里的记录是有效的即可。续读生也可以在下一段课程或计划开始前的任何时期入境美国
5.Application Items5.申请材料
To apply for an F or M visa, you must pay your $160 application fee and submit the following:如需申请F类或M类签证，应缴纳160美元申请费并提交下列材料：
A passport valid for travel to the United States with a validity date at least six months beyond your intended period of stay in the United States (unless country-specific agreements provide exemptions). If more than one person is included in your passport, each person desiring a visa must submit an application.
前往美国旅行的有效护照，有效期需超出在美预定停留期至少六个月（享受豁免的特殊协议国除外）。如果护照中包含的人数多于一人，则每个签证申请人都需要提交单独的申请。
One 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm) photograph taken within the last six months.
一张在最近六个月内拍摄的2英寸x2英寸（5.1厘米x5.1厘米）照片。
If a visa is issued, there may be an additional visa issuance reciprocity fee, depending on your nationality.
如果签证获发，可能还需缴纳一笔签证互惠费，具体情况视申请人的国籍而定。
An approved original signed Form I-20 from your U.S. school or program.
美国学校或项目提供的I-20表。
In addition to these items, you must present an interview appointment letter confirming that you booked an appointment through this service. You may also bring whatever supporting documents you believe support the information provided to the consular officer.
除上述材料以外，申请人还应出示面谈预约单，证明您已从这一服务渠道预约面谈。您还可以向签证官提供其他支持性文件。6.How to Apply6.如何申请
Step 1
第1步
Complete the Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application (DS-160) form.
完成非移民签证电子申请表(DS-160)。
Step 2
第2步
Pay the visa application fee.
缴纳签证申请费。
Step 3
第3步
Schedule your appointment on this web page. You need the following three pieces of information in order to schedule your appointment:
在本页面预约面谈。要预约面谈，需提供以下三条信息：
Your passport number.
护照号码
The receipt number from your Visa Fee receipt.
签证申请缴费收据上的编号
The ten digit barcode number from your DS-160 confirmation page.
DS-160确认页上的十位条形码编号
Step 4
第4步
Visit the U.S. Embassy or Consulate General on the date and time of your visa interview. You must bring a printed copy of your appointment letter, your DS-160 confirmation page, one photograph taken within the last six months, and your current and all old passports.. Applications without all of these items will not be accepted.
请按照约定的时间到使/领事馆进行面谈。请随身携带一份预约单打印件、DS-160确认页打印件、一张最近六个月内的近照以及所有新旧护照。如缺少上述任何材料，申请将不予受理。7.Supporting Documents7.支持性文件Supporting documents are only one of many factors a consular officer will consider in your interview. Consular officers look at each application individually and consider professional, social, cultural, and other factors during adjudication. Consular officers may look at your specific intentions, family situation, and your long-range plans and prospects within your country of residence. Each case is examined individually and is accorded every consideration under the law.支持性文件仅是签证官在面谈时需要考虑的众多因素之一。签证官将综合职业、社会、文化和其他因素，根据每位申请人的具体情况进行相应的分析和判断。签证官需要权衡申请人的赴美意图、家庭背景、在原居住国的长期规划等各方面信息。每一个签证申请都将视为独立个案处理，并依据法律给予充分的考虑。
Caution: Do not present false documents. Fraud or misrepresentation can result in permanent visa ineligibility. If confidentiality is a concern, you should bring your documents to the Embassy or Consulate General in a sealed envelope. The Embassy or Consulate General will not make your information available to anyone and will respect the confidentiality of your information.
注意：请勿使用虚假材料。欺骗或歪曲事实可能导致永久拒签。为保护个人隐私，申请人应将材料密封带入使/领事馆。使/领事馆秉承信息保密原则，不会向任何人公开申请人的材料内容。
You should bring the following documents to your interview:
请在面谈时携带下列材料：
Documents demonstrating strong financial, social, and family ties to your home country that will compel you to return to your country after your program of study in the United States ends.
表明在经济、社会、家庭等各方面具有牢固约束力的文件，证明您在完成美国的学业后会如期回国。
Financial and any other documents you believe will support your application and which give credible evidence that you have enough readily-available funds to meet all expenses for the first year of study and that you have access to funds sufficient to cover all expenses while you remain in the United States. M-1 applicants must demonstrate the ability to pay all tuition and living costs for the entire period of their intended stay.
您认为可以作为申请支持材料的资金证明和任何其他文件：证明您有充足的资金支付第一学年的所有开销，并且能够为在美停留期间的所有剩余开销找到足够的资金来源。M-1签证申请人必须证明其有能力支付在美停留期间的所有学费和生活费。
Photocopies of bank statements will not be accepted unless you can also show original copies of bank statements or original bank books.
我们不接受银行对账单的影印本，除非您能同时出示银行对账单原件或银行存折原件。
If you are financially sponsored by another person, bring proof of your relationship to the sponsor (such as your birth certificate), the sponsor's most recent original tax forms and the sponsor's bank books and/or fixed deposit certificates.
如果您有资助人，请携带您与资助人的关系证明（例如您的出生证明），资助人最近的纳税申报表原件、银行存折和/或定期存款证明。
Academic documents that show scholastic preparation. Useful documents include school transcripts (original copies are preferred) with grades, public examination certificates (A-levels, etc.), standardized test scores (SAT, TOEFL, etc.), and diplomas.
能够证明学术准备情况的学术性文件： 带有评分/评级的学校成绩单（最好使用原件）、公共考试证书（A-levels等）、标准化考试分数（SAT、TOEFL等）以及毕业文凭。
Research/study plans with detailed information about your planned studies or research in the United States, including the name and e-mail address of your advising professor and/or the head of your department in the United States. Please click here for a sample research proposal / study plan.
赴美研究/学习计划及相关的详细信息，其中包括美国学校的导师和/或系主任的姓名及电子邮箱地址。请点击此处获取研究/学习计划范本。
A resume/CV (in English) that provides detailed information about your past academic and professional experience, including a complete list of all publications to which you have contributed. Please click here for a sample resume.
一份详细介绍以往学术和专业经验的简历（英语版），其中包括投过稿的出版物完整清单。请点击此处获取简历范本。
Official transcripts covering coursework at U.S. institutions (for returning students).
美国学校或项目提供的I-20签名原件（针对返签学生）。
An advisors biography, CV, or webpage printout (for graduate students who have already been assigned an advising professor at their U.S. institution).
导师的个人简介、简历或打印网页（针对所在美国教育机构已为其指定导师的研究生）。
8.Dependents
8.家属Spouses and/or unmarried children under the age of 21 who wish to accompany or join the principal visa holder in the United States for the duration of his or her stay require derivative F or M visas. There is no derivative visa for the parents of F or M holders.
如果配偶和/或21岁以下未婚子女希望在签证主申请人留美期间前去陪伴或团聚，应申请F类或M类衍生签证。我们目前尚未推出针对F类或M类签证持有人父母的衍生签证。
Family members who do not intend to reside in the United States with the principal visa holder, but wish to visit for vacations only, may be eligible to apply for visitor (B-2) visas.
如果家属没有与签证主申请人一起在美国居住生活的计划，只是希望利用假期探访，也可以申请针对游客的(B-2)签证。
Spouses and dependents may not work in the United States on a derivative F or M visa. If your spouse/child seeks employment, the spouse must obtain the appropriate work visa.
配偶和家属不得以F类或M类衍生签证的身份在美国工作。如果您的配偶/子女希望在美国工作，必须申请相应的工作签证。
Supporting Documents for Dependents
针对家属的支持性文件
Applicants with dependents must also provide:
有家属陪同的申请人还需提供下列材料：
Proof of the student's relationship to his or her spouse and/or child (e.g., marriage and birth certificates).
申请人与其配偶和/或子女的关系证明（例如结婚证和出生证明）
It is preferred that families apply for their visas at the same time, but if the spouse and/or child must apply separately at a later time, they should bring a copy of the student visa holder's passport and visa, along with all other required documents.
我们建议家庭成员同时申请签证，如果配偶和/或子女出于各种理由必须在以后单独申请，则家属届时应携带学生签证持有人的护照和签证复印件以及所有其他必要文件
9.Other Information
9.其他信息Optional Practical Training (OPT)
选择性实习(OPT)
F-1 visa holders may be eligible for up to 12 months of optional practical training following completion of all course requirements for graduation (not including thesis or equivalent), or after completion of all requirements. OPT is separate from a student's academic work, and time for OPT will not normally be reflected during the student's academic program or in the completed study date. Students applying for an F visa to do OPT may present an I-20 with an original end of study date that may have passed. However, these I-20s must be annotated by the designated school official to reflect approval of an OPT program that extends beyond the end of the regular period of study. In addition, the student must have proof that USCIS has approved their practical training program or that an application is pending, either in the form of an approved Employment Authorization Card or a Form I-797 indicating that s/he has a pending application for an OPT program.
F-1签证持有人在完成毕业的所有课程要求（不包括毕业论文或同类规定）或完成所有要求后，可以申请12个月以内的选择性实习。OPT与学生的学业是相互分离的，OPT时间通常不会反映在学生的课程或学习安排中。学生为OPT申请F类签证时，可出示其I-20表，而其上指明的原学习结束时间可能已过期。但是，上述I-20表必须由学校指定管理人员标注相关内容，表明学校同意学生参加超出常规学习周期截止时间的OPT项目。此外，该学生还必须提交材料来证明USCIS已批准其实习项目或正在申请，出示工作许可证(Employment Authorization Card)或标注他/她正在申请OPT项目的I-797表均可。
Validity of Student Visas After a Break in Studies
学习中断后学生签证的有效性
Students who are away fromes for more than five months must apply for and receive a new F-1 or M-1 student visa to return to school following travel abroad.
如果学生在美国境外停留时间或停课时间超过五个月，则返校时必须重新申请F-1或M-1学生签证。
Students within the United States
在美国境内的学生
A student (F-1 or M-1) may lose that status if they do not resume studies within five months of the date of transferring schools or programs, under immigration law. If a student loses status, unless USCIS reinstates the student's status, the student's F or M visa would also be invalid for future travel returning to the United States.
根据美国移民法，如果学生（F-1或M-1）在转校或转项目后五个月内还未重新开始上课，将丧失其身份。一旦丧失身份，除非USCIS予以恢复，否则学生的F类或M类签证也会失效，从而无法重返美国。
Students - Returning to the United States from Travel Abroad
学生在离境之后重返美国
Students who leave the United States for a break in studies of five months or more may lose their F-1 or M-1 status unless their activities overseas are related to their course of study. In advance of travel, students may want to check with their designated school official if there is a question about whether their activity is related to their course of study.
如果学生中断学习离开美国的时间超过五个月以上，将丧失其F-1或M-1签证身份，除非其海外活动与课业相关。出发前，学生们最好事先与学校的指定管理人员沟通，确定其海外活动是否与课业相关。
When the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) immigration inspector at port of entry is presented a previously used, unexpired F-1 or M-1 visa by a returning student who has been outside the United States and out of student status for more than five months, a CBP immigration inspector may find the student inadmissible for not possessing a valid nonimmigrant visa. CBP may also cancel the visa after granting the student permission to withdraw the application for admission. Therefore, it is prudent for students to apply for new visas at an Embassy or Consulate General abroad prior to traveling to the United States to return to their studies after an absence of more than five months that is not related to their course of study.
如果返校学生在入境口岸向美国海关与边境保护局(CBP)边检员出示仍在使用期内的F-1或M-1签证，而事实上其中断学习离开美国的时间已经超过五个月，CBP边检员将以缺乏有效非移民签证为理由拒绝该学生入境。与此同时，CBP还会要求取消其入境申请并注销其签证。因此，为谨慎起见，如果学生离开美国从事非课业相关活动的时间超过五个月，在准备返校之前最好到使/领事馆申请新签证。
