Other Nonimmigrant Visa (NIV) Students

Other Nonimmigrant Students (non F/J visa students)

The US government uses the term nonimmigrant to refer to foreign nationals admitted into the country temporarily for a specific purpose. Once this purpose is fulfilled, they must either change their status or depart the country.

If you do not hold or are not applying for the F-1 or J-1 visa you are still considered an international student, but you do not have the same study guidelines or benefits as F-1 or J-1 visa students.

Other nonimmigrant visa (NIV) students who are attending school incidental to their primary purpose for being in the US may attend part-time or full-time (in accordance with the immigration guidelines for their visa type).

However, some other NIV students may have specific study (and employment) restrictions, while others are not eligible to study in the US without changing their visa type (e.g., the B-2 visa is not eligible to study in the US without changing their visa status).

If you are an other NIV student (non F/J student), it is important that you understand you are responsible for being aware of your study (and employment) guidelines and restrictions, you must abide by the rules of your current visa status, and you cannot exceed your stay in the US for the purposes of completing a program or a degree.

Other NIV students do not report to a DSO or RO as F and J students are required to, and must make sure to comply with federal immigration regulations and guidelines for their visa classification. Please view Florida Poly’s guide for all NIV classifications study guidelines, as a reference tool: NIV Study Guidelines.

For more specific details directly from US federal government departments for immigration regulations visit:

Department of Homeland Security website: Nonimmigrant Classes of Admission
Department of State (DOS) website: Directory of Visa Categories

Can Dependents of other NIV students study?

Dependents of the NIV student may study if they are eligible, but not all dependents are eligible (see nonimmigrant guide below).

Dependents that are eligible to study must adhere to the specific restrictions for study (and employment), and may not remain in the US beyond the period approved for the principal visa holder, in order to continue schooling.

In most cases, children lose their derivative status at the age of 21 and must apply for a change to the F-1 visa, if they wish to remain in the US to continue their course of study. Spouses and children (under 21) who derive their status from that of the principal visa holder may have specific study restrictions and should refer to the resources listed below.

For more information regarding study eligibility for NIV students and their dependents, view the US Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) Guide: Nonimmigrants: Who Can Study?

Other Helpful Resources: