A student comes to study in the United States for the excellent educational opportunities. After completing a program of study, an F student has three choices:

• Apply to a new academic program
• Apply for a change of status
• Return to the home country

After completing a program of study, which can last for no longer than three years (in one-year increments), an M student must depart the United States.

Along with a degree or certificate, a student gains new experiences, skills and sometimes unique perspectives. The Chicago Tribune highlights one example of the Department of State’s U.S.-Middle Eastern Partnership Initiative Student Leaders Program, which is “to promote a better understanding of the United States abroad and to help develop future world leaders.”

The article highlights a student from Iraq who participated in the program at Benedictine University. He believes that his U.S. education is important to improving the future of his country, and wants to take what he has learned here to open private schools in Iraq where younger children “can study art, theater and English, which he calls the key to economic, political and social change.”

The program consists “of four weeks of seminars, workshops and co-curricular activities” and tourist activities so students can see the United States. Other participants in the Student Leaders Program came to the United States from throughout the Middle East and North Africa.

Are you interested in studying in the United States as an F or M student? If so, the Department of State’s EducationUSA can help you find information on the process of selecting a school and course of study in the United States. EducationUSA has more than 400 advising centers in 170 countries. It is committed to promoting accredited United States higher education to over 14 million people every year.