The F1 visa is reserved for non-immigrants wishing to pursue academic studies and/or language training programs. F-1 visas are given only through academic institutions.
F-2 visas are given to dependents of an F-1 student. F-2 visa-holders are prohibited from any form of compensated employment. However, minor children may attend public schools.
F-3 visas are given to nationals of Mexico or Canada only, when they reside in their country of origin while attending school. Called "Border Commuters", these visa holders may study part or full time. However, unlike F-1 visa holders, they may not work on campus, although they may still be authorized for CPT; OPT may only be used after graduation.
Employment: Except for on-campus employment of 20 hours a week or less, F-1 students are generally not permitted to work in the US without prior authorization from Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). However, the USCIS may grant work authorization for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT). Students are permitted to work for a total of 40 months towards practical training (eg. internship), which can be distributed between Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT). An interim order was passed on April 8, 2008 allowing students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) to legally work under OPT for 29 months.[1] During the period of OPT, a F-1 student is not permitted to accrue more than 90 days of unemployment.
Taxation: F-1 visa holders are exempt from paying FICA Taxes, Social Security and Medicare, for a limited time. However, they are subjected to federal taxes, and state/local taxes, if applicable. Students on F-1 filing their federal income taxes who have been in the USA for 5 years or less need to use the non-resident 1040NR or 1040NR-EZ tax forms. Some F-1 visa holders may be eligible for certain tax treaty provisions based on their country of origin.
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