American universities and vocational colleges are some of the best quality and most challenging academic institutions in the world. Parents everywhere hope to provide their children with a world-class American education. However, the process of applying to an American school can differ greatly from what is generally required in most countries. Moreover, the visa process can carry pitfalls for eager students.

The first step in your American higher education journey is choosing a school. It is very important that parents help their child choose a school with a good reputation for academic rigor and successful post-graduate outlook. However, it is also critically important that the school chosen best fits the academic interests of their child. Faced with numerous applicants who meet their admissions standards, American universities will not admit a child who they feel is not sincerely interested in attending their particular institution.

The qualities valued by American schools and the reasoning behind admissions decisions often surprise foreign-born parents. The tradition of American education emphasizes the development an academic community on campus, and admissions officers are responsible for deciding what people fit well into that particular community. Thus, test scores and academic achievement are but one of many important criteria considered by admissions officers when making their admissions choices. A top American university may receive thousands of applications which meet and exceed the academic standards of the school. Faced with indistinguishable academic records, admissions officers often focus on extra-curricular criteria in making their admissions decision. Thus, it is important that your child’s application reflects character and contributions outside of the classroom that make your child stand out.

Once schools are chosen, you should become familiar with each school’s application process. Deadlines are critical! Plan on your child taking the SAT (or the ACT) and the TOEFL twice; once in the summer and once in the fall of their last year of school. Also, if possible, plan to visit the school and schedule an informational interview. This can be a wonderful way to distinguish your child from the competition. American immigration authorities frequently grant B-2 tourist visas explicitly for these “Prospective Students.” Your final application package, including quality essays authored by your child and checked by a native English speaker, should be completed by Christmas. Working with a higher education consultant during the application process can be extremely helpful to the proper planning and execution of your child’s college plan.

Once your child has been accepted to his or her school, the visa application process begins. You may or may not be able to do this work yourself. The school will provide a form to include in your visa petition to American immigration authorities, and school will also provide some guidance on the visa application process (for university education, students will apply for an F-1 visa; for vocational education, an M-1 visa). However, life under the student visa can raise complicated issues, as nonimmigrant student status carries restrictions relating to work, switching institutions, academic work load, online classes, and other common occurrences in university life. In some extreme cases, the subjects which students can study may also be limited by their visa. Finally, as graduation day approaches, students may be interested in changing their visa status to pursue work or other opportunities in America. This eventuality could raise important immigration issues. Thus, it is important throughout the visa process to be familiar with student visa regulations, be aware of the issues above, and to seek advice from an immigration lawyer whenever you have questions.

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