August 28, 2002

Part Time Student Commuter Status

On August 27, 2002, INS announced that it will allow those Mexican and Canadian nationals who attend school in the United States on a part time basis as commuter students to now do so under F-1 and M-1 status. The school must be within 75 miles of the United States border for the student to be eligible for the commuter F-1 or M-1 status.

The purpose of this rule is to recognize the special relationship between the United States and its neighbors and to legitimize such study by commuter students living at the border, while placing it within a regulated, controlled process. The INS is sensitive to the special needs of border communities and wishes to facilitate needs of the communities within the scope of maintaining a safe border.

  Federal Register: Reduced Course Load for Certain F and M Nonimmigrant Students in Border Communities (PDF/58 kb, 6 pages)