Foreigners visiting the United States for tourist purposes may take a short study course if it is less than 18 hours a week. For foreigners coming to the United States to study over a more extended time period, the two most common student visas are F-1 and M visas.

Academic institutions and language training programs such as high school foreign exchange programs or undergraduate and graduate studies at universities require F-1 visas for study. F-1 visas are not allowed for elementary school educational programs. During study, students do not have employment authorization beyond on-campus work for more than 20 hours a week.

F-1 visa students are usually admitted for the duration of their student status. They are able to remain in the United States as long as they are full-time students, even if their F-1 visa passport expires while here.

As families can accompany a student, F-2 visas may be issued to the student's spouse and children. Under an F-2 visa, the spouse may not work or study. However, the children may attend school up through the 12th grade.

M-1 visas are provided to foreign students for vocational, technical, and non-academic programs. M-1 visa students are able to remain in the United States for either one year or for the duration of their full-time enrollment in a vocational program plus 30 days to prepare to leave the country, whichever is shorter.