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New Visa Classifications for Canadian and Mexican Students Overview The Department of State issued a final rule creating two new visa classifications (F-3 and M-3) for citizens and residents of Canada and Mexico seeking to commute to the United States for the purpose of studying at a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) approved school, either part-time or full-time. F-3 and M-3 Visa Classifications Prior to the terrorist attacks of September 11, citizens of Canada and Mexico were admitted into the United States as visitors for the purpose of taking part-time classes. Due to security reasons after September 11, these part-time students were no longer eligible for admittance as visitors since their intent was to attend classes in the U.S. Further, these students did not qualify for F1 or M1 status because these classifications require students to attend class on a full-time basis. Subsequently, the "Border Commuter Student Act of 2002" created two new visa classifications, the F-3 and M-3 visas, permitting Canadian and Mexican citizens and residents to commute to the U.S. to attend classes either part-time or full-time at a DHS approved school. The Department of State recently published a final rule, effective as of August 11, 2003, which adds the F-3 and M-3 classifications to the Department's regulatory list of nonimmigrant visa classifications. Unlike the F-1 and M-1 visa classifications, family members of F-3 and M-3 visa holders are not entitled to derivative F-2 or M-2 status.
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