Immigration 101: Maintaining Your Immigration Status

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Immigration 101MaintainingYour Immigration
Status
International Student Orientation Winter 2013
Orientation Julia Wells, International Student
Advisor
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Immigration RegulationsWhy are they important?

• It is your responsibility to know, understand and
  comply with all immigration regulations
• Failure to comply can result in loss of valid F
  or J status
• To avoid problems, always ask first!
• Ask the OIS, not friends
• Come to seminars
• Read the OIS website for information
• Read the OIS emails for updates

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SEVIS

• Student and Exchange Visitor Information System
• Database for information concerning
• student, program of study, and employment
• Needs to be up-to-date and accurate
• Good rule- If anything changes on your
• I-20 or DS-2019, inform the OIS to receive
• a new one

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6 Rules to Staying in Status

• Reporting your arrival Check-in
• Maintain a full course of study
• Make normal progress toward
  completing your degree
• Change your address within 10 days
• Keep all documents valid
• (I-20/DS-2019, passport, visa, I-94 card)
• Work only with authorization

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1st Rule Check - In

• Mandatory
• Bring Passport, I-94, Visa and ALL I-20s (F
  students) or DS-2019s (J students). See OIS
  check-in website for complete list.
• January 2 January 11 (no 1/3 or 1/4)- MUST SIGN
  UP FIRST!
• OIS will process your arrival with the U.S.
  government and issue you a new I-20
• Need to complete before getting your
• EagleCard
• Social Security Number (SSN)
• Michigan drivers license

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Rule 2 Full-time Study
All F-1 and J-1 students MUST be enrolled
full-time during Fall and Winter terms

• Summer semester is optional
• You can only take 1 online course toward minimum
  course load. If it is your last term, or you are
  taking only one course, then the course CANNOT be
  online.

Minimum Course Load
Undergraduate level 12
Graduate level 8
Graduate Assistant 6
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Below Full-time

• Three Options
• Academic Difficulties (no less than 50 full
  time) CAN USE ONLY ONE TIME
• English language
• Unfamiliarity with teaching reading requirement
• Improper course placement (not enough classes for
  you to take)
• Medical Reasons (maximum 1 year / 3 terms)
• Final Term of Study
• Submit Reduced Hours Form to OIS for SEVIS
  approval BEFORE you drop any classes
• Check university calendar!!!
• Last day to drop a class and get 100 money back
  (Jan 16)
• Last day to get a W grade (March 25)

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Concurrent Student

• Fall and Winter Term
• Must enroll at EMU in 50 of the minimum credits
• Should seek approval from
• Financial aid
• Academic Advisors
• Summer Term
• No minimum required credits at EMU

You need OIS approval every semester you take
classes at another school. If interested, come
to the OIS for request form, approval letter and
detailed procedures!
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Rule 3 Make Progress Toward Degree

• Incompletes do not count toward
  minimum required course load
• Probation
• You will be placed on probation if your GPA is
  below EMUs good standing (3.0 grads, 2.0
  undergrads)
• Avoid by seeking help early and using EMU
  academic resources!

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Rule 4Address

• You must update your my.emich account with your
  new address (phone number and email too) within
  10 days of any change.
• It is your responsibility to make the change with
  the U.S. Postal Service.

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Rule 5 Keep Important Documents Valid

• Passport
• Visa Stamp
• I-94
• I-20 / DS-2019
• If any of these documents are lost or stolen,
  contact OIS immediately

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Passport

• MUST be valid at least 6 months into the future
• Contact home country consulate to renew your
  passport
• When you receive a new passport, submit a copy to
  OIS

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Visa

• Document to enter the United States
• Does not determine length of stay
• Can expire during program of study
• Must renew for REENTRY
• Automatic Visa Revalidation

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I-94

• Receive upon entry into United States
• MUST be surrendered upon exit of United States
• Do NOT lose
• Cost 330 to replace

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I-20 / DS-2019

• Program extension
• If your I-20/DS-2019 expires before you
  complete your program, apply for an extension
  before expiration
• Request new I-20/DS-2019 to update name, major,
  educational level, finances, dependents, ESL
  attainment

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Travel and Re-entry

• Get travel signature on I-20/DS-2019
• Need to be registered for the next
• semester
• Submit to OIS at least 1 week
• before leaving
• Valid Passport (6 months into future)
• Valid Visa
• Automatic Visa Revalidation
• Need to renew at U.S. Consulate outside U.S.
• Give your I-94 card to flight agents

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Rule 6Employment with Authorization

• Two types of employment
• On Campus
• Off Campus (called Practical Training)
• Unauthorized employment is a serious violation
  of your non-immigrant status

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ON-campus Employment

• Conditions
• In status maintaining your F-1/J-1 rules
• 20 hrs/week or LESS during school session
• 40 hrs/week or LESS during break / holiday
• J1 permission from program sponsor, must have
  On-campus Work Authorization letter from OIS
• Eligible Employers
• ALL EMU departments
• On-campus commercial firms
• EMU offsite locations

Come to the Employment Session! TOMORROW (Friday)
at 1115 a.m., Student Center, room 302
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OFF-campus employment

• Practical Training
• Work must be related to your major
• Must have completed 8 months of study
• 2 types
• Curricular Practical Training (CPT)- during
  program
• Optional Practical Training (OPT) after program
• Attend an CPT or OPT seminar to learn more

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Program Completion

• F-1s must leave the US within 60 days
• J-1s must leave the US within 30 days
• Your Options
• Gain admissions to a new program PRIOR to the
  completion of current program
• F-1s can apply for optional practical training
  (OPT)
• J-1s need to see the Program Advisor for academic
  training (AT)
• Change OR adjust your immigration status prior to
  program completion

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Diversity Visa Visa Lottery

• The diversity Immigrant Visa Program makes
  available 50,000 permanent resident visas
  annually to persons from countries with low rates
  of immigration to the United States
• Interested???
• http//travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types_1322
  .html

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Employment Seminars

• We offer many types of seminars
• Library (1/18, 10 a.m., Halle library)
• Lets Talk
• Academics (1/18, 1 p.m., Halle library)
• Others Employment, Communication, American
  Culture
• Communication Skills
• Off-campus Employment Rules (CPT, OPT, H-1B)
• Employment Skills
• Please register on our website. JOIN OIS
  Facebook (EMU OIS) for more!

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My.emich

• Always read emails from OIS
• Immigration information
• Upcoming seminars
• Upcoming campus events
• Fun trips off campus
• Holiday parties
• Cultural activities

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Special Events

• Ice Skating, Friday, 1/4
• Meet at OIS at 1145
• Coffee Hour,
  Friday, 1/11
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  3 pm, Student Center 320
• Detroit Auto Show
• Friday, 1/25

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Getting Involved

• Conversation Partner Program (due 1/7)
• Student Organizations
• OIS activities
• EMU activities
• Learn outside the classroom
• by meeting others!

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Office of International Students

• OIS website and seminars
• General Questions
• Ask the front desk
• Resource library with information, forms
• Meet with an OIS advisor
• Make an appointment online
• Walk-in hours (Monday through Thursday
  from 1 to 4 pm).
• Always ask to avoid problems later!!!!

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Office of International Students

• 244 EMU Student Center
• Tel [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• www.emich.edu/ois
• ois_at_emich.edu

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OIS office disclaimer

• Information and suggestions given by OIS staff
  is given in good faith and based on upon
  available information. This is not to be
  constructed as legal advice and OIS/EMU accepts
  no legal responsibility for its accuracy.

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