Visa USA & School Admissions: Timing Your Travel for Your Child’s Education in America

This is a good question for planning finances and your child’s experience. F-1 students are allowed to work on-campus part-time (up to 20 hours/week during school term, full-time in holidays) in their university or school if such jobs are available. On-campus jobs might include library assistant, lab assistant, barista at the campus café, etc. For K-12 age kids, this is usually not relevant as they’re minors and their “job” is to study. Off-campus work is generally not allowed in the first academic year. After one year, university students can seek CPT or OPT – training programs related to their field of study (Curricular Practical Training or Optional Practical Training). OPT, for instance, lets a graduate work in the U.S. for up to 12 months (or up to 36 months for STEM fields) after finishing the degree. However, if your child is in high school, working is not really in scope except maybe unpaid internships or occasional babysitting (which would technically violate visa rules, so caution there). The F-1 visa is intended for study, not employment, so advise your child not to count on income while studying. Any illegal employment (like working at a local store off the books) could jeopardize their visa status. If gaining work experience is important, encourage them to use on-campus opportunities or wait until eligible for practical training programs as part of college.

As covered in the insurance section above, health insurance is effectively mandatory because almost all schools require it, though the U.S. government doesn’t directly mandate F-1 students to have it. You generally won’t need to show proof of insurance at the visa interview, but you will need to handle it before your child starts classes. Some visa applicants mention their insurance plans to demonstrate preparedness (which is fine, but not required). Focus on having a plan to either enroll in the school’s insurance or purchase a suitable policy. One related tip: travel insurance requirements for USA visa holders aren’t official, but having travel insurance is strongly recommended for the journey. You don’t present this at the interview, it’s purely for your protection. In short, get the necessary insurance but don’t worry about it for the visa appointment; worry about it for your child’s wellbeing.

Politics can impact practical matters. In recent years, U.S. consular services in Russia have been limited, causing many Russian students to apply for visas in third countries (like the UAE, Turkey, etc.). The good news is if you’re already a resident in Dubai, you’re in the right place – the U.S. consulate in Dubai regularly handles visa applications from Russians living in UAE, and there’s no extra hurdle just because of nationality. That said, Russian applicants should expect the standard security checks. One consideration: sanctions and financial transaction restrictions – ensure that any visa fees or tuition payments originating from Russian banks are planned for, as some payment channels might be blocked. Using UAE bank accounts or international accounts usually solves this. Also, flight routes from the UAE to the U.S. are open and unaffected for Russians (whereas direct flights from Russia to the U.S. are non-existent now). In summary, Russian families in Dubai shouldn’t face additional visa requirements, but it’s wise to stay updated on any policy changes. (As of now, student visas for Russians are proceeding normally through U.S. embassies outside Russia.)

If you’ve applied early, this scenario is unlikely. But if delays happen (due to late application or administrative processing), take these steps: – Contact the School’s International Office immediately: Explain the situation and ask about options. Many universities will work with a late-arriving student by providing remote learning for a couple of weeks or recording classes. K-12 schools might allow a slightly late arrival if they know the visa is on the way. There is usually a cutoff (for example, if more than 2 weeks of classes are missed, deferment to the next term may be required). – Request an Expedited Visa Processing: If you haven’t had the interview yet and the start date is imminent, use the emergency appointment request as mentioned earlier (https://ustraveldocs.com/np/np-niv-expeditedappointment.asp#:~:text=,request%20within%20the%20last%2012). If the interview is done but the passport hasn’t been returned, you can email the consulate explaining the urgency (with proof of start date) – occasionally they can speed up printing. – Prepare a Plan B: In worst-case scenarios where the visa might not be ready, discuss deferring admission to the next available term (spring or the next year) with the school. Most schools will be understanding and allow deferral of admission and/or scholarship offers in genuine cases of visa issue beyond your control. Your investment in a top-tier education isn’t lost – it’s just delayed. Overall, keep open communication and document everything. Once the visa comes through, your child can join the next possible class start. Working with a visa consulting agency like ours can help in these situations – we can liaise with institutions or advise on how to present your case to officials.

F-1 student visas only allow spouses and minor children of the student to get F-2 dependent visas – this doesn’t help parents of a minor student (it’s meant for if a college student is married or has kids of their own). So in the case of school-age kids, there is no derivative visa for parents. Parents who want to accompany or stay with the child typically use a B-2 visitor visa. If you don’t already have a U.S. visitor visa, you should apply for one well in advance. Many Dubai expats (especially of Indian nationality) may already have a 10-year US tourist visa; if not, consider applying – it’s useful for visits. Note that a B-2 generally allows stays up to 6 months at a time. If a parent needs to be in the U.S. full-time for the child, they’d have to exit and re-enter periodically (and prolonged or repeated stays could raise questions at entry). Some families explore other long-term visa options: for instance, L-1 work visa if your company can transfer you to a U.S. office, or the EB-5 investor visa for permanent residence (if making a significant investment). Those are complex paths and beyond the scope of this Q&A, but they exist. In summary, for short-term visits, use a B-2 visa; for long-term relocation, consult an immigration expert about other visa categories.

This is a common concern. Key points to ensure alignment: – Apply early so the visa is approved well before the start date. – Be mindful of the 30-day entry rule – don’t book your child’s flight too early. They can only arrive up to 30 days prior to the start on the I-20. – Conversely, don’t cut it too close to the last minute; give at least a week or more before classes to account for flight or orientation adjustments. – If you foresee any delay (visa still in process, or a later interview date), inform the school. Schools can issue a new I-20 with a slightly delayed start date or allow a late arrival in some cases, but this must be communicated. In summary: start visa procedures early and schedule travel wisely within the allowed window. (Refer to our detailed section on synchronizing F-1 visa approval with school dates above for a deeper dive.)

The visa application process is identical regardless of nationality – you all follow the same steps (DS-160, pay fee, interview, etc.). However, there are some differences in visa issuance and policies by nationality: for example, Indian citizens currently receive up to 5-year multiple-entry F-1 visas, whereas some other nationalities might get shorter validity. Also, visa issuance fees can differ – many nationalities (including Russia and India) have no additional issuance fee for F-1, but it’s always good to double-check the U.S. embassy website for your nationality. Another practical difference: the language of the interview – in Dubai, interviews are typically in English. If a student isn’t comfortable in English, the family might request an interpreter for certain languages. Hindi or Russian interpreters might be available on specific days, but English proficiency is expected for F-1 students (since they’ll be studying in English). In general, Dubai’s U.S. consulate is experienced with applicants of many nationalities, so you shouldn’t worry – follow the guidance, prepare well, and you’ll be fine.

Aim to start the visa process as soon as possible after receiving the I-20 from the school. For a Fall (Aug/Sept) start, this often means applying in March, April or May of that year. Russian families (and any expat families in the UAE) should ideally secure a visa interview slot by early summer. Remember that while you can apply up to 12 months in advance (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/study/student-visa.html?s=academic#:~:text=New%20Students%C2%A0%E2%80%93%C2%A0Student%20,days%20before%20the%20start%20date), the practical timing usually aligns with the admission letter. Starting early gives you flexibility if any additional administrative processing is needed. It also helps you avoid peak-season delays.