YOUR IMMIGRATION RESPONSIBILITIES

1
YOUR IMMIGRATION RESPONSIBILITIES
2
Immigration
US Citizenship and Immigration Services
(USCIS) The U.S. government office, under DHS,
that is responsible for review of all
immigrant and nonimmigrant petitions. Slutzk
er Center for International Services Syracuse
University office that provides immigration
advise and seminars regarding regulations in
order to help you maintain status Student
and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS)
Database that contains records of F-1, F-2, J-1,
and J-2 non-immigrants Shared between
educational institutions, USCIS, US
consulates and embassies
3
Your Key Responsibilities

• Maintain your status
• Make continuous progress towards your degree
• Be aware of expiration dates of your immigration
  documents and renew in a timely fashion when
  necessary

4
Your Key Responsibilities (cont.)

• Seek prior permission if you want to
• Enroll for less than Full-Time
• Drop courses after late registration
• Take courses at another institution or online
• Apply for employment
• Take an Academic Leave of Absence
• Withdraw from the University
• Transfer to another institution

5
Your Key Responsibilities (cont.)

• Update Your Data
• Personal InformationAddress (local permanent)
  and name within 10 days of the change
• Program of Study (new major, add a 2nd major)
• Program Level (Bachelors, Masters, Doctorate)
• Financial/ Funding Information(scholarship,
  assistantship)
• Completion of Studies Date (extend or shorten
  program

6
Extending Your Program of Study
Individuals in F-1 or J-1 status, must apply for
an extension of program prior to the program
completion date (Item 5 of I-20 or Item 3 of
DS-2019). Submit the Extension Form and
documentation 2 weeks prior to expiration. An
extension will be authorized if there is a
legitimate reason -- Academic reason --
Medical reason Delay of coursework to
participate in a practical or academic training
work experience not required for your degree is
not valid grounds for an extension The Slutzker
Center cannot extend expired documents.
7
Shortening Your Program Of Study

• If you will complete your program of study prior
  to the completion date indicated on your I-20 or
  DS-2019, you must alert the Slutzker Center of
  this change.
• Submit the Special Permission form online
• Submit a letter from your academic department
• indicating your anticipated completion date
• A new I-20 or DS-2019 will be issued with your
  new program completion date.

8
Violations of Your Status

• If you do not comply with all of the immigration
  regulations, then you lose all of the benefits of
  your status
• Resolution of your violation will depend on your
  specific situation
• Consult with an International Student Advisor at
  the Slutzker Center immediately

9
Limitations on individuals in the J category

• If you are subject to 212.2(e) (the 2 year home
  residency requirement), you cannot change
  your immigration status in the U.S.
• Individuals on J-1 visas cannot change their
  primary objectives or category or program of
  study.
• Depending on your program you may be able to
  request dependents to join you.

10
Dependents

• If your dependents are here
• Their legal status is linked to your status
• Their expiration date is linked to your
  expiration date
• F-2s cannot enroll in a degree program and
  cannot seek employment
• All J-2s must have health insurance that meets
  U.S. Department of State requirements
• All J-2s who have issues related to study or
  employment must meet with a Slutzker Center
  Advisor

11
Slutzker Center Seminars

• TRAVEL
• Tuesdays at 11 am and Wednesdays at 2 pm
• ON-CAMPUS EMPLOYMENT
• Tuesdays at 10 am and Fridays at 3 pm
• PRACTICAL TRAINING
• Step 1 Wednesdays at 3 pm
• Step 2 By appointment
• LIFE AFTER PRACTICAL TRAINING
• First Monday of each month at 230 pm
• ACADEMIC TRAINING and OFF-CAMPUS
• EMPLOYMENT (Severe Economic Hardship)
• By appointment only

12
Travel

• Travel Signature
• You must have a valid travel signature from a
  Slutzker Center Advisor to re-enter the U.S.
  after international travel
• - Signature is valid for 1 year from the date
  it was issued
• - New travel signatures and updated
  information can be
• obtained at the Travel Seminar (Tues
  11am Wed 2pm)
• - Must bring passport, visa, I-94
  card, I-20 or DS-2019, and proof of
• health insurance and medical
  evacuation and repatriation coverage
• to seminar
• Travel Documents
• Valid passport, visa, I-94 card, I-20 or
  DS-2019, college ID, transcript, letter of
  registration, financial documentation

13
Travel (cont.)

• Travel to Canada, Mexico, and Adjacent Islands
• Automatic Visa Revalidation to re-enter the
  U.S. from a contiguous
• country or adjacent island on expired visa may
  be possible if you
• meet ICE requirements. You must still carry
  travel documents
• do not surrender I-94 card
• US Visit Entry Procedures
• U.S. Visitor and Immigration Status Indicator
  Technology (US-VISIT)
• is a system for keeping records of the entry
  of non-immigrants
• traveling to and from the United States.
• Your immigration documents will be reviewed
• An inkless finger-scan of your left right index
  finger is conducted
• A digital photograph is taken
• NSEERS Special Registration

14
Travel (cont.)

• Re-entry to the U.S.
• If you surrendered your I-94 card to exit the
  U.S., you will be
• given a new I-94 card to complete in order
  to re-enter the U.S.
• Complete US-VISIT Entry procedures (and NSEERS-if
  necessary)

Date of Entry
Non-Immigrant Status
Length of Stay
If your I-94 is marked improperly, contact the
Slutzker Center.
15
F-2/J-2 Dependent Travel

• Dependent Travel
• Must have a valid travel signature to re-enter
  the U.S.
• Should carry documents similar to those the
  primary F-1 student/J-1 exchange visitor carries
  when traveling
• - Visa - Valid
  passport
• - I-94 card -Valid
  1-20/DS-2019 with current travel signature
• Should carry documentation that the primary is
  enrolled and maintaining their status
• - Transcript/ Letter of
  Enrollment/ Appointment Letter
• May travel separate from the F-1/J-1 primary
• May remain in the U.S. without the primary as
  long as the F-1/J-1 maintains his/her current
  status and will return after a temporary absence
  using the same SEVIS ID number

16
Work Eligibility

• Employment authorization is a benefit of
• maintaining status.
• You must seek necessary authorization and meet
  all
• eligibility requirement.
• Attend an On-Campus Employment Seminar if you are
  seeking on-campus employment
• Attend Practical Training seminar if you plan to
  do an off-campus internship or seek employment in
  your major area of study (F-1)
• Meet with an advisor to discuss severe economic
  hardship employment (F-1) or academic training
  (J-1)
• Complete any necessary paperwork
• e.g., Form I-9 I-765 Application
• Additional information online and at seminars

17
Reminders

• Seek advise from Advisors
• Do not rely on your friends advise when it comes
  to immigration
• Email lescis_at_syr.edu / Contact 443-2457
• Access the Slutzker Center website for
  information and forms
• http//international.syr.edu and SCISNEWS
• Attend a travel seminar prior to departing the
  U.S.
• To receive current travel signature and
  regulatory updates
• Keep all immigration documents current and
  together in a safe
• place
• You may need them for future applications or
  petitions