Admissions

1. You have been accepted for a full course of study by Wildwood Center for Health Evangelism. (We will send you a Form I-20M-N, certificate of eligibility for nonimmigrant (M1) student status for vocational students as proof.)
2. You have sufficient proficiency in English to pursue the intended course of study. (We will send you a letter confirming that you have sufficient English proficiency or that our school has made arrangements to teach you the English language.)
3. You have sufficient funds to cover the first year of study and access to sufficient funds to cover subsequent years. (You may establish this by presenting copies of your current bank account or bank account of an individual who serves as your sponsor.)
4. You have a permanent residence in your home country, which you do not intend to abandon. (You may establish this by presenting evidence of economic, social and/or family ties in your homeland sufficient to persuade you to leave the US upon completion of studies, which may include the following: ownership of property, proof of immediate family that is still based in your home country, such as your parents or siblings, evidence of mortgage payment assets, a car, or anything else that can show that your intention is to return to your home country.)
5. Intend to depart the US upon completion of the course of study. A letter from a future employer stating that you have a job offer when returning home would be helpful.
6. Your proposed education in the US would be useful in your homeland, and therefore encourage you to leave the US upon completion of studies.

The following are the necessary steps you will have to take to obtain an M1 visa:

1. Get your I-20 Form:Once Wildwood Center for Health Evangelism has determined that your student application is complete and you have been accepted into one of its courses, we will issue an I-20 form to enable you to apply for your student visa, which we will mail to your residential address stated in your student application.
2. Submit DS-160 Form Online:Your DS-160 form is the first form that you have to submit online. Access the online DS-160 here: Consular Electronic Application Center website. You should fill out all the necessary information that is relevant to your background, objectives in the US, and your program of study. After you have submitted the form you will receive a confirmation code and page which you will need later on for the interview and document file.
3. Pay Your Visa Application Fee:The visa application fee for the M1 visa varies depending where you live. Please check with your embassy to find out the amount. This is a non-refundable fee, which means that even if you do not get approved for the visa, you will not get the money back. Besides this fee, there might be additional fees depending on the embassy that you are applying from. If you are from specific countries, you might also have to pay a visa issuance or reciprocity fee, which is determined by your US embassy. Keep the receipts that prove you have paid all fees.
4. Pay the SEVIS I-901 Fee:When you receive your I-20, go to https://www.fmjfee.com to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee online. Print your receipt and keep it as proof of payment.
5. Schedule Your Interview at the Embassy:Following the fee payment, schedule an appointment at a US embassy or consulate in your home country to apply for an M1 visa. Applicants for student visas should generally apply at the US embassy or consulate with jurisdiction over their place of permanent residence. This is usually in your home country, the country in which you legally live. Although visa applicants may apply at any US consulate abroad, it may be more difficult to qualify for the visa outside the country of permanent residence. You will need to present the following documents:
   1. I-20 issued by CHE
   2. DS-160, online application for nonimmigrant visa completed and signed by each person needing a visa.
   3. Passport (must be valid for at least six months).
   4. Pictures, you can upload a digital photo that is:
      1. In color
      2. Sized such that the head is between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches (22 mm and 35 mm) or 50% and 69% of the image’s total height from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head.
      3. Taken within the last six months to reflect your current appearance.
      4. Taken in front of a plain white or off-white background.
      5. Taken with full-face view directly facing the camera.
      6. With a neutral facial expression and both eyes open.
      7. Taken in clothing that you normally wear on a daily basis.
   5. Financial documents to prove availability of funds to support your education (includes bank letter, sponsor’s letter, etc.).
   6. Proof of payment of SEVIS I-901 Fee (see above).
6. Attend Your Interview:Finally, attend your visa interview. Have all of your documents ready and be prepared to answer the interview questions. The M1 visa interview questions will revolve around your intentions for going to the US, your financial situation, and the ties to your home country. If you are bringing dependents—such as a spouse or children—you will also be asked to prove your relationship to them.

1. Do I Need to Have Proof of Health Insurance Policy?

   To obtain an M1 visa, you are not required to present proof of health insurance to the consulate officers. However, due to the high costs of healthcare in the United States, you are strongly encouraged to get yourself covered before taking the trip. Since medical costs are so much higher than in most other countries, your regular health insurance might not cover all your expenses, but only what is the maximum cost of a similar procedure in your own country. It is highly recommended to look into travel insurance that will cover such expenses.

2. What is the M1 Visa Processing Time?

   The processing time for the M1 visa is quite short. Processing happens right after your visa interview. There are cases when you get a response immediately after your visa interview ends, with the interviewer either congratulating you or stating the reasons for your denial. However, most of the time you should expect a processing time of a minimum of four weeks. Even if it takes more time, do not be alarmed. Most likely, the embassy had a heavy workload and could not respond quickly.

3. How Long Can I Stay in the US With an M1 Visa?

   The validity of your visa depends on how long your vocational education takes. You might be given a visa for the total duration of your studies or for a shorter time. However, your Form I-20 is only valid for one year. This means that you will have to get a new one each year. The M1 visa and the Form I-20 can be extended for a maximum of 3 years.

   If your visa is not valid for the entire duration of your studies, you will have to apply for an extension. Wildwood Center for Health Evangelism has its own in-house immigration lawyer who will help you file for an extension (please be aware that USCIS will charge you approximately $500 for extension applications).

4. Will I be Allowed to Work in the United States With an M1 Visa?

   The M1 visa allows some employment with restrictions. You are only allowed to work ON CAMPUS. In fact, your ability to work on-campus is “incident to status,” meaning that as long as you are maintaining proper M1 status (by attending classes full time and making good progress toward the completion of the course), you have general authorization to work on campus.

   For work anywhere else, you will need to seek special work permission from either your Designated Student Officer (DSO) or US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The maximum amount of time you are allowed to work is six months. To be allowed to work, you will need to get your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) or M1 Visa Work Permit. You can do so by filing out Form I-538, Certification by Designated School to USCIS. The form needs to be signed by your Designed School Official (DSO). In addition, you should also file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization. All the work you do, if your EAD is approved, should be related to your field of study.

   Possible types of off-campus employment include CPT (Curricular Practical Training), OPT (Optional Practical Training), as well as severe economic hardship work authorization.

   The 30-day grace period at the end of your permitted stay as an M1 student is to be used for getting ready to leave or enjoying a last few days touring the United States. No work or studying are allowed at this time. To do either would be considered a violation of your visa status which can have serious consequences.

5. M2 Dependents Visa

   If you have a spouse or unmarried children under the age of 21, they are allowed to come to the US with you with an M2 visa. The M2 visa allows the dependents to accompany the M1 visa holder in the US for the duration of the M1 holder’s studies. The M2 dependents receive individual I-20 forms, but as soon as the M1 visa expires, they are also required to return to their home country.

   M2 dependents are not allowed to work or study for degrees but they can enroll in recreational courses. Children can only complete their elementary and middle school (until 12th grade).

6. M1 Visa Limitations:

   As an M1 visa holder:

   • You may not transfer from one school to another without authorization from the USCIS. An M1 student may only transfer programs within the first six months of arriving in the United States. The only exception to this is if you are unable to stay at a school because of circumstances beyond your control, such as if a school closes.
   • You are not permitted to change your course of study.
   • You are not permitted to work legally off-campus without authorization from the USCIS.
   • You may not transfer over to F-1 status.
   • As an M1 student, you are prohibited from working while in the United States. However, you may participate in Optional Practical Training (OPT) after you complete your studies. Unlike with an F-1 status where you may work for 12-29 months under OPT, as an M1 student you may only work one month for every four months of study you have completed, and for no more than six months in total.