There are a few eligibility requirements that one has to meet to qualify for a student visa.
Acceptance at a Government Approved School:
The applicant should have been admitted to an SEVP certified school. If the institution has not been previously certified it can apply for SEVP certification.
Bona Fide Student:
The student’s intention in coming to the US must truly be to study. The US government is on strict vigil for people who use a student visa as a means to gain entry to the US for other purposes. This is because of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, because some of the terrorists were in the US on student visas.
Full Course of Study:
For F-1 students enrolled in elementary, middle school or academic high school, a full course of study is dictated by the curriculum of the school. For F-1 undergraduate students at a college or university, a full course of study is generally 12 semester/quarter hours. For F-1 students enrolled in post graduate study, a full course is whatever the Designated School Officer certifies.
For M-1 students, a full course of study is 18 credit hours per semester if the program involves predominantly classroom work, and 22 credit hours per semester if the program involves lab or shop work.
Program Leading to the Attainment of a Specific Educational or Vocational Objective:
Students should be enrolled in a program that leads to the attainment of a specific educational or vocational objective. For example, a diploma or certificate can be the objective. Nevertheless, students could come to the US to take a semester of college courses as their “objective,” so long as their study is full-time. As mentioned earlier, students should also maintain a full-time course load.
Knowledge of English:
Students should know the English language well enough to pursue their studies. Students will be required to take the “TOEFL” or “Test of English as a Foreign Language”, but the officer reviewing their application may request further evidence of their English proficiency. For example, if they are required to attend an interview, they might be asked to demonstrate the proficiency by reading aloud, or writing out English dictation.
If the interviewing official feels that the applicant does not have sufficient English language proficiency to keep up with the rest of the course load, the visa application may be denied. In some cases, even when a school is willing to admit students without a strong knowledge of English, the US consulate may refuse to issue a student visa on the basis of insufficient language skills. Students may still be able to get through if the school they plan to attend is willing to provide English language tutoring or offers a course of studies in their native tongue.
Adequate Financial Resources:
Students must have sufficient funding available to pay for their entire course of study as well as their day to day living expenses while they are in the US. They should have enough cash on hand to cover all first-year expenses. In addition, they must be able to show a reliable source of money available to pay for subsequent years.
Some students will be permitted to work while in the US. For example, some F-1 students may be approved for part time work as a part of their studies.
Intent to Return to Home Country:
Student visas are meant to be temporary. Students must intend to return home when their studies are completed. Students can expect to be asked for evidence showing that when they go to the US on a student visa, they are leaving behind possessions, property, or family members as an incentive for their eventual return.