F-1 visas are for academic students who are coming to the United States to study at an accredited college or university. M-1 visas are for vocational or nonacademic students who are coming to the United States to study at a vocational or other recognized nonacademic institution. F-1 visas are generally issued for the duration of the academic program, plus a period of authorized stay for practical training after the completion of studies.
M-1 visas are generally issued for the duration of the vocational program, plus a period of authorized stay for practical training after the completion of studies.
Both F-1 and M-1 visas have some similar requirements and restrictions. For example, both types of visas require that the student be accepted by an accredited institution and that the student have sufficient financial resources to support themselves while in the United States. Both types of visas also restrict the student’s ability to work in the United States and require that the student maintain full-time enrollment. However, there are also some differences between F-1 and M-1 visas. For example, F-1 visas allow the student to bring dependents (spouse and children) to the United States, while M-1 visas do not.
F-1 visas also allow the student to engage in certain types of employment, such as on-campus employment or optional practical training, while M-1 visas do not.