If you're interested in studying or conducting research in the U-S, you must have an F-1 or J-1 visa and be accepted by a school or institution that the INS (I-N-S) has approved. Check with a school representative to see if the prospective school has the necessary approval. You'll need to fill out either the I-20 or the I-A-P-66 form, and you can obtain them from a school official. After filling out the form, take it to the nearest consulate or embassy along with a valid passport, a recent one-and-a-half inch square photograph, and an application form, which you can get from the embassy or consulate. You will need to prove that all your expenses can be paid, that you're serious about studying or researching, and that you have a strong reason to leave when your studying is completed. You should know English well enough to be able to study here or prove that you've made arrangements here to learn English. Your spouse and unmarried children under age 21 can apply for a visa to come to the U-S as well.
