The immigration laws of the United States
permit foreign students to come to the U.S.
to go to school at most academic levels.
U.S. schools can get authorization from the
Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)
to admit foreign students and to issue documentation
allowing students to obtain F-1 nonimmigrant
student visa classification. This document
is called the I-20 form. Upon receipt of
the I-20, an application to INS for the F-1
visa is filed. A foreign student in the F-1
classification may stay in the U.S. for extended
periods of time to complete degrees or other
academic goals, and under certain circumstances,
may be allowed to work in the United States.
