Important
Advice
Requests to ISSS for
Forms
I - 20 and DS - 2019 must be made at least FIVE working days in
advance of when they are needed. Do not wait to make these
requests.
Bring your passport and all relevant immigration documents
when you come to ISSS, including the following:
- I - 20 or DS -
2019
- I - 94
- Financial
documents
Do
not let your I - 20 or DS - 2019 expire.
Do not work
without permission
from USCIS. You could
face deportation.
Update your local
address
on Web for Students within 10 days of moving - ISSS will notify USCIS
of
the change.
Contact an ISSS
advisor before
you leave the country.
If at any time
you are uncertain
about your status, please check with ISSS immediately.
return
to top
Maintaining
Status – F - 1 Visa
You are responsible
for
maintaining your status. Failure to do so will result in the loss
of your student status and subject you to deportation. To
maintain
your status you are responsible for the following:
- Maintaining a
valid passport.
- Attending the
school specified
on your visa.
- Enrolling as a
full-time student
during the academic year, and making normal progress toward your
degree.
A “full course load” is 12 credit hours per semester for undergraduates
and 8 credit hours for graduate students. Students with assistantships
must be enrolled for the number of credits required by their department.
- Update your
local address on
Web for Students within 10 days of moving.
- Completing
transfer procedures
when necessary.
- Notifying
International Student
and Scholar Services of changes of program or a change in level of
program,
for example, bachelor to masters program or history to political
science.
- Requesting an
extension if your
program takes longer than the date approved on your I - 20. If you need
an extension you must apply to ISSS 30 - 45 days prior to
expiration.
- Maintaining
health insurance
as required by law.
- Working only
with proper authorization.
Do
not let your I -
20 expire.
return
to top
Maintaining
Status – J - 1 Visa
You are responsible
for
maintaining your status. Failure to do so will result in the loss
of your student status and subject you to deportation. To
maintain
your status you are responsible for the following:
- Maintaining a
valid passport.
- Attending the
school specified
on your visa.
- Enrolling as a
full-time student
during the academic year, and making normal progress toward your
degree.
A “full course load” is 12 credit hours per semester for undergraduates
and 8 credit hours for graduate students. Students with assistantships
must be enrolled for the number of credits required by their department.
- Notifying your
sponsoring school
or agency within 10 days of any change of address.
- Completing
transfer procedures
when necessary.
- Notifying ISSS
of changes of
program or a change in level of program, for example, bachelor to
masters
program or history to political science.
- Requesting an
extension if your
program takes longer than the date approved on your DS - 2019. If
you need an extension you must apply to ISSS 30 - 45 days prior to
expiration.
- Maintaining
health insurance
as required by law.
Do
not let your DS -
2019
expire.
return
to top
Travel
Outside the U.S.
F - 1 students
need
the following documents to re-enter the United States after a temporary
absence:
- Form I - 20 endorsed by ISSS
- Valid Passport
- Valid U.S. Entry
Visa
- Verification of
prior coursework
J
- 1 exchange
visitors
need the following documents to re-enter the United States after a
temporary
absence:
- Valid DS - 2019
endorsed by ISSS
- Valid Passport
- Valid U.S. Entry
Visa
- Verification of
prior coursework
Travel to Canada
and Mexico
You may travel to
Canada
or Mexico (up to 30 days) and re-enter the United States with an
expired
U.S. Entry Visa, if you have all the other documents required for
re-entry.
Please check with
ISSS to
determine if you need a visa to enter Canada.
return
to top
Immigration
Resources
The American
Immigration Resources on the Internet site provides links to
References
on U.S. Immigration Law, Regulations and Procedures Books, Periodicals,
Computer Software, Immigration Lawyers, Consultants and Ancillary
Services
Organizations and Other lists of Immigration Resources on the Internet.
Another
interesting site
is the American Immigration Lawyers
Association
(AILA). This is a national bar association of more than 6,000
attorneys
who practice and teach immigration law. The members represent
U.S.
businesses and industries, students, entertainers, athletes and asylum
seekers. The AILA is an Affiliated Organization of the American
Bar
Association.
Diversity
Immigrant (DV)
"Lottery" Program
For information
about the
Diversity Immigrant (DV) "Lottery" Program please visit the
website
for the United
States Department
of State.
return
to
top
|
