Visas and Employment

Visa FAQ's

I have a ten-year, multiple entry tourist visa.  Is this visa valid for study in the USA?

No.  You cannot study in the States on a tourist visa, even a multiple-entry visa.  You must apply for and receive a student visa before you leave Israel to begin your studies in the US.

I'm planning a trip to the US soon. Can I get my student visa there?

Student visas cannot be obtained within the USA.  Israeli citizens must return to Israel to have their student visas issued locally by the US Embassy in Tel Aviv or, if Jerusalem residents, by the Consulate in Jerusalem.  Israelis cannot apply from the US, or from any other country.

How do I apply for a student visa for the United States?

The visa application process can be undertaken only after you have received an official acceptance notice from the institution you are going to attend.  Your institution will send you a form called I-20 or DS-2019.  This form provides an estimate of the funds needed for tuition, books and living expenses, the length of the program in which you have enrolled and other pertinent information.  

After receiving your I-20 or DS-2019, you must complete the visa application process on-line at: www.usembassy-israel.org.il. Currently, the visa application fee is $140.00.

The screening of visa candidates has become more rigorous in the wake of the September 11 terror attacks.  Therefore, we advise you to apply for your visa as soon as you receive your I-20 or DS-2019.  Your application will be reviewed thoroughly by the Embassy or Consulate, and this process can take at least 3-4 weeks.  Also, you will be called in for an interview.

If your field of study is considered sensitive from a security point of view (for example: microbiology, signal processing), your application may be referred to Washington for a security check, and the time required before a visa is issued may increase significantly.  

Please note that sole authority regarding the issuance or non-issuance of student visas lies in the hands of the consular officer responsible for the Non-Immigrant Visa section in the Embassy or Consulate.  
 
For further questions, please contact the Non-Immigrant Visa section at the US Embassy at the following telephone numbers: 03-5197575; 03-519-7341.

What documents will I need to provide in support of my visa application?

You will have to provide the following documents:

• acceptance letter;
• I-20 or DS-2019;
• Israeli passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended departure date from the US;
• Nonimmigrant visa application form
• one passport photo;
• proof of financial resources for at least the first year of the program - this can be a photocopy of the financial statement which you sent to your institution, provided it is not over 6 months old;
• scholarship letter, if applicable;
• copies of scores of TOEFL and other relevant exams;
• documents demonstrating your intent to return to Israel upon completion of your program of study, such as a letter from an employer, documents proving ownership of real estate, or any other document indicating the depth of your involvement in Israeli society and the local economy;
• a supplementary letter explaining the reasons for pursuing a program of study in the US rather than in Israel, your reasons for choosing the institution in which you will be studying and your long term career plans.

Does an I-20 or DS-2019 guarantee that I'll receive a visa?

An I-20 or DS-2019 alone does not guarantee receipt of a student visa. You MUST provide documentary proof that you have adequate funding for at least the first year of your program of study, and you MUST convince the reviewing officer that you are a serious, qualified student.

How many days ahead of my school start date (as listed on the I-20 or DS-2019) can I enter the USA with my student visa?

An F-1 or J-1 visa may be issued no earlier than 90 days before the reporting date on the I-20 or DS-2019.  You can enter the US 30 days before the date on which you must report to your institution.

If my visa expires, how do I renew it?

The visa is an entry document only.  Thus it must be valid when you enter the US. You may continue to reside in the US even after the visa has expired, so long as you continue to be enrolled as a full-time student.

If you travel to Israel, or to another country, and your visa has expired, you must obtain a new visa to re-enter the US.  As an Israeli citizen, Israel is the only place where you can apply for and be issued a new, valid visa, as required to return to the US and continue your studies.  Ask your international student adviser to provide complete information about how to renew your visa.

Can I get a student visa for part-time studies?

No.  Student visas are granted only for full-time studies (12-18 hours per week of classroom instruction for undergraduate studies, and 9-12 hours for graduate studies).

Do I need a student visa to take part in a short, non-degree course?

Yes. To take part in a short-term, non-degree program or English course, lasting more than 60 days or entailing more than 18 hours per week of instruction, you must enter the US with a student visa, whose issue is dependent upon proof of adequate financial resources, as in the case of academic degree programs.

What is the difference between F-1 and J-1 visas?

The I-20 is issued to students who are entitled to apply for an F-1 visa.  The F-1 visa is designated for students in academic and language study programs.

The DS-2019 is issued to students who are entitled to apply for a J-1 visa.  The J-1 category includes students who come to the US within the framework of an inter-governmental or a US university-foreign government educational exchange program and those who have funding, at least at first, that comes "substantially" from "any source other than personal or family funds".

Students with F-1 visas must depart within 60 days after graduation or program completion.  Students with J-1 visas must depart within 30 days.  F-1 students can obtain special permission to stay in the US for one additional year for practical training in their field of study.  J-1 students are eligible to apply for up to 18 months of  "academic training". (See Optional Practical Training, below.)

Will my spouse be eligible to work and study in the United States?

The dependents of F-1 students, who receive F-2 visas, may not work under any circumstances. The dependents of J-1's, who receive J-2 visas, may apply to the Department of Homeland Security for work authorization after their arrival in the United States.  However, they may not use their earnings to pay the tuition, fees or living expenses of the J-1 nor can their anticipated salary be considered as a source of their own support, for purposes of the University's "Financial Resources Statement" or the issuing of Form DS-2019.

F-2 and J-2 dependents may undertake only part-time study; i.e, if a depedent wishes to undertake a full-time course of study, he/she must obtain his own F-1 or J-1 visa.

What is the J-1 two-year home-country residence requirement?

If you enter the United States as a J-1 visa holder, you will be required to return to Israel for a period of 2 years upon completion of your program of studies, if (1) you have received financial support from your home government, the Government of the United States, or an international agency; or if (2) you have studied a field that is listed under your home country on the "Exchange Visitor Skills List" published by the Department of State; or if (3) you have worked in the United States as a medical resident or intern.

If you are subject to the home country residence requirement, you must spend two years in your home country (not just outside the United States) before you become eligible for status as a nonimmigrant H-1B temporary worker or an L-1 intra-company transferee, or as an immigrant or permanent resident.

If you are subject to the home residence requirement, then so are your J-2 dependents.

Employment FAQ's

Can I work on/off campus if I have an F-1 or J-1 visa?

F-1 students are entitled work on campus during their first year of studies.  However, employment opportunities may be limited, and expected income from employment may not be included among the financial resources cited in justifying your request for a student visa.

After one year of study, F-1 students may be able to work off campus, but nothing can be guaranteed or arranged ahead of time.  All off-campus employment must be authorized in advance, as required by Department of Homeland Security regulations. You should contact your International Student Adviser on campus before accepting any form of employment.  Failure to obey the law can result in deportation and no re-entry into the United States for 3-10 years.

Students with J-1 status are normally not allowed to work.  They must have written authorization from their program officer before beginning any on-campus employment. Working off-campus requires special authorization, which is granted only in certain situations.

How many hours may I work?

Those who are entitled to work may do so up to 20 hours per week during the academic year, and may work full time (40 hours per week) during vacations.

After you complete your studies

What is optional practical training (OPT)?

Optional practical training is paid employment which provides an opportunity for you to gain experience in your profession.  The work must be directly related to your major field of study, and it must be appropriate for your level of education. The work may be full time or part time.  An individual undertaking optional practical training may be employed anywhere in the USA.

F-1 students who have completed their course of study and are in the process of writing a dissertation, may be employed full time for one year in their field of study. The period of OPT for F-1 students with a degree in designated science, technology, engineering or mathematics fields has recently beent extended from 12 to 29 months. These students need to be employed by businesses enrolled in the E-Verify program. Further information on the program will be available at: http://www.ice.gov/sevis.

J-1 students may be employed in the US for 18 months, if their sponsor approves the proposed training.

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