Note: Foreign Nationals who are U.S. Permanent Residents, on approved Refugee or Asylum status can study in the United States without any restrictions.
Visa
|
Classification |
Study Restrictions |
| A-1/A-2 | Diplomat | May engage in incidental study while maintaining valid A-1 or A-2 status |
| A-1/A-2 | Dependent of Diplomat | May engage in part or full time study. |
| A-3 | Employee of Diplomat and their dependents | May engage in incidental study while maintaining valid A-3 status. |
| B-1 | Visitor for temporary business | May not begin any “course of study” (neither full-time nor part-time) unless USCIS approves change of status to F, M or J student. Casual short-term classes, that are not the primary purpose of the alien’s presence in the United States, such as a single English language or craft, would not constitute a “course of study” |
| B-2 | Visitor for pleasure, tourism | Same restrictions as B-1 |
| WB/WT | Waiver Business/Waiver Tourist | Same restrictions as B-1 |
| C-1, C-2 & C-3 | Transit Visa | No study allowed |
| D-1 & D-2 | Crewman Visa | No study allowed |
| E-1, E-2 & E-3 | Treaty Trader, Treaty Investor | Principal E-1 or E-2 may engage in incidental study while maintaining an E status. Dependent of E nonimmigrant may engage in part or full-time study. |
| F-1 | Student | Must maintain full-time enrollment as defined by academic institution; part-time study, is only permitted with approval of Designated School Official (DSO) in accordance with regulations. |
| F-2 | Dependent of Student | F-2 spouses may not engage in full-time study; F-2 children may only engage in full-time study at the K-12 level. Part-time study that is vocational or recreational is permitted. F-2 dependents may not begin a “course of study” until a change to F-1, M-1, or J-1 status is approved. |
| G-1, G-2,G-3 & G-4 | International Organization – Representatives and their dependents. | Principal G nonimmigrant may engage in incidental study while maintaining G status. G dependents may engage in part or full-time study. |
| G-5 | Personal employees of G visa holders and their family. | May engage in incidental study while maintaining G-5 status. |
| H-1B, H-1C | Temporary Workers | May engage in incidental study while maintaining H-1 status. |
| H-2A, B | Temporary Seasonal Workers | May engage in incidental study while maintaining H-2 status. |
| H-3 | Trainee with United States company. | May engage in incidental study while maintaining H-3 status. |
| H-4 | Dependent of H visa holder. | May engage in full or part-time study. |
| I Visa | Journalist / Media | Principal I nonimmigrant may engage in incidental study while maintaining I visa status. Dependents are permitted to engage in part or full-time study. |
| J-1 Student | Exchange Visitor - Student | Must maintain full-time enrollment. May reduce course load below full-time only if authorized in advance and in writing by Responsible Officer of designated program sponsor, in accordance with DOS regulations. |
| J-1 Professor, Researcher, Specialist, Trainee or Alien Physician | Exchange Visitor - Scholar | May engage in incidental study while maintaining J-1 status. |
| J-1 Au-Pair | Exchange Visitor – Au-Pair | May enroll in “postsecondary intuitions” while maintaining J-1 status as an au pair, as required by J au pair regulations. |
| J-2 | Dependent of J-1 | May engage in full or part time study. |
| L-1 | Intra-company Transfer | May engage in incidental study while maintaining L-1 status |
| L-2 | Dependent of L-1 | May engage in full or part time study |
| M-1 | Vocational or Technical student. | Must study full-time; part-time study only if authorized by Designed School Official (DSO). |
| M-2 | Dependent of M-1 | May engage in full or part-time study. |
| NATO 1-7 | NATO workers, staff and family | May engage in part or full time study |
| O-1 | Aliens with Extraordinary ability | May engage in incidental study while maintaining O-1 status. |
| O-2 | Accompanying worker of an O-1 | May engage in incidental study while maintaining O-1 status. |
| O-3 | Dependent of O visa holder. | May engage in part or full time study. |
| P-1 | Athlete internationally recognized | May engage in incidental study while maintaining P-1 status. |
| P-2 | Artists or Entertainers | May engage in incidental study while maintaining P-2 status. |
| P-3 | Aliens providing essential support to P1 and P2 visa holders | May engage in incidental study while maintaining P-3 status. |
| P-4 | Dependent of P visa holder | May engage in part or full time study. |
| Q-1, Q-2 & Q-3 | Cultural Exchange Visitors | Principal Q visa holders may engage in incidental study. Dependents may engage in full or part-time study. |
| R-1 | Religious Worker | May engage in incidental study while maintaining R-1 status. |
| R-2 | Dependant of R-1 | May engage in part or full time study. |
| TN | NAFTA – Employee from Canada or Mexico on TN status. | May engage in incidental study while maintaining TN status. |
| TD | Dependent of TN status. | May engage in part or fulltime study. |
