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).
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The "J" exchange visitor program is designed to promote the interchange of persons, knowledge, and skills in the fields of education, arts, and sciences. Participants include students at all academic levels; trainees obtaining on-the-job training with firms, institutions, and agencies; teachers of primary, secondary, and specialized schools; professors coming to teach or do research at institutions of higher learning; research scholars; professional trainees in the medical and allied fields; and international visitors coming for the purpose of traveling, observing, consulting, conducting research, training, sharing, or demonstrating specialized knowledge or skills, or participating in organized people-to-people programs.
- The "Q" international cultural exchange program is for the purpose of providing practical training and employment, and the sharing of the history, culture, and traditions of the participant's home country in the United States.
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.
- The F-1 category includes academic students in colleges, universities, seminaries, conservatories, academic high schools, other academic institutions, and in language training. Attendance at U.S. public high schools cannot exceed a total of 12 months. F-1 students are prohibited from attending public elementary schools and publicly-funded adult education programs in the United States.
- The M-1 category includes vocational students. For more information on vocational studies in the United States.
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.