§1761 Foreign student monitoring program

Summary

Before a consular officer can give an F or M student visa, or a J visa for someone who will attend an approved college or university, the applicant must give four kinds of information: their address in their home country; the names and addresses of their spouse, children, parents, and siblings; names of people in their country who can confirm facts about them; and any past work history with employer names and addresses. Within 120 days after May 14, 2002, and until a new tracking system in section 1372 is working, extra steps apply. A visa cannot be issued unless the State Department has electronic proof the approved school accepted the person and the consular officer has reviewed the visa file. When an F or M visa is issued, the Secretary of State must tell the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). INS must tell the school when the person arrives in the United States. Within 30 days after the school’s registration deadline, the school must tell INS if the person did not enroll or start. The Attorney General must give the State Department, within 30 days after May 14, 2002, a list of approved schools authorized to take F or M students. Money may be provided as needed to carry out these rules.