This guide covers the law governing academic students, vocational students, and exchange visitors from admission through program completion and beyond. It begins with the statutory and regulatory architecture and the four documents that people persistently confuse. It then sets out the conditions of status — enrollment, progress, reporting, and school affiliation — and the narrow authorizations for employment in each category, including curricular and optional practical training and the science and technology extension. Separate parts address the distinction between failing to maintain status and accruing unlawful presence, the reinstatement standard, departure and reentry as an alternative, and the change-of-status options that a violation forecloses. Later parts cover the exchange visitor two-year home residence requirement and its waivers, travel and dependents, transitions to employment and family categories, institutional compliance obligations, and employer obligations for students on practical training.