Immigration Information for New F1 International Students

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Immigration Information for New F-1
International Students
Fall 2007 Iowa State University International
Students and Scholars (ISS)
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Purposes of this Session

• To provide you with information on how to
  maintain your non-immigrant status (F-1).
• To reduce and prevent later confusions or
  difficulties.
• To help you benefit from opportunities that are
  available to you.

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About the ISS
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International Students and Scholars

• 3248 Memorial Union
• Ames, IA 50011-1130
• Phone [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• http//www.iastate.edu/internat_info/
• Office Hours (M-F) 800 a.m. 500 p.m.
• Summer Hours (M-F) 730 a.m. 400 p.m.

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Walk-Ins Appointments

• Walk-In Hours (M-F) 130 p.m. 330 p.m.
• Appointments
• By Phone at [phone]
• Please call us if you are late or want to cancel
  the appointment.

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On-line Services

• News Updates
• Upcoming events
• Forms
• Other useful information

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Immigration Documents
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Passport

• Your passport is issued by the federal government
  of your country of citizenship.
• You MUST NOT allow your passport to expire while
  you are in the U.S.
• The U.S. government requires foreign passports to
  be valid for at least six months into the future.
• Contact your home country embassy for information
  on extending your current passport or obtaining a
  new passport.
• You must have a valid passport to enter the U.S.
• Exception Countries that have passport validity
  agreements with the U.S. government.

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Visa vs. Status

• A visa is a stamp in your passport from a U.S.
  Embassy.
• Use it to enter or re-enter the U.S. after
  traveling.
• Your visa can expire while you are inside the
  U.S., and its OK.
• Renew your visa outside the U.S. when traveling,
  if necessary.

• Your status (F-1, F-2, J-1, J-2) is your legal
  right to be in the U.S. determined by the U.S.
  Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
• You should always protect and maintain your
  immigration status by following the laws

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Form I-94

• Arrival/Departure Number (I-94 number)
• Date you entered the U.S.
• Your Port of Entry (POE)
• Your immigration status (F-1, F-2, J-1, J-2)
• How long you can stay in the U.S. (D/S stands for
  Duration of Status)

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Form I-94
                     
___________
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Form I-20

• Personal Information (Last Name, Date of Birth,
  Citizenship, etc.)
• SEVIS Number (above the bar code)
• School Name and School Code
• Program Level (Undergraduate, Master, Doctorate)
• Degree Program/Major
• Program Start Date and Program End Date
• Financial Requirements and Financial Supports
• Work Authorizations (Page 3)
• Travel Signature (Page 3)

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Form I-20 (Front Page)
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Form I-20 (3rd Page)
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Maintaining F-1 Status
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Maintaining F-1 StatusRegister Full-Time

• Register full-time during the fall spring
  semesters.
• 9 semester hours for graduate students.
• 12 semester hours for undergraduate students.
• OR receive an authorization to reduce course load
  from an ISS advisor.

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Maintaining F-1 StatusRegister Full-Time

• You must get PRIOR APPROVAL from an ISS advisor
  before you can drop below full-time registration
• Ask your major professor to complete a Request
  for Reduced Course Load form EVERY semester you
  enroll less than full-time.
• Give the form to ISS either before the start of
  classes or before you drop a class if the
  semester has already begun.
• Failure to get prior approval is considered by
  the UCIS to be a violation of your status!

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Maintaining F-1 StatusRegister Full-Time

• What are acceptable reasons for enrolling less
  than full-time?
• Holding a graduate assistantship
• Completing all required coursework and making
  normal progress on thesis/dissertation (must
  register for research credits)
• In final semester of study and dont need to take
  full-time hours

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Maintaining F-1 StatusRegister Full-Time

• In first semester of study and having
  difficulties with English language, reading
  requirements, American teaching methods, or
  improper course placement (can be used ONLY
  ONCE)
• Show documentation of serious medical condition.
  This requires a very detailed letter from your
  physician or licensed clinical psychologist.

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Maintaining F-1 StatusDropping all your classes

• Please see an ISS advisor first.
• If you drop all your classes after obtaining
  approval from an ISS advisor, you can only remain
  in the U.S. for 15 days.
• If you drop without seeing an ISS advisor, you
  must leave the U.S. immediately.
• If you have obtained approval from an ISS advisor
  to drop because of medical reasons, you may be
  eligible to stay in the U.S. for one year.

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Maintaining F-1 StatusProgram Extension

• NEVER let your I-20 expire!
• Get a new I-20 from ISS BEFORE the expiration
  date.
• The expiration date is the ending date listed on
  the I-20 under item 5.
• Come to ISS at least one month prior to the
  expiration date so that we can issue you a new
  I-20.
• If you let your document expire without getting a
  new one, it will be nearly impossible to fix and
  you may have to leave the U.S.!

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Form I-20 Item 5 (Program End Date)
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Maintaining F-1 StatusReporting Change of Address

• You must report any changes of your local address
  by changing your information on the AccessPlus.
• Each change must be made within 10 days of
  moving. Post office boxes CANNOT be used.
• Special Registration students need to make the
  change in AccessPlus and notify the USCIS within
  10 days by mailing the Form AR-11SR.

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Maintaining F-1 StatusTransferring to Another
School

• Contact the school you want to transfer to and
  ask about their process.
• If you wish to transfer from ISU to another U.S.
  school, we recommend that you meet with an ISS
  advisor.
• For additional details, including the procedure
  to follow if you need to transfer, how you can
  stay in the U.S. while waiting to transfer to
  another school, or how you can continue working
  if transferring, meet with an ISS advisor.

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What does it mean tofall out of status?
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Causing Out of Status

• Drop below full-time without receiving an
  approval from ISS advisor.
• Did not report address change within 10 days of
  moving.
• Expired passport
• Expired I-20
• Working off-campus without proper authorization

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Results of Failing toMaintain Your Status

• You will need to apply for a reinstatement, but
  with very few exceptions this will be difficult
  or impossible to obtain.
• Unless you are reinstated, you are not eligible
  for any F-1 benefits (CPT, OPT, etc.)
• You may be deported.

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More Consequences

• You might not be able to re-enter the U.S. until
  you get a new visa in your own country.
• You might be barred from re-entering the U.S. for
  three or ten years in any type of status.
• You might not be able to change to another
  non-immigrant status, such as H-1B.
• You might not be able to adjust to Permanent
  Resident status (get a green card).

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Employment Opportunities
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Maintaining F-1 StatusF-1 Employment

• Can work on-campus up to 20 hours/week during the
  fall and spring semesters.
• During the summer sessions and breaks, you may
  work full-time (more than 20 hours/week).
• No permission is required to work on-campus under
  these circumstances.

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Maintaining F-1 StatusEmployment

• You MUST obtain a permission from the USCIS IN
  ADVANCE for any off-campus employment.
• Must meet with an ISS advisor before beginning
  off-campus work, otherwise you are working
  illegally.
• You will only be eligible for off-campus work in
  very specific situations, hence the need to meet
  with an ISS advisor to determine eligibility and
  get proper authorization.

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Off-Campus Employment

• F-1 Practical Training
• Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
• Optional Practical Training (OPT)
• Severe Economic Hardship
• Employment with an International Organization

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Maintaining StatusEmployment

• Do not work after your graduation day unless you
  have an EAD for Optional Practical Training.
• Your I-20 may still have a valid date after
  graduating, but it doesnt matter graduation
  makes an I-20, and consequently your ability to
  remain in the U.S., invalid UNLESS you have
  applied for OPT or have applied to change your
  status within 60 days following graduation.

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F-2 Dependents
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Regulations for F-2 Dependents

• F-2s can NEVER work legally, anywhere, under any
  circumstances there is no way to get legal work
  authorization for an F-2.
• F-2s can only take classes on recreational or
  avocational basis. (Does not include elementary
  and high school students.)
• If traveling outside the U.S., your F-2
  dependents must carry their own I-20 with a valid
  travel signature from an ISS adviser.

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Maintaining StatusF-2 Dependents

• If the F-1 student in not in valid status,
  neither is the F-2 dependents.
• If the F-1 student leaves the U.S. for more than
  a short absence (5 months), the F-2 dependents
  must also leave.
• If the F-1 student obtains a program extension,
  the F-2s also receive the same extension.

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Other Important Information
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Health Insurance Requirement

• All international students are required to have
  health insurance coverage while they are in the
  U.S.
• For more information about your health insurance,
  please contact
• Student Scholar Health Insurance Program
• 0570 Beardshear Hall
• Phone [phone]
• E-mail isusship_at_iastate.edu

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Traveling Outside the U.S.

• You need
• Valid passport (must be valid 6 months into the
  future)
• Valid U.S. visa (with exceptions)
• Signature of an ISS advisor on the last page of
  your I-20
• I-94 Arrival/Departure Record card.
• You may also need

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Traveling Outside the U.S.

• Evidence of your financial support
• Transcripts from all schools (Even those from
  past U.S. schools).
• If you do not have copies, contact your school
  and ask for copies as soon as possible - you
  never know when you are going to travel.

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is your U.S. visa valid?

• What if your visa has expired, or will expire
  before you need to re-enter the U.S.?

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Travel Abroad
Travel within North America
VS.

• A valid U.S. visa is required to re-enter the
  United States.

• A valid U.S. visa is not required to re-enter the
  United States if certain conditions are met.
  (Excludes citizens of Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya,
  North Korea, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.)

(Includes only Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean
islands adjacent to the U.S. if you are traveling
for less than 30 days)
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Applying for a New U.S. Visa

• Can be done only outside of the U.S. at an
  embassy or consulate.
• If you apply in a third country for a U.S. visa
  and are denied, you will have to return to your
  home country and apply for the visa again before
  being allowed to re-enter the U.S.

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Traveling Outside the U.S.

• Note If you are visiting a country other than
  your own country, you need to contact that
  countrys embassy to determine if you need a visa
  to enter. See this website for consulate and
  embassy contact information www.embassyworld.com
  

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SEVIS

• SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information
  System) is an internet-based information and
  notification system operated by the USCIS.
• ISS is mandated to report
• Your program level, Major, Program start/end date
• Your enrollment (full-time or below full-time)
• Your current address
• CPT or OPT Authorization

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Drivers License

• Must wait 30 days before can obtain license (need
  to establish residency). Will need to show either
  a lease, electric bill, or phone bill with your
  name on it (same for spouse).
• You will need to take the followings
• Passport
• I-20
• I-94

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Social Security Number

• You can apply for a Social Security Number only
  when you have been offered a job.
• You must take the followings with you
• Job offer letter
• Social Security Letter or Letter of Enrollment
• Passport
• I-94
• I-20
• 600 5th Street, Suite 100, Ames, IA 50010
  Phone [phone]

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Last But Not Least

• Talk with an ISS advisor if you plan to take more
  than one online class.
• Talk with an ISS advisor if you plan to take
  classes at two schools (concurrent enrollments).
• Complete Form I-9 with ISS if you are employed
  on-campus.
• Apply for an ISU e-mail account. You may set it
  to forward all messages to your personal e-mail
  account.
• Be pro-active in communicating with ISS.