Important Immigration Information

Maintaining Your F-1 Status
As an F-1 student, you were admitted to the U.S. for "duration of status" (D/S is found on the white I-94 card in your passport). This means you are permitted to stay in the U.S. as long as you maintain your status by fulfilling the requirements of being an F-1 student.

The visa is a stamp or sticker placed in your passport by a U.S. Embassy or Consulate and is granted for entry purposes only. F-1 status is granted when you enter the U.S. and is regulated by the USCIS. Even if your visa is valid, you can lose your legal F-1 student status if you do not continue to comply with immigration laws regulating your stay in the U.S. If you fail to maintain your legal student status, you will need to speak to the Immigration Advisor and discuss the process of applying to USCIS for reinstatement.

Government Regulations You Must Follow in Order to Maintain Your Legal Status:

• Maintain a valid passport at all times, unless exempt from passport requirements.
• Attend the school that issued your I-20 document.
• Be enrolled as a full-time student (12 credit hours) every quarter.

The possibility of less-than full time enrollment exists in special circumstances, and ONLY when the exception is documented on the government website BEFORE the quarter begins.

Apply for an extension of your program if you have added an additional program or you cannot complete your studies by the ending date listed on item five on your I-20.
You must apply for a program extension within 30 days BEFORE the completion date on your current I-20.

Obtain a new I-20 whenever you make a change in degree levels.
A new I-20 must be issued within 15 days of the beginning of classes of your first semester of your new program. This would include changing from an Associate's Degree program to a Bachelor's Degree program.

Complete an official immigration transfer whenever you change educational institutions.
Please note: An immigration transfer is a completely separate process from transferring academic credit from another school. An immigration transfer is not complete until an Immigration Advisor processes the transfer on the new school's I-20 form.

Work off-campus ONLY if you have first received authorization from an Immigration Advisor or USCIS.
On-campus work does not require authorization. It is limited to part-time (20 hours or less per week) during the academic quarters. On-campus employment may be full-time (more than 20 hours per week) during the official school breaks. When you work on-campus, you must maintain your full-time student status or your employment will become illegal.

Request a travel signature on your I-20 (pg. 3) from the International Advisor before leaving the U.S.

Report any change of address within ten days to the INS on Form AR-11.

Optional Practical Training (OPT) - Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a temporary employment authorization for a total of twelve full months that is related to an F-1 student’s academic program. How can the OPT be used? OPT can be divided into shorter segments. OPT can be used during your program or saved for after completion of your degree program. Part-time OPT used during your program will be counted at the rate of 50% (two months part-time OPT authorization equals one month full-time OPT). NOTE: Part-time employment is 20 hours per week and less; full-time is more than 20 hrs. The entire process takes approximately three months.

To be eligible for Optional Practical Training:

• The student must have been lawfully enrolled in full-time status for one academic year preceding the OPT application.
• The student must be in valid F-1 status at the time of application.
• If applying for OPT based on graduation, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) must RECEIVE your OPT application BEFORE your last week in classes.

Pick up an OPT packet from the International Office:
To send in the application, you will also need the following;

• Check or money order for $180 made payable to: USCIS
• 2 recent, passport-style photos according to specifications in packet.

Dates of OPT Authorization: The OPT card is approved for a specific beginning and ending date. You are required to submit a preferred beginning and end date for your OPT card. These dates must be given to the immigration advisor at the time of application. Please have these dates ready to give to the advisor. If you are unsure, you may discuss this with the advisor at the time of application.

What will be the dates of my OPT?
You request the dates of your OPT authorization at the time of application. Discuss with the Immigration Advisor your preferred dates at the time of application. For post-completion OPT, USCIS requires that the OPT be completed within fourteen months of a student's graduation date. You should take this into account when determining the dates for your OPT.

When you have received OPT authorization, you use the time requested regardless of whether or not you have actually worked. (Ex.: Your work dates are 07/20/05 to 07/19/06 but you didn't start working until 12/05. Your work authorization still expires on 07/19/06).

What is my visa status during OPT?
While your OPT application is pending and after you receive OPT approval, your non-immigrant status remains F-1.

Can I travel while my OPT is pending?
If you have completed your studies and your OPT application has not been approved (if you have not received your EAD), it is not advisable to travel outside of the United States.

Summary of Items Needed to Reenter the United States:
(While on Optional Practical Training after Completion of Studies)
1. Valid passport & valid F-1 entry visa
2. Valid I-20 form endorsed by the Immigration Advisor within the preceding 6 months
3. Valid EAD (Employment Authorization Document/card)
4. Letter from your employer showing temporary employment in the field of study.