F-1 Student Visa

Legalixa is an award-winning immigration law firm in Istanbul, Turkey with an exceptional success rate in almost every legal matter we have ever handled. Our US immigration lawyers are prepared to file F-1 Student visa. You can track the status of an immigration application, petition, or request at USCIS website.

An F-1 student visa is issued to international students who are attending an academic program or English Language Program at a US college or university. F1 students must maintain the minimum course load for full-time student status. They can remain in the US for up to 60 days beyond the length of time it takes to complete their academic program unless they have applied and been approved to stay and work for a period of time under the OPT Program.

Our immigration lawyers represent our clients from application until they get F-1 Student visa. An English-speaking attorney will help you during this process. We have affiliated law firms in the USA and we will be able to support you while you are in the USA.

The F-1 Student visa is issued to individuals who wish to come to the U.S. to participate in an educational program. Public elementary schools do not qualify as educational programs that can be attended by the F-1 applicant. Please note that the prospective educational program must accept the F-1 applicant prior to applying for the F-1 visa.

In order to be eligible to apply for an F-1 student visa, the following conditions must be present:

The individual intends to stay in the USA for a specified period of time and plans to return to their home country upon completion of their studies in the USA
The applicant must be able to document possession of monetary savings to cover their expenses while in the USA Alternatively, they must be able to provide documentation/evidence as to the means by which their expenses will be covered while in the USA
The individual must be able to provide significant documentation pertaining to their economic and social ties to their home country, thus evidencing their non-immigrant intent.

Immigration officials at the USA port of entry will grant the F-1 student visa holder a “Duration of Status” authorized stay in the USA, enabling the individual to remain in the USA until the end of their program of studies. The individual will have an additional 60-day grace period at the end of their course of study.

At the end of their studies, some F-1 student visa holders are eligible to apply for a 12-month Optional Practical Training (“OPT”) in a field relevant to their area of education. ESL courses and short-term educational programs do not qualify for OPT.

F-1 students with a degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (“STEM” fields) who are employed by businesses enrolled in the E-Verify program have an additional 24 months of OPT entitlement.

This employment authorization will be extended until October 1 under “Cap-Gap” regulations, if the F-1 individual applies for an H-1B visa during the quota period prior to the expiration of their OPT authorization and requests a change of status to H-1B.

If the OPT expires before the H-1B application is filed but the student is still in his/her 60-day grace period, the student’s F-1 status will be extended but this extension does not apply to work authorization.

Spouses and children of the F-1 student visa holder are eligible to join the individual in the U.S. under the F-2 visa category.

Legalixa Immigration Law Firm provides assistance and advice regarding extension or change of status applications to and from F-1 and F-2 statuses within the USA.

Reach us for F-1 Student Visa

Since its foundation in 1992, Legalixa Immigration Law Firm has been the choice of numerous clients in Istanbul, Turkey. Thanks to its nationally recognized Turkish immigration law practice, our firm is now one of the leading immigration law firms in Istanbul, Turkey.

You may reach our immigration lawyers in the US for F-1 Student visa by sending an email or through our Contact page.