A graduate degree that requires the successful completion of the full-time equivalent of one but not more than two academic years of work beyond the bachelor's degree.

Please note, the Department of Defense is revising its MAVNI implementation plan for FY 17 and is currently not accepting MAVNI applications for FY 17. After its implementation plan is completed and approved, the U.S. Army will begin processing new applicants for FY 2017 who meet MAVNI program eligibility requirements for enlistment. For more information, please visit ICE.gov.

A program that allows certain non-citizens who are legally present in the United States to join the U.S. military and apply immediately for U.S. citizenship without first obtaining lawful permanent residence. The program is only available to legal aliens holding critical skills—physicians, nurses and experts in certain languages with associated cultural backgrounds.

An alien who is admitted to the United States for a specific temporary period of time.

Courses without physical attendance requirements that have specific rules F and M students must follow. If an online or distance course has no physical attendance requirements, F students (besides those in English language programs) may count one course towards their full course of study. F students in English language programs and M students may not count any online or distance courses towards their full course of study.

Employment authorization that must relate to a student’s major or course of study. To participate, students must receive approval from their designated school official and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. OPT may occur before or after the program end date, but participants may only work for 20 hours per week while school is in session.

OPT is not an integral part of the established curriculum. Optional practical training (OPT) does not fulfill requirements of an F-1 student's program of study and successful program completion is not contingent on participation in OPT. OPT may include the following:

• Pre-completion OPT.
• Post-completion OPT.
• 24‑month extension of post-completion OPT.
• H-1B Cap‑Gap.

A government-issued travel document that certifies the identity and nationality of its holder for the purpose of international travel.

An arrival point at a U.S. international airport, seaport or land border crossing, where a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer will determine whether students can enter the United States.

The process every F and M student goes through at the port of entry with a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer. Students will present documents and the CBP officer will determine if they can enter the United States by verifying the information and purpose for their visit.

A school controlled by a private individual(s) or by a nongovernmental agency, usually supported primarily by other than public funds, and operated by other than publicly elected or appointed officials.

The date listed on a student’s Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status,” when they or are expected to complete their program of study and must either transfer to another school, apply to change education level, apply to change to another nonimmigrant status or depart the United States within 60 days.