State Department Visa Guidance: Visitor Visas Cover Only Short Recreational Classes, Student Visas Required for Degrees and Certificates
The U.S. Department of State's official visa guidance is explicit: travelers entering on a B visitor visa may take only short recreational courses that carry no academic credit, such as a two-day cooking class. Any course of study taken for a degree or certificate, however short, requires an F or M student visa.
Under the State Department's definitions, F visas cover students at universities and colleges, high schools, private elementary schools, seminaries, conservatories and other academic institutions, including language training programs. M visas cover students at vocational or other recognized nonacademic institutions, other than language training.
Travelers entering under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) likewise may not use their stay for academic study. A visitor who enters on a B visa and later decides to pursue a degree program must first apply to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to change status, and may not begin classes until the change is approved.
The State Department warns that misusing a visitor visa for study can jeopardize future visa eligibility. Anyone planning to study in the United States should confirm the nature of the course first, then apply for the student visa category that matches it.
(Source: U.S. Department of State)
Source: U.S. Department of State
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：美国国务院总部大楼（资料图）。 / Photo: The headquarters building of the U.S. Department of State (file photo).
