Can a nonimmigrant enroll in a program of study that will lead to an FIT degree?
Generally, the OISA recommends that students who will be pursuing a full-time program of study have F-1 status. Your status should reflect the true nature of your stay in the US. But if you wish to keep another status (such as A-1/A-2, G-1/G-2/G-4, H-1/H-4, J-1/J-2, L-1/L-2), upon admission to an FIT degree, complete the I-20 Waiver section of the International Student Financial Statement (ISFS) and submit it, along with copies of the I-94 and visa in your passport, to the FIT Office of International Student Advisors (OISA). If, on the other hand, you wish to obtain F-1 status, the fastest and easiest way to do so is by entering the US with an F-1 visa (see questions #5 & 6). The second option is to apply for a change of status in the US. This procedure can be cumbersome, lengthy, and sometimes results in denial. Even if approved, the next time you travel outside the US, an application for an F-1 visa must be presented at a US Consulate. Individuals in B-1/B-2 status may not take credi
