American Visa??

Question

I'm an Irish college student and I intend to spend the summer working in Walt Disney World in florida and I know I will need a J1 visa for that but immediately after I finish up working I am supposed to spend a semester in an American college as part of my degree and I know this requires a differenet type of visa. What I want to know is can I get a visa to cover both? or if not can I get two to run concurrently or would I have to return to Ireland and then go back to America to activate the second visa?

Answer 1

You would have to get 2 separate visas to cover both programs, unless the academic program were somehow part of the J program. Students require an F-1 visa. They wouldn't run concurrently, they might run consecutively.  The airport inspectors could admit you under the J visa and then USCIS would adjust you into the F visa. You would need your J program DS-2019 and your F visa I-20 from the school and be entered in the the SEVIS registration system for both to obtain the visas and to enter the US.

Answer 2

One cannot answer this question because the meaning of 'American' isn't clear.

- A person or attribute of South or North America

- A person or attribute of the indigenous peoples of the Americas

- A person or attribute of the United States of America, called 'US-American'

Answer 3

You can change your visa status here: http://www.foreignborn.com/visas_imm/oth...

I would also discuss this with the US Embassy in Dublin. Keep in mind that you'll still have the same visa status (J1), but where you are registered will change. So, it may be possible to get a single visa good for both.

Answer 4

You can get a J1 visa, and once you are here, apply for a student visa, which will begin as soon as your J1 visa ends.  you do not need to go back.