An F-1 visa is the usual classification for students in academic and language programs. The alien must first be accepted by a school approved by Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The school may be a college, university, seminary, conservatory, academic high school, elementary school, or language training program in the US When the school accepts a foreign student, it issues to the student a SEVIS Form I-20.

1. 8 U.S.C. Sec. 1101 (a)(15)(F).
[ INA Sec. 101 ]