New International Student Orientation: Immigration Rules

1
New International Student OrientationImmigrati
on Rules Regulations

• International Student Services
• 323-241-5277
• www.groschda_at_lasc.edu
• General email alias lascintlstu_at_lasc.edu

2
Welcome to the LASC Southwest College!

• International Student Services
• and Education Abroad
• is here to serve YOU.
• WELCOME to LASC - were glad youre here!

3
Phone Home
4
Please turn off or silence your cell phone
5
Have you checked in yet?

• New F-1 students are REQUIRED to check in with
  LASC ISS within 10 days of the start of the
  semester
• Bring your documents to ISS Office -
• Room 116 Student Services Building
• I-20
• Passport
• I-94 card

6
Form I-20 (F-1 students)

• Biographical data
• Program of study
• Funding
• Barcode
• SEVIS ID

7
Your I-20must be valid at all times!

• You must ensure that your I-20 is valid, the
  program dates are current, and the program
  information is correct.
• We can extend your I-20 BEFORE it expires.
• We cannot extend your I-20 AFTER it expires.
• You may receive an email alert from LASC ISS
  before your
• I-20 expires.
• If your I-20 ends, your F-1 student status will
  terminate.

8
Visa Information
9
Visa Information

• After you received your Form I-20, you applied
  for an F-1 visa at a US consulate.
• Your F-1 visa has an expiration date. If the VISA
  expires while you are in the US, it is not a
  problem.
• Travel outside the US requires a valid visa to
  reenter the US.
• LASC ISS provides international travel and
  immigration information throughout the semester.

10
I-94 Card

• 11-digit ID number
• White card that was completed for you by a US
  customs official at port of entry

• If you were admitted on an F-1 visa, your I-94
  card is marked D/S (Duration of Status).
• Make a copy of your I-94 card.
• Do not lose your card. There is a USCIS fee of
  300 and a lengthy process to replace it!
• Advise LASC ISS if you lose your passport and/or
  I-94.

11
Passport
12
Maintain a Valid Passport

• Your passport must be valid at least 6 months
  into the future
• Passport renewal procedures vary, depending on
  country typically, you may renew your passport
  6 months prior to the expiration date
• Contact your countrys embassy in the US to
  determine the procedure for obtaining a new
  passport
• You may receive an automated email from the LASC
  ISS office when your passport is about to expire

13
Special Registration (NSEERS)

• Certain nonimmigrant's must Special Register
• Some nationals of Iran, Libya, Sudan and Syria.
• Certain nonimmigrant's designated by the US State
  Department.
• Any other nonimmigrant who is identified by
  immigration officers at ports of entry.
• Nonimmigrant's who must special register and do
  not comply with special registration requirements
  will be considered out of status and may be
  subject to penalties.
• Contact LASC ISS if you are subject to Special
  Registration. We can advise you on this issue.

14
SEVISStudent Exchange Visitor Information
System
SEVIS reports the following information to USCIS
(United States Citizenship and Immigration
Services) and ICE (Immigration and Customs
Enforcement)

• Personal Address Information
• Financial Informationeducation funding
• Academic Program Informationfull time/part time
  enrollment, major changes, disciplinary
  actions, extension of program
• Employment information optional/curricular
  practical training, off campus employment
  authorization
• Termination or completion of study
• Dependent information

15
Are you a new transfer student?

• A SEVIS transfer (transfer of your SEVIS record)
  is different from an academic transfer (transfer
  of past academic credit and current program)

• If you attended another institution in the US in
  Fall 2010 and have not obtained an LASC I-20, you
  must transfer your SEVIS record to LASC. Contact
  LASC ISS to complete this process.

16
Full-time Enrollment

• F-1 degree-seeking students must enroll and
  complete full-time credit in the fall and spring
  semesters to maintain lawful immigration status.
• ENROLL IN and COMPLETE the required number of
  units.

• There are limited reasons for under-enrollment.
  You must have permission from LASC ISS prior to
  under-enrollment.

17
Full-time Enrollment

• STUDENTS
• Must enroll in and complete 12 Units every
• fall and spring semester

18
ONLINE Courses

• US immigration regulations limit international
  students to only ONE online course per semester
  toward the minimum full-time enrollment
  requirement. However, exceptions are being made
  to Community College Students.
• You can take more than one online course, but
  only one will meet your full-time enrollment
  requirements.

19
Independent Study Courses

• Do not generally count toward the full-time
  enrollment requirement. They are not required to
  be completed within a given semester, nor do they
  require in-class time.
• An Independent Study course must be a degree
  requirement to count toward full-time enrollment.
  
• The LASC ISS office must have documentation in
  your file from your academic advisor regarding
  the necessity of the independent study course.

20
Other Enrollment Issues

• Iincompleteor N no credit assigned -
  grades do NOT count toward the full-time
  requirement.
• Auditing a course does NOT count toward the
  full-time requirement.
• Withdrawal from a course at ANY point in the
  semester does NOT count toward the full-time
  requirement.
• Courses that BEGIN in the middle of the semester
  do NOT count toward the full-time enrollment

You must COMPLETE the required number of Units
each fall and spring semester to maintain your
immigration status.
21
F-2 Dependents

• F-2 dependents CANNOT study in the US.
• F-2 dependents must be approved for a change of
  status to F-1 by the USCIS prior to commencing
  study at the university. Applications take 6-8
  months to be approved by USCIS. Plan Ahead.
• LASC ISS provides support for the application
  procedure for a change of visa status. Apply at
  least 6 months in advance.
• You do not need a private immigration attorney to
  apply for a change of status. If you wish, you
  may opt to do so, but the LASC ISS office
  routinely provides this service at NO CHARGE to
  students.

22
Employment in the US

• USCIS allows F-1 students to work up to
• 20 hours per week on campus during the fall
  and spring semester without special permission
• Employment must be on the LASC campus.
• F-1 students may work more than 20 hours per week
  on campus during school vacations (summer break,
  spring break and fall break)

23
ON-Campus Employment

• You can only work on the campus of the school
  that issued your Current I-20
• Must successfully complete one (1) semester with
  12 units
• Minimum GPA-2.0, may vary
• Must be enrolled in 12 units for Fall/Spring (per
  UCSIS and LACCD)

24
ON-Campus Employment Cont

• To find a job, student should visit each
  department and ask if they are hiring.
• Campus is on limited budget but there are several
  international students working on-campus
• Most on-campus jobs involve customer service or
  assisting other students
• Assignment renewal is done every semester based
  on performance

25
On-Campus Employment-ISS Office

• Request for On-Campus Employment Permission Form
  is found in our office or online.

26
CAUTION! Employment in the US
You must receive permission from the USCIS or
the LASC ISS office to be LEGALLY employed
off-campus
27
Off-campus Employment Authorization

• You may work off-campus ONLY with permission from
  USCIS or LASC ISS
• Most students cannot apply for off-campus work
  authorization until they have been in full-time
  student status for one academic year
• LASC ISS provides numerous employment
  authorization workshops each semester schedule
  will be posted on LASC ISS website on or after
  the third week of semester

28
Social Security Numbers

• SSNs are issued for tax purposes only. You
  cannot receive a SSN for identification purposes.
  
• Dependents cannot receive an SSN.
• You must have a Social Security Number (SSN) to
  work in the US
• ISS provides complete instructions and support on
  SSN applications

29
Employment in the US
Do NOT work off-campus without permission from
the USCIS or LASC ISS.
Off Campus WORK
30
Termination and Reinstatement

• A violation of status will result in a
  termination of your F-1 status
• Students whose F-1 status is terminated may
  qualify for a Reinstatement of Status
• You must apply with the aid of LASC ISS directly
  to USCIS requesting reinstatement back into F-1
  status
• This option is not available for all violations,
  notably employment violations

31
Travel Information

• Travel within the US does not require a travel
  signature from LASC ISS
• Travel outside the US requires that your
  I-20/DS2019 be signed for travel by LASC ISS
• Drop off documents at LASC ISS one to two weeks
  prior to international travel
• Visa expired? You must apply for and receive a
  new visa before reentering the US
• We recommend you carry clear copies of your
  immigration documents if you travel to US border
  areas or large metropolitan areas

Travel Signature
32
Change of Address Procedure

• International students must update their address
  within ten days of moving.
• Please submit a completed Personal Data form to
  the ISS office. You can find this document on our
  web page or in the ISS office.

This is a requirement of your visa status
33
COMMUNICATION IS KEY!

• LASC ISS communicates regularly with students by
  email
• Bookmark and check ISS website regularly
  www.lasc.edu
• CPT/OPT employment
• authorization workshops

34
LASC ISS Staff

• Darren Grosch-Director/ PDSO
• 323-241-5277
• Blanca Rodriguez- Counselor/ DSO
• 323-241-5200
• Monica Lanier-Counselor For Nursing Students Only
• Jackie Hernandez-Office Assistant

35
LASC ISS Office Hours

• Monday Wednesday
• 9-1230, 130-5
• Thursday
• 12-7
• We look forward to seeing you soon!

36
LASC ISS Contact Information

• International Student Services
• 1600 Imperial Highway
• Phone [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• Website www.lasc.edu
• General email alias lascintlstu_at_lasc.edu