Yes. You need a student visa to study in the U.S. There are two types of visas for students: F visa or M visa. Your course of study and which school you plan to attend determines which visa you need. F-1 is the most common, as it includes accredited U.S. colleges or universities, private secondary schools or approved English language programs. The M-1 visa is used for non-academic and vocational study or training at a U.S. institution.