1. Apply for a Driver License at DMV
2. Work only through PT

3. Apply for SSN in order to participate in PT. (If a student receive non-wage income while in the United States (for example, scholarships, grants, interest on stocks, gambling/lottery winnings) and are not eligible for an SSN,  an application for an ITIN – Individual Taxpayer Identification Number must be filed.)

Students are only eligible to transfer to another SEVP-certified program within six months after arrival, and they must receive approval from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) by submitting a Form I-539, “Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status.”

M-1 students at certain vocational or business schools must take at least 12 hours of instruction per week. M-1 students in vocational or other non-academic curricular programs must meet 18 clock hours per week if the majority is classroom instruction or 22 clock hours per week if the majority of the program instruction does not take place in the classroom, such as in the case of laboratory work or flight training.

 M-1students must request a possible program extension before their program end date. If an M-1 student needs more than one year to finish the chosen program of study or any relevant PT, student may contact with DSO representative to request an extension of stay. After receiving approval from DSO, student must also file a Form I-539 with all relevant materials with USCIS and receive approval. Please be advised that students are only eligible to request an extension of stay up to 60 days before the program end date listed on Form I-20, but no later than 15 days before this program end date.

90 Days before Program End Date	1) Earliest date SEVIS allows P/DSP to request M-1 practical training 2) Earliest date that Form I-765 may be submitted to USCIS for practical training
Program End Date	1) Last date for P/DSO to recommend M-1 practical training in SEVIS 2) Last date for USCIS to receive Form I-765
Day after Program End Date	Earliest possible requested start date for Practical Training.
30 Days after Program End Date	Last Possible Requested Start date for Practical Training.
style=”font-weight: 600;”>6 months after Program End Date	Latest Possible Requested End Date for post-completion practical training, if student is eligible for the maximum period of M-1 practical training.

M-1 students, who need an extension of their Form I-20 to engage in practical training, may need to file the Application for Employment Authorization and the Application to Extend Nonimmigrant Status, including filing fees. Go to the USCIS website for the forms, fees, and specific instructions. Also check USCIS processing times.

Length of Practical Training Available for a Student

M-1 students are eligible for one month of post-completion practical training for every four months of full-time study, up to a maximum of six months of practical training.

Months of Study	Months of PRACTICAL TRAINING Available
4	1
8	2
12	3
16	4
20	5
24 through 30	6

Day 1	DSO requests Practical Training in SEVIS 30-day countdown begins
Day 30	30-day countdown ends USCIS must recieve the applicaation
After Day 30	Applications recieved by USCIS after Day 30 will be denied

After an M-1’s program or PT ends, the student has a 30-day grace period to depart the United States.

Students may not change to F or H status while they are in the United States. If they would like to attend school as an F-1 student, they will need to leave the United States, apply to an SEVP-certified school and start the process from the beginning.

Form I-20, visa, passport, financial documentation, acceptance letter are required.

• Are in legal immigration status as long as a M-1 student maintain status throughout chosen program of study and any authorized period of practical training after completion.
• May depart and re-enter the United States with proper documentation.
• May not work.
• Are not eligible for Social Security numbers.
• F-2 and M-2 dependents can engage in study at an SEVP-certified school in the United States as long as they are enrolled in less than a full course of study.