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Compare Student Visa Categories

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The two most common visa categories for full-time study in the United States are F-1 student and J-1 exchange visitor. While most University students receive documentation for the F-1 visa, the J-1 visa is sometimes required by government sponsors. If your sponsor does not require the J-1 visa but you are still expecting to apply for the J-1 visa instead of the F-1 visa, we strongly recommend that you discuss this plan with your ISO Advisor before submitting your NSIF.

For either category, you will need a Certificate of Eligibility (F-1 I-20 or J-1 DS-2019) to apply for the appropriate visa. You will be asked to identify which document you are requesting when you complete your New Student Intake Forms (NSIF).

For additional information on comparing these visa categories, read the guidance below. You can also visit the US Department of State website.

F-1 students (Form I-20)

  • No residency requirements for changing status to another visa category in the future
  • Source of funding can come from any combination of sources
  • F-2 dependents are not eligible for employment or full-time study
  • Health insurance is not mandatory by government regulation, but is required by the University and is strongly recommended for all dependents
  • SEVIS Fee is required for initial I-20 (not required for dependents)
  • On-campus employment is automatically granted during the program
  • Off-campus employment can be recommended; Optional Practical Training (OPT) can allow students 12 months (and possibly an additional 24 months for students in the STEM Fields) work authorization related to the field of study.

J-1 students (Form DS-2019)

  • Potential 2-year home-residency requirement (for J-1 and dependents) before gaining eligibility to change or adjust visa status, including long term employment or permanent residency.
  • Source of funding: Eligibility for J-1 sponsorship in part depends on how the program will be financially supported. Most commonly, students qualify because they will receive funding support from their home government OR the majority of funding is from sources other than personal or family funds. Additionally, funding proof for the full duration of the academic program is required for DS-2019 issuance.
  • J-2 dependents are eligible to apply for work authorization, and may enroll in full or part-time study
  • Health insurance is mandatory for J-1 students and J-2 dependents
  • SEVIS Fee is required for initial DS-2019 (not required for dependents)
  • On-campus employment must be approved in advance by ISO or program sponsor
  • Off-campus employment: Academic Training can be granted for up to 18 months of work authorization (and a possible total of 36 months for Doctoral candidates), provided the work is related to the field of study and a job offer letter is available in advance

Studying at Rochester

Non-University sponsored categories

Review guidance for those studying through immigration sponsorship of another agency (like Fulbright), or for those interesting in studying in a different, non-student visa category.

Studying in non-sponsored categories

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