April 12, 2010 | In: 范毅禹律师
The F-1 Student Visa/F-1学习签证
The majority of foreign nationals coming to the United States to study do so under an F-1 student visa. Once accepted to an American institution, a difficult enough task in itself, the student can begin the process of obtaining a visa.
来美国留学的大部分学生都用F-1签证。留学生一旦被美国学校接纳（接纳地步就是过程中最难的任务），然后就可以开始办申请F-1签证的步骤。
Visa Application
签证申请表
The most important document in the visa process is called a form I-20, also called a SEVIS form I-20. SEVIS is an acronym for the electronic system that the United States government uses to manage data about F-1 students in the United States. This form is provided by the student’s school, and will likely be mailed to the student along with a letter of acceptance. The form is arranged for by the school’s Designated School Official, or DSO, who is responsible for managing F-1 students’ affairs. The DSO will be a very important person for the duration of the student’s academic life in America.
签证过程中最重要的文件叫做I-20，也叫做SEVIS I-20。SEVIS是一个缩略词，指的是美国政府管理关于F-1留学生的信息的电子系统。I-20是美国学校提供的，应该是与学生的入学邀请信一起寄的。表格是由学校的“特指学校官员”（DSO）安排的，DSO负责学校所有F-1留学生的事情。在学生的美国教育生活其中，DSO是一个特别关键的人物。
Once they have their I-20, the student should arrange for an interview at the appropriate U.S. consulate. The student will bring a number of standard forms, including the I-20. There will also be a number of fees to pay. However, the consular officer will be most interested in the evidence the student brings to support her case. First of all, since the F-1 visa is not an immigrant visa, the student needs to show evidence that she intends to return home. This can be complicated. While students may indeed seek an American education to find American employment, and students frequently change their student visa to a work visa upon graduation, at the application stage students should clearly state that they are seeking an American degree to pursue opportunities in their home country. Also, because the F-1 visa does not allow a student to work for full-time wages, the student needs to show evidence that she has enough financial resources available for her studies in America. Other evidence is also required, such as evidence of English proficiency (unless, of course, the object of the study abroad is language studies). If everything is in order, the officer should stamp a visa into the student’s passport. 持有了SEVIS I-20之后，学生应该准备在恰当的美国领事馆作面谈。学生要带一些标准的文件，包括SEVIS I-20。学生也会要付费用。其实，面试官最看重是学生支持其案子所带来的证据。首先，因为F-1签证不是移民签证，所以学生要证明她想要回国。对学生来说，作证明有些复杂。虽然很多学生是因为想要在美国就业才去美国读书，而学生毕业后经常可以把F-1签证变为工作签证，但是在申请签证这地步中学生应该清楚地表示她之所以追求美国文凭是为了追求祖国的机会。另外，因为F-1签证不允许学生拿到全工资，学生得出证据表示其金融资源足够支持其美国教育。其他的证据也需要，比如，英文精通水平（除非学生留学的目的是语言学习）。如果一切齐全，官员就会在护照上盖章。
Staying Legal
持有合法状态
Once in America and studying, the student must maintain her legal status. Typically, a student is in good status if she is maintaining normal progress towards completing a course of study. However, certain actions can put the student’s legal status in jeopardy. First, the student must maintain a full time course load. Only DSO can approve less than a full-time course load, and only for specified reasons such as academic or medical difficulties. Second, students can only accept certain kinds of employment while in the United States. On-campus jobs present no difficult problems, but a student’s off-campus jobs options are very limited. Off-campus jobs must meet the definition of ‘practical training’, which means the employment must be directly related to the student’s course of study. The rules surrounding practical training are complicated, but engaging in practical training is very important for those students who hope to remain in the United States to work after graduation. Finally, after graduation a student must be sure that she does not overstay her grace period or engage in work or other activities not authorized by her visa. In all cases, maintaining a good relationship with your DSO can help ensure you don’t do anything to jeopardize your legal status.
到了美国之后，学生必须要持有合法状态。一般来说，只要学生在教育项目中保持正常进度持有合法状态。其实，学生的几个行为可以对其合法状态造成危难。第一，学生必须要保持全职课程。只有DSO有权利在几个特指情况下批准低于全职的课程，比如，因为教育困难或者医疗情况。第二，学生在美国国内只允许接受特指种类工作。接收校园内的工作不会导致重要问题，可是接受在校外的工作能力特有限制。校外的工作必须要达到‘实践培训’的法律定义，这就是说工作需要和课程联关。关于实践培训的规则比较复杂，可是接收实践训练的工作对那些想要毕业后留在美国工作的学生特别重要。最后，学生毕业后得注意签证的宽限期而不工作或者参与到签证不允许的任何活动。在所有情况下，跟DSO保持好关系有利于避免任何对学生合法状态有危险的事件的发生。
There are a lot of legal traps to avoid during your stay as a student in the United States. Whenever you encounter any legal problems, be sure to contact a lawyer before taking any action.
在美国学习时，有许多法律陷阱要避免。已遇到法律的问题，采取行动之前要向律师询问。
David G. Wallace, Esq.
华家伟律师
Fan, Fitzpatrick & Thompson, LLP
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