<div class="vt" data-vt-cat="study-visas"> <div class="vt-crumbs"><nav class="vt-wrap" aria-label="Breadcrumb"><a href="/">Home</a><span>›</span><span>Study & exchange</span></nav></div> <section class="vt-wrap vt-head"><p class="vt-eyebrow">Browse by purpose</p><h1 class="vt-h1">Study & exchange visas</h1><p class="vt-intro">Student and exchange-visitor classifications, plus Optional Practical Training, the work authorization most F-1 graduates use.</p><button type="button" class="vt-filtbtn" id="vtFiltBtn">Show filters</button></section> <section class="vt-wrap vt-twocol"><aside class="vt-aside filters" id="vtFilters"><h2>Filter</h2> <fieldset class="vt-fieldset"><legend>Classification</legend><label><input type="checkbox" data-f="kind" value="Nonimmigrant"><span>Nonimmigrant</span><em>5</em></label><label><input type="checkbox" data-f="kind" value="Status"><span>Status</span><em>1</em></label></fieldset> <fieldset class="vt-fieldset"><legend>Sponsorship</legend><label><input type="checkbox" data-f="sp" value="employer"><span>Employer petition</span><em>2</em></label><label><input type="checkbox" data-f="sp" value="self"><span>Self-petition / own business</span><em>1</em></label><label><input type="checkbox" data-f="sp" value="other"><span>Other / government</span><em>3</em></label></fieldset> </aside><div class="vt-mainc"> <div class="vt-listbar"><span><strong id="vtCount">6</strong> visa types</span><label style="display:flex;align-items:center;gap:8px;font-size:14px">Sort by<select id="vtSort"><option value="pop">Most popular</option><option value="az">Code A–Z</option></select></label></div><div id="vtList"> <a class="vt-row" href="/visa/f-1" data-kind="Nonimmigrant" data-sp="other" data-cap="no" data-dual="no" data-nat="no" data-pop="2" data-code="F-1"><div style="min-width:0"><div class="t"><span class="c">F-1</span><span class="n">Academic Student</span></div><p>Full-time academic study at an SEVP-certified school, with on-campus work and practical training options.</p><dl><div><dt>Max stay</dt><dd>Duration of status</dd></div><div><dt>Annual cap</dt><dd>None</dd></div><div><dt>Sponsor</dt><dd>School (Form I-20)</dd></div><div><dt>Dual intent</dt><dd>No</dd></div></dl></div><span class="go" aria-hidden="true">→</span></a> <a class="vt-row" href="/visa/j-1" data-kind="Nonimmigrant" data-sp="other" data-cap="no" data-dual="no" data-nat="no" data-pop="7" data-code="J-1"><div style="min-width:0"><div class="t"><span class="c">J-1</span><span class="n">Exchange Visitor</span></div><p>Sponsor-run exchange programs for study, research, teaching, training and cultural exchange.</p><dl><div><dt>Max stay</dt><dd>Program length</dd></div><div><dt>Annual cap</dt><dd>None</dd></div><div><dt>Sponsor</dt><dd>Program sponsor (DS-2019)</dd></div><div><dt>Dual intent</dt><dd>No</dd></div></dl></div><span class="go" aria-hidden="true">→</span></a> <a class="vt-row" href="/visa/opt" data-kind="Status" data-sp="self" data-cap="no" data-dual="no" data-nat="no" data-pop="14" data-code="OPT"><div style="min-width:0"><div class="t"><span class="c">OPT</span><span class="n">Optional Practical Training (incl. STEM OPT)</span></div><p>F-1 work authorization: 12 months per degree level, plus a 24-month STEM extension.</p><dl><div><dt>Max stay</dt><dd>12 months (+24 STEM)</dd></div><div><dt>Annual cap</dt><dd>None</dd></div><div><dt>Sponsor</dt><dd>Self (DSO recommendation)</dd></div><div><dt>Dual intent</dt><dd>N/A</dd></div></dl></div><span class="go" aria-hidden="true">→</span></a> <a class="vt-row" href="/visa/m-1" data-kind="Nonimmigrant" data-sp="other" data-cap="no" data-dual="no" data-nat="no" data-pop="28" data-code="M-1"><div style="min-width:0"><div class="t"><span class="c">M-1</span><span class="n">Vocational Student</span></div><p>Full-time vocational or non-academic training; fixed stay of up to one year at a time.</p><dl><div><dt>Max stay</dt><dd>Up to 1 year</dd></div><div><dt>Annual cap</dt><dd>None</dd></div><div><dt>Sponsor</dt><dd>School (Form I-20)</dd></div><div><dt>Dual intent</dt><dd>No</dd></div></dl></div><span class="go" aria-hidden="true">→</span></a> <a class="vt-row" href="/visa/h-3" data-kind="Nonimmigrant" data-sp="employer" data-cap="no" data-dual="no" data-nat="no" data-pop="131" data-code="H-3"><div style="min-width:0"><div class="t"><span class="c">H-3</span><span class="n">Trainee or Special Education Exchange Visitor</span></div><p>Training visa for programs unavailable at home, plus special-education exchange (50 a year); up to 2 years.</p><dl><div><dt>Max stay</dt><dd>2 years</dd></div><div><dt>Annual cap</dt><dd>50 (special ed only)</dd></div><div><dt>Sponsor</dt><dd>Employer</dd></div><div><dt>Dual intent</dt><dd>No</dd></div></dl></div><span class="go" aria-hidden="true">→</span></a> <a class="vt-row" href="/visa/q-1" data-kind="Nonimmigrant" data-sp="employer" data-cap="no" data-dual="no" data-nat="no" data-pop="154" data-code="Q-1"><div style="min-width:0"><div class="t"><span class="c">Q-1</span><span class="n">International Cultural Exchange Visitor</span></div><p>Paid cultural-exchange work or training sharing one’s home culture with the U.S. public; up to 15 months.</p><dl><div><dt>Max stay</dt><dd>15 months</dd></div><div><dt>Annual cap</dt><dd>None</dd></div><div><dt>Sponsor</dt><dd>Employer</dd></div><div><dt>Dual intent</dt><dd>No</dd></div></dl></div><span class="go" aria-hidden="true">→</span></a> </div><div class="vt-empty" id="vtNone" style="display:none">No visa types match those filters.</div> <div class="vt-note"><div><b>Working after graduation?</b><span>Most graduates move from OPT to an H-1B, O-1 or another work classification.</span></div><a href="/work-visas" style="font-weight:700;font-size:15px;white-space:nowrap">See work visas →</a></div> </div></section></div> <script>(function(){var b=document.getElementById('vtFiltBtn'),a=document.getElementById('vtFilters');b&&b.addEventListener('click',function(){var o=!a.classList.contains('open');a.classList.toggle('open',o);b.textContent=o?'Hide filters':'Show filters'});var list=document.getElementById('vtList');if(!list)return;var rows=[].slice.call(list.children),boxes=[].slice.call(document.querySelectorAll('#vtFilters input[type=checkbox]'));function apply(){var sel={};boxes.forEach(function(x){if(x.checked)(sel[x.getAttribute('data-f')]=sel[x.getAttribute('data-f')]||[]).push(x.value)});var n=0;rows.forEach(function(r){var ok=Object.keys(sel).every(function(f){return sel[f].indexOf(r.getAttribute('data-'+f))>-1});r.style.display=ok?'':'none';if(ok)n++});document.getElementById('vtCount').textContent=n;document.getElementById('vtNone').style.display=n?'none':'block'}boxes.forEach(function(x){x.addEventListener('change',apply)});var s=document.getElementById('vtSort');s&&s.addEventListener('change',function(){rows.sort(function(x,y){return s.value==='az'?x.getAttribute('data-code').localeCompare(y.getAttribute('data-code'),'en',{numeric:true}):(+x.getAttribute('data-pop'))-(+y.getAttribute('data-pop'))});rows.forEach(function(r){list.appendChild(r)})})})();</script>