Office Location is Irving, Texas and Albuquerque, New Mexico
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Office Location is Irving, Texas and Albuquerque, New Mexico
At John W. Lawit, LLC, our Albuquerque student visa lawyers are dedicated to helping international students achieve their academic dreams in the United States. With decades of experience, we provide personalized support from securing admission to an SEVP-certified school to navigating the complexities of visa issuance.
Whether you’re pursuing an F-1, M-1, or J-1 visa, our team offers expert guidance to ensure a smooth process, addressing challenges like SEVIS compliance, consular interviews, and status maintenance with precision and care.
Partnering with an experienced Albuquerque student visa lawyer ensures your application process is seamless. Our team at John W. Lawit, LLC, specializes in guiding students through every step, from Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) registration to employment options.
The Form I-20 is a critical document issued by SEVP-certified schools, confirming your admission and eligibility for a student visa. The SEVIS fee must be paid to register.
Our Albuquerque student visa immigration attorneys ensure accurate SEVIS registration and I-20 compliance, minimizing delays or errors.
The consular interview is a pivotal step in securing your visa. We prepare you with mock interviews, document reviews, and strategies to address questions about your study plans, financial support, and intent to return home.
Our Albuquerque student visa lawyers can help you approach the interview with confidence.
Maintaining your visa status involves adhering to enrollment requirements and understanding employment options like on-campus employment, Curricular Practical Training (CPT), and Optional Practical Training (OPT). We provide guidance to ensure compliance and explore opportunities like the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) OPT extension for eligible students.
A student visa allows international students to study in the U.S. at accredited institutions. The F-1 visa is for academic studies at colleges, universities, or language programs.
The M-1 visa supports vocational or non-academic training, such as technical programs. The J-1 visa is for exchange visitors, including students in cultural or academic exchange programs.
Each visa type has specific requirements, such as enrollment in an SEVP-certified school and compliance with visa maintenance rules, which an Albuquerque student visa attorney can help you navigate.
The student visa process involves several steps, and each step requires careful attention to detail. Our Albuquerque student visa immigration lawyers streamline the process for you.
The initial and foundational step in the student visa application process involves securing admission to an SEVP-certified educational institution and subsequently obtaining a Form I-20. This critical document, issued by the approved school, officially confirms your acceptance into a program of study and verifies your eligibility for a student visa.
It serves as proof that you meet the academic and financial requirements for enrollment and is essential for all subsequent stages of the visa application, including paying the SEVIS fee and scheduling your consular interview.
After securing admission to an SEVP-certified institution and obtaining Form I-20, the next crucial step in the student visa application process is paying the SEVIS fee and scheduling your visa interview. The SEVIS fee is a mandatory payment that registers you in the U.S. government’s system for tracking international students and exchange visitors, ensuring compliance with immigration regulations.
Once the SEVIS fee is paid and processed, you can proceed with scheduling your consular interview at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate in your home country. This interview is a critical stage where a consular officer will review your application, ask questions about your study plans, financial support, and your intent to return home, and ultimately, this is the time when a consular officer decides on your visa issuance.
Following the payment of the SEVIS fee and the scheduling of your visa interview, the next critical stage in the student visa application process is the consular appointment itself, as this may lead to potential visa issuance. During this appointment at a U.S. embassy or consulate, a consular officer will meticulously review your application and conduct an interview to ascertain your eligibility for a student visa.
This involves asking questions about your academic intentions, how you plan to finance your studies, and your clear intent to return to your home country upon completing your program. If the consular officer is satisfied that you meet all the requirements and pose no immigration risk, your student visa will be issued, allowing you to proceed with your plans to study in the United States.
The final phase of your student visa journey involves successfully entering the United States and diligently maintaining your student status throughout your academic program. Upon arrival, you’ll go through customs and immigration, where a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer will review your documents, including your passport and Form I-20, and then officially admit you into the country.
Once admitted, it is crucial to understand that you must adhere to all visa regulations to maintain your legal status. This includes enrolling full-time, making satisfactory academic progress, updating personal and academic information in SEVIS, and understanding the limitations on employment.
Our Albuquerque student visa lawyers provide essential guidance on these post-arrival responsibilities, helping you navigate the complexities of U.S. immigration laws to ensure a smooth and successful academic experience.
After arriving in the U.S., students may explore work opportunities under strict guidelines. Our Albuquerque student visa lawyers can clarify your options.
On-campus employment offers F-1 students the opportunity to work part-time (up to 20 hours per week) during the academic year and full-time during breaks, typically within their school campus or an affiliated educational organization. CPT, on the other hand, allows F-1 students to gain practical experience directly related to their major area of study through internships, co-op programs, or other practical training, provided it is an integral part of their established curriculum.
On-campus work and CPT require authorization and compliance with specific regulations to maintain student visa status.
OPT is a temporary employment authorization that allows F-1 students to gain practical experience directly related to their major area of study, either during or after their academic program. While most F-1 students are eligible for 12 months of OPT, those who have earned a degree in a STEM field from an SEVP-certified school may be eligible for a 24-month STEM OPT extension.
This extension allows eligible students to continue their practical training for an additional period, further developing their skills and contributing to U.S. innovation. Both OPT and its STEM extension require authorization from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and strict adherence to immigration regulations.
Navigating the U.S. student visa process can present various challenges. At John W. Lawit, LLC, our Albuquerque student visa lawyers are adept at addressing these common issues to ensure a smooth application and maintenance of your status.
To apply for a student visa, you’ll need:
Our team ensures that all the documentary requirements you need are complete and accurate.
At John W. Lawit, LLC, our Albuquerque student visa lawyers offer unparalleled expertise and dedicated support for international students seeking to study in the U.S. With four decades of experience, we provide comprehensive, personalized guidance through every stage of the visa process, from initial admission to post-arrival status maintenance.
Our multilingual team is committed to making your academic dreams a reality, ensuring a smooth and confident journey.
With over 40 years of experience, our Albuquerque immigration lawyers have a proven track record of success in student visa cases.
From I-20 issuance to visa maintenance, we provide end-to-end guidance, including support for dependent visas (F-2/J-2).
Our multilingual team offers tailored advice to meet the unique needs of international students, ensuring clear communication and personalized support.
During your free case review, our Albuquerque student visa attorneys will assess your situation, outline a timeline, and comprehensively explain the next steps. We’ll address your questions about visas, employment, or dependent visas to set you on the path to success.
The F-1 visa is designed for academic studies at accredited colleges, universities, and language programs, allowing international students to pursue degrees or intensive language training. In contrast, the M-1 visa is specifically for vocational or non-academic training, such as technical programs or other recognized vocational courses.
Our F-1 and M-1 visa lawyers in Albuquerque can assist with the application for each respective program.
Yes, international students on an F-1 or M-1 visa can work in the U.S. under specific conditions, even though the primary purpose of their visa is academic study. F-1 students can typically have employment options, including on-campus employment, also known as the CPT, and the OPT, respectively.
In CPT, F1 students work directly related to their field of study, and it is part of their curriculum, while OPT means temporary employment directly related to their major area of study, often after program completion.
A STEM OPT extension may be available for eligible students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields. M-1 visa holders have more limited employment options, usually restricted to practical training after completing their vocational program.
All employment must comply with strict U.S. immigration regulations, and students should consult with their Designated School Official (DSO) or an experienced student immigration attorney in Albuquerque to ensure compliance.
Upon completing their studies or OPT, F-1 visa holders are typically granted a 60-day grace period, while M-1 visa holders receive a 30-day grace period. This period allows students to prepare for departure from the U.S., transfer to another academic program, or adjust their immigration status.
It is crucial to utilize this time to ensure compliance with U.S. immigration laws, as overstaying the grace period stated in the provisions of the US immigration regulations can lead to serious immigration consequences.
Yes, family members of student visa holders can often join them in the U.S. on dependent visas. F-1 student visa holders can have their spouse and unmarried children under 21 apply for F-2 dependent visas.
Similarly, J-1 exchange visitors can have their spouse and unmarried children under 21 apply for J-2 dependent visas. These dependent visas generally allow family members to reside in the U.S. with the primary visa holder for the duration of their program, though there are specific limitations on employment for F-2 dependents.
Ready to start your student visa journey? Contact John W. Lawit, LLC for expert guidance from an Albuquerque student visa lawyer.
We are registered members of both the New Mexico State Bar and the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).
Call us at (505) 555-1234 or fill out our confidential contact form to schedule your free consultation. We provide student visa help in Albuquerque so you can achieve your academic goals with confidence.
