Is it problematic to go to the US three weeks before school starts with your F-1(?) visa? I want to visit with friends and family before I start school in August. I am from a visa waiver country, so usually I just go there and can stay 3 months on that green slip.

And what is the difference between the F1 and J1 visa?

Hi Hann, don't know much about it, but I read on the US immigration web site that you should not try to enter the US with your student visa more than four weeks before classes start. If you wish to enter the US 5 weeks before classes start you should enter with your visitor visa (in your case is not needed), and afterwards you have to fill a form to kind of transfer to student visa status which will cost you about US$ 150 or leave the US and enter again with the student visa. It's kind of complicated so I'm going to go to NC around july 20 since classes at Duke start August 15. I haven't researched about the difference between the F1 and J1 visas, since I'm pretty sure that the visa I need is the F1 (student visa).

I think I need the F1 too, it is just that I already have the J1 in my passport, and I wasn't sure about the difference. I'll be in NC around the 20th too.

I thought this would help. You would most definitely need an F1 student visa for an LLM program.


Hundreds of thousands of people come to the United States from around the world to study and improve their skills. Numerous programs provide a wide variety of learning opportunities.


There are three major types of student visas:


Academic studies (F visa): For people who want to study or conduct research at an accredited U.S. college or University.


Academic studies as an Exchange Visitor (J visa): For people who will be participating in an exchange visitor program in the United States. The "J" visa is the primary visa for educational and cultural exchange programs


Non-Academic or Vocational Studies (M Visa): For people who want to study or train at a non-academic institution in the U.S.


From what I remeber you are entitled to apply for an F1 Visa 120 days PRIOR to the start of your program. You are thereafter entitled to enter the US anytime 30 days PRIOR to the start of your academic program. Best of luck with ur visa process!