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Admission of Foreign Nationals to Public Schools

Missouri school districts may admit students participating in foreign exchange programs. These requests will fall into two categories: persons traveling under visitor visas and students pursing full-time academic or vocational studies. The following information addresses this issue and includes material from the U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) relating to admission of those students into this country.

 

Foreign Exchange Student Visas

The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) provides two nonimmigrant visa categories for persons to participate in exchange visitor programs in the United States. The "J" visa is for educational and cultural exchange programs designated by the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, and the "Q" visa is for international cultural exchange programs designated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Public school districts must follow their policy on admission of non-resident students. Such admission is strictly at the discretion of the school district.  There are no state or federal laws guaranteeing a foreign student's access to public school districts.  Districts may elect not to participate in such programs, or may limit the number of students admitted.

The Council on Students for International Educational Travel (CSIET) annually publishes an advisory list of reputable high school-level exchange student programs. 

 

Academic/Vocational Student Visas

A nonimmigrant is someone admitted to the U.S. temporarily for a specific purpose. People who are coming to the United States to pursue full-time academic or vocational studies are usually admitted in one of two nonimmigrant categories.

 

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

The USCIS is responsible for the administration of immigration and naturalization adjudication functions and establishing immigration services policies and priorities; you may visit their webiste for additional information.