Consular officers are not expected to assume the
role of guidance counselor to determine whether an applicant for an F-1 or M-1
visa is qualified to pursue the desired course of study. The institution will
satisfy itself on the student's abilities before accepting the applicant for
enrollment. Consular officers should, however, be alert to three specific
factors in this regard:
(1) the applicant has successfully completed a
course of study equivalent to that normally required of an American student
seeking enrollment at the same level.
(2) cases in which an applicant has submitted
forged or altered transcripts of previous or related study or training which the
institution has accepted as valid, and,
(3) cases in which an institution has accepted an
applicant's alleged previous course of study or training as the equivalent of
its normal requirements when, in fact, such is not the case.
