国务院签证指南：B类访客签证只能上短期休闲课，读学位证书须持学生签证
美国国务院在官方签证指南中明确：持B类访客签证入境的人士，只能参加不授予学分的短期休闲学习，例如为期两天的烹饪课；凡是以攻读学位或证书为目的的学习，无论课程长短，都必须持F类或M类学生签证。
按国务院的划分，F类签证适用于在大学或学院、高中、私立小学、神学院、音乐学院，以及包括语言培训项目在内的其他学术机构就读的学生；M类签证适用于在职业机构或其他获认可的非学术机构就读的学生，语言培训项目除外。
通过免签证计划（VWP）入境的人士，同样不得把在美停留用于学术学习。此外，持B类签证入境后希望改读学位课程的人，必须先向美国公民及移民服务局（USCIS）申请变更身份，并在获批之后才能开始上课。
国务院提醒，误用访客签证读书可能影响今后的签证资格。计划赴美学习的人士，应先确认课程性质，再按学术或职业类别申请相应的学生签证。
（来源：美国国务院）
State Department Visa Guidance: Visitor Visas Cover Only Short Recreational Classes, Student Visas Required for Degrees and Certificates
The U.S. Department of State's official visa guidance is explicit: travelers entering on a B visitor visa may take only short recreational courses that carry no academic credit, such as a two-day cooking class. Any course of study taken for a degree or certificate, however short, requires an F or M student visa.
Under the State Department's definitions, F visas cover students at universities and colleges, high schools, private elementary schools, seminaries, conservatories and other academic institutions, including language training programs. M visas cover students at vocational or other recognized nonacademic institutions, other than language training.
Travelers entering under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) likewise may not use their stay for academic study. A visitor who enters on a B visa and later decides to pursue a degree program must first apply to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to change status, and may not begin classes until the change is approved.
The State Department warns that misusing a visitor visa for study can jeopardize future visa eligibility. Anyone planning to study in the United States should confirm the nature of the course first, then apply for the student visa category that matches it.
(Source: U.S. Department of State)
来源：美国国务院
发布：GSM·美国（发布链接）
图片来源：图：美国国务院总部大楼（资料图）。 / Photo: The headquarters building of the U.S. Department of State (file photo).
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