Studying at a Public School
A child may not study at a public elementary school with a nonimmigrant F-1 student visa. Study at a public high school with an F-1 visa is limited to one year, and full reimbursement for the total cost of the education must be confirmed ahead of time. Enrolling a child in public school while in visitor (B1/B2) status can result in the child's visa revocation and permanent visa ineligibility for the child's parents. Students attending private elementary and secondary schools are not affected by this law; they may study in the United States on F-1 visas. Students studying on derivative visas, such as F-2, J-2, H-4, or L-2, are also not affected.
There are certain restrictions on attending public school in the U.S. Persons who violate these restrictions may become ineligible for another visa for a period of five years. These restrictions went into effect December 1, 1996 as Section 625 of Public Law 104-208.
A child may not study at a public elementary school with a nonimmigrant F-1 student visa. Study at a public high school with an F-1 visa is limited to one year, and full reimbursement for the total cost of the education must be confirmed ahead of time. Enrolling a child in public school while in visitor (B1/B2) status can result in the child's visa revocation and permanent visa ineligibility for the child's parents. Students attending private elementary and secondary schools are not affected by this law; they may study in the United States on F-1 visas. Students studying on derivative visas, such as F-2, J-2, H-4, or L-2, are also not affected.
There are certain restrictions on attending public school in the U.S. Persons who violate these restrictions may become ineligible for another visa for a period of five years. These restrictions went into effect December 1, 1996 as Section 625 of Public Law 104-208.