The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has changed its policy manual to make it easier to find and understand all the regulations regarding nonimmigrant students in F and M status. The new guidance consolidates the existing policies and clarifies issues of eligibility, school transfers, practical training and on-and off-campus employment. It provides more transparency and makes it easier for students, employers, and the universities to understand and abide by the regulations.
F status is for noncitizens who enter the United States as fulltime students at a college, university, seminary, conservatory, academic high school, elementary school, or other academic institution or in a language training program. The M classification is for students attending vocations or other recognized nonacademic programs.
