WELCOME TO THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO

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WELCOME TO THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO

• Office of International Programs (OIP)

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International Student Services Staff

• Director Charles
  Crane
• SEVIS Coordinator Lambert Glory
• Program Coordinator Tanya
  Adkinson
• International Student Advisor
  Tina De Sorbo
• International Student Advisor Fermina
  Alarcon
• Senior Administrative Associate Maria
  Morales
• Administrative Associate II
  Karen Metz
• Administrative Assistant
  Kay Nussbaum

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Maintaining YourImmigration Status
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Important Documents and Terms

• Passport
• Must be valid at all times during your stay in
  the U.S.
• When traveling, be sure to check your passport
  expiration date and apply for a renewal well
  ahead of time.

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Renewing your Passport

• To renew your passport, locate your embassy or
  consulate online and apply according to the
  procedures given.
• www.embassy.org
• If your passport is lost or stolen, please visit
  OIP to request a checklist.

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I-94 Form

• White Arrival/Departure card received upon your
  entry in the U.S.
• The I-94 has your visa type, length of stay and
  the 11-digit USCIS Admission Number at the top.
• Always keep this document stapled in your
  passport. A lost or stolen I-94 Form must be
  replaced through USCIS. The cost is 320.

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I-94 Form (2)

• The expiration date on your I-94 may be listed as
  D/S.
• D/S stands for Duration of Status. This means
  your I-94 is valid until the end of your program.
  

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Duration of Status

• Although you are admitted to the U.S. with a
  D/S stamp on your I-94, you still have a time
  limit on your studies.
• The length of your studies and the date to which
  you may stay are shown on the I-20/DS 2019 form.
  It is very important to pay attention to this
  date.

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U.S. Visa Stamp

• The visa stamp in your passport allows you to
  enter the U.S.

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U.S. Visa Stamp (2)

• Once you are admitted to the U.S. by Immigration,
  YOU DO NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT YOUR VISA STAMP.
  You may stay in US with an expired one.
• However, if you travel outside the U.S., you will
  need to have a valid visa in order to be able to
  return to the U.S.

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U.S. Visa Stamp (3)

• You can renew your visa only at a U.S. Embassy
  or Consulate outside the U.S.

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Student Exchange Visitor Information System
(SEVIS)

• Web-based tracking system implemented after
  September 11th terrorist attack.
• SEVIS database receives, stores, processes
  student and dependent data. It is managed by the
  U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

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I-20 and DS 2019 Forms

• I-20 Form is the Certificate of Eligibility for
  F-1 Students.
• DS 2019 Form is the Certificate of Eligibility
  for J-1 Students.
• Your SEVIS number is above the barcode and starts
  with N.

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I-20 and DS 2019 Forms (2)

• I-20 and DS 2019 Forms are issued by the school
  you attend. They are stamped by the U.S. Embassy
  official and by the Immigration officer at the
  port of entry.

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I-20 and DS 2019 Forms (3)

• Keep your Certificate in a safe place.
• If your I-20 or DS 2019 Form is lost or stolen,
  please come to our office and we will re-issue it
  and provide you with further instructions.

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Extension of Stay (F-1, J-1visa)

• Check your I-20/DS-2019 expiration date to
  see whether you need an extension. It is listed
  on Item 5 of your SEVIS I-20 as Completed
  studies no later than __________ or Box 3 of
  your DS 2019 as Form cover Period To__________.

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Extension of Stay (2) (F-1, J-1 visa)

• If you are not able to complete your program
  of study by the expiration date on your I-20 or
  DS 2019 Form, you MUST APPLY FOR AN EXTENSION
  BEFORE THE EXPIRATION DATE.

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Procedure to Extend YourI-20/DS 2019 Form
(F-1,J-1)

• Bring the following to our office
• A letter from your Academic Advisor stating the
  reason why you need an extension
• A copy of your current I-20 or DS 2019 Form
• Your valid passport.
• Your I-94

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Extension of Stay (3)(F-1,J-1)

• Failure to extend your I-20/DS 2019 Form
  before it expires will require filing for
  reinstatement with USCIS. This costs 300.

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School Transfer

• You may not be eligible to transfer to another
  institution not listed on your visa until after
  completion of your first semester.
• If you intended to transfer, please come to
  our office for advice.

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Employment (F-1, J-1)

• As an F-1 or J-1 student, you are allowed to work
  on campus for a maximum of 20 hours a week while
  school is in session, and full time between
  semesters, if you will be enrolling in the next
  semester.

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On-Campus Employment (F-1, J-1)

• The employer must be UTSA or an outside
  company that performs services normally
  considered part of the universitys services for
  students. Such as
• Cafeteria
• Housing
• Bookstore

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Off-Campus Employment (F-1, J-1)

• You are not allowed to work off-campus or to
  engage in a business without specific employment
  authorization. Failure to comply with this
  regulation will result in the loss of your
  student status and subject you to deportation.

No Off Campus Work
No Off Campus Work
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Employment (F-1, J-1) Curricular Practical
Training

• If you are required to do an internship as
  part of your degree, you must receive
  authorization from our office. This is known as
  Curricular Practical Training.
• Undergraduates must be in-status for one year
  prior to CPT authorization.
• Graduates can inquire at any time.
• Your internship must earn credit towards your
  degree.
• Must be a requirement to graduate.
• You cannot work off campus without proper and
  prior authorization!

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Employment (F-1, J-1)Optional Practical
Training

• After completing your degree program, you are
  eligible to apply for a one year working permit.

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Travel (F-1, J-1)

• You must have a recent signature from our
  office on your I-20 or DS 2019 Form to re-enter
  the U.S. after traveling. Bring your form to us
  at least a week before you plan to travel.

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Maintaining F-1/J-1 Status (1)

• You must maintain a full course of study
  EVERY Fall and Spring Semester
• 12 hours for Undergraduates
• 9 hours for Graduates

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Maintaining F-1/J-1 Status (2)

• You must maintain a full course of study during
  summer if it is your first term as an F-1
  student.
• 6 hours for Undergraduates
• 6 hours for Graduates

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Maintaining F-1/J-1 Status (3)

• Before dropping a course that will put you
  below hours, you MUST see your INTERNATIONAL
  advisor!!

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Maintaining F-1/J-1 Status (4)

• Report any major changes to OIP
• Change of Address must first be updated in
  BANNER/ASAP and then our office (OIP). When
  changing your local address in ASAP, please
  choose the Mailing, Local or On-campus option.
  Your Permanent Address should be the address in
  your home country
• Change of Major a letter from your academic
  advisor is required in our office
• Chang of degree level a letter from academic
  advisor is required in our office.
• These changes MUST be reported in SEVIS,
  or you will be out of status.

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Maintaining F-1/J-1 Status (5)

• Keep a valid I-20, PASSPORT and
• I-20/DS 2019 Form
• at all times.
• Do NOT work off campus.
• Always enroll full time (12 hours /9 hours)

No Off Campus Work
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Academic Probation and Suspension (F-1, J-1)

• As an F-1 or J-1 student, should you ever
  become Academically Dismissed or placed under
  probation, you must report to our office to speak
  to an International Student Advisor immediately.

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Criminal Activity

• All students are required to obey federal, state
  and local laws.
• Conviction of a crime may have a serious impact
  on the F-1/J-1 visa students immigration status
  including immediate deportation.

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Grace Period (F-1, J-1)

• At the end of the course of study or Optional
  Practical Training an F-1 visa student is allowed
  to stay an additional sixty (60) days in the U.S.
  This is called the Grace Period. A J-1 visa
  student is authorized to stay an additional
  thirty (30) days.
• If an F-1/J-1 visa student violates federal
  immigration law and loses their status, the
  student must leave the U.S. within fifteen (15)
  days.

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Other Visa Categories

• Can register for classes either part-time or
  full-time.
• Not eligible to work
• When you travel, carry your H-4 approval notice
  with you and make sure your visa and passport are
  valid.

H-4
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Other Visa Categories (2)

• Can register for classes either part-time or
  full-time.
• The SPOUSE of an L-1 is eligible to work only if
  applies for EAD
• When you travel, carry your L-2 approval notice
  with you and make sure your visa and passport are
  valid.

L-2
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Other Visa Categories (3)

• Can register for classes either
• full-time or part-time.
• Dependent spouse can work, if
• applies for work authorization
• with USCIS but must wait
• until receives EAD.
• A dependent child can not
• apply for work authorization.

E-2
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Other Visa Categories (4)

• Cannot take any classes toward a degree unless
  your B-2 visa has been issued by immigration with
  the prospective student annotation.
• If you are here in B-2 status and do not have the
  prospective student annotation on your B-2
  visa, and you have been admitted to this
  university, please come by the Office of
  International Programs.

B-2
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Check Your G-mail Account

• International Programs communicates with
  international students through their g-mail
  e-mail accounts . We send updates and reminders
  regarding immigration and international program
  activities to your G-mail student account.
• Please CHECK your university e-mail account at
  least once a week.
• You can set up AUTO-FORWARDING from your
  g-mail account to the email account you
  frequently use.

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Social Security Card (F-1, J-1)You can apply
for a Social Security card only if you are
employed or have an offer of employment on campus.
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Health InsuranceWaivers
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HEALTH INSURANCE

• All international students holding non-immigrant
  visas are required by university policy to
  maintain comprehensive health insurance while
  enrolled at UTSA (all semester breaks are
  included). Your student account will be
  automatically billed for this insurance.

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Cost of UTSA insurance

• The cost of insurance for the Summer 2008
  semester is 310.00
• In the future, your Summer health insurance
  charge will be combined with your Spring health
  insurance.

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Other Health Insurance

• If you are already covered by an insurance other
  than the one used by UTSA you may be eligible for
  an insurance waiver IF your policy meets the
  following requirements

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Insurance Requirements

• Policy must have been active PRIOR to your entry
  in the U.S.
• Policy must comply with Federal Civil Rights
  Restoration Act of 1987
• Medical Coverage - 100,000
• Medical Evacuation - 25,000
• Repatriation of Remains - 25,000
• Maximum Deductible per Accident/Illness - 300
• PLEASE DO NOT BUY AN INSURANCE POLICY
  
• NOW

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Applying for a Waiver

• To request a waiver please come to the Office of
  International Programs and request the Insurance
  waiver application form. This application form is
  also available at our web-site
• http//www.utsa.edu/intprograms/waiverinfo.cfm
• Do NOT go out and buy a policy today. A waiver
  will not be approved.
• It must pre-exist.

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Summer 2008 Health Insurance Waiver DEADLINE
JUNE 11th, 2008

• No waiver requests will be processed after the
  12th day of classes EACH SEMESTER (Census Day),
  which is June 11th for the Summer 2008 semester.

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Your Orientation Packet(given to you today)

• Your Orientation Packet includes information on
• How to pay tuition
• How to purchase text books
• How to register for classes
• How to buy a meal plan on campus
• How to buy parking permit
• And much, much more!
• PLEASE READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS

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Welcome to UTSA.We wish you success in your
studies.Should you ever have an questions or
difficulties, please come by our office. We are
here to help you! This presentation can also be
viewed on our web-site.
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Office of International Programs

• Location Main Building, Room 1.210
• Business hours 9AM - 4PM Monday through Friday
• Telephone [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• Web-site www.utsa.edu/intprograms/
• E-mail internationalprograms_at_utsa.edu
• Mailing Address One UTSA Circle
  San Antonio, TX 78249-0621