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Maintaining F-1 Visa Status

Listed below is important information about maintaining your F-1 visa status.  If you have any questions, please contact the Student Life Office at 203-371-7846.

SEVIS

  • Stands for: Student & Exchange Visitor Information System
  • Federal mandate that PDSO (Primary Designated School Official) report enrollment, address, part time study, graduation, work authorizations, dependents, etc to USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) formerly called INS.

Passport Check-in with Student Life Office

  • Necessary at the start of your academic program, and again if you start a new academic program
  • Necessary if you change or extend your passport or are issued a new visa

Address/E-mail/Phone

  • You must notify the Student Life Office & the Registrar’s Office of current address/phone number, even when you on Optional Practice Training following graduation
  • Please activate and regularly check your SHU e-mail account.  Correspondence from the Student Life Office will only be sent to your SHU e-mail 

Registration

  • Register each semester ON TIME during PRE-REGISTRATION! Failure to register or remain full time violates your F-1 visa and will cause you to be out of status.
  • Must be full-time according to your program (PDSO records in SEVIS each semester)
    • ESL: must attend full-time (18-23 hours/week) and follow ESL vacation policy
    • Undergraduate: 12 credits each semester
    • Graduate: 9 credits each semester/trimester
  • Academic part-time is limited to one semester or session per degree level for academic difficulties and one semester per degree level for completion of program. Acceptable reasons for part-time study DO NOT include financial hardship or poor academic progress. Part time permission must be granted by the Student Life Office PRIOR to registration or withdrawing
  • You must follow the attendance guidelines set by your academic department to be considered attending class
  • You are limited to 3 credits or one class per semester in a Distance Learning (online) format counting toward your full course load. (ESL is not permitted to participate in Distance Learning

Leave of Absence (LOA)/ Part-Time Study due to Medical Reasons

  • Must be authorized by the Student Life Office within 21 days of becoming unable to attend school
  • Requires documentation from a licensed doctor submitted to the Student Life Office
  • Part-time or leave of absence due to medical reasons limited to one year per degree level (will be documented in SEVIS as Medical Leave of Absence)

Bill Paying

  • To remain in good standing with the University, you must pay your tuition, fees and other expenses at the beginning of the semester or in accordance to a payment plan arranged with the Bursar
  • You must have a zero balance to be eligible for work after graduating (OPT) or to receive a transcript

Grade Point Average (GPA)

  • Undergraduates must have at least a 2.0 GPA to be in good standing
  • Undergraduates must have at least a 2.5 GPA to participate in Co-op or Internship
  • Graduates must generally have at least a 3.0 GPA to be in good standing
  • Graduates must have at least a 3.0 GPA to participate in Co-op or Internship

Passport

  • Must be valid at all times
  • Know your expiration date
  • Renewed at home country's consulate in the U.S. or while at home
  • Lost passports may be replaced by home country consulate

I-20

  • Must be valid at all times
  • Know your expiration date
  • Extensions may be done any time before current form expiration by seeing the Student Life Office; if your form expires and you have not renewed it on time then you will lose your legal right to stay in the U.S.
  • Lost forms may be replaced by the Student Life Office

I-94 card

  • Must be valid at all times, should state "D/S", Duration of Status, as your ending date
  • May be replaced if lost by applying to the USCIS. See the Student Life Office for help

SHU ID card

  • Carry with you as a form of ID and to obtain University services
  • If lost, may be replaced at Student Union Office for a small fee

Traveling

  • Locally: carry school ID, state ID, or driver's license. Carry a copy of your I-94 card.
  • DO NOT CARRY SOCIAL SECURITY CARD unless you need it for a specific reason.
  • In U.S.: carry passport, I-20 and I-94 card
  • Outside of U.S.: have your I-20 form endorsed for travel BEFORE leaving. Carry passport, I-20, I-94 (will be removed when you leave, except for brief visits to a bordering country). Carry school documents (transcript, registration, and payment receipts), proof of financial support, and support letters as needed.
  • Pay attention to health alerts offered by the University’s Health Services regarding travel.


Special Registration (NSEERS)

  • If you are subject to “Special Registration” upon your arrival in the U.S., please follow all instructions given to you. Your I-94 card will be marked "NSEERS". Meet with an international advisor if you need assistance.

Employment

Employment on Campus

  • An F-1 student may work at any qualifying on-campus job (the Bookstore, IT Help Desk, Dining Services, Student Union Manager, etc.). Jobs on campus are very limited, please do not assume that you will be able to secure on-campus employment. The student may only work up to 20 hours a week when the school is in session and full-time when school is not in session.
  • Off-campus jobs are not permitted.
  • Unlawful work is grounds for deportation.

Curricular Practical Training for F-1s

  • Eligible after a minimum of one full academic year; however, some departments require additional study and some departments do not allow CPT at all.
  • Co-op/Internship requires permission from your academic department, the Co-op/Internship Director and the Student Life Office
  • Start working only AFTER receiving written permission by Student Life Office
  • Unlawful work is grounds for deportation
  • ESL students are not eligible for CPT

Optional Practical Training for F-1's

  • Eligible for 12 months following each higher U.S. degree level (i.e., Undergraduate, Master, Doctorate)
  • You may file for OPT up to 90 days before degree completion or 60 days after degree completion. USCIS must receive your application within 30 days of the date the OPT recommendation is made in SEVIS.
  • Start working only AFTER receiving employment card from USCIS and it is valid
  • Remember you still need travel endorsements on I-20 when traveling
  • Work must be related to your major area of study
  • Unlawful work is grounds for deportation
  • ESL students are not eligible for OPT

Economic Hardship

  • Available to F-1's who experience a severe change in their economic support that occurred after beginning school and that was unforeseen and beyond the control of the student/sponsor.
  • See the Student Life Office for specific application process
  • Start working only AFTER receiving an employment card by the USCIS for F-1's
  • Unlawful work is grounds for deportation.


Reinstatement

  • The application to regain lawful student status if you have done something that violates your legal stay in the U.S. Meet with an international advisor to discuss your situation if you have done something that violates your legal stay. Examples of violations include: unauthorized employment, not registering on time, not extending your I-20 form prior to the expiration date, and not receiving prior authorization before dropping below a full course load.
  • Under very limited circumstances will reinstatement be granted

Dependents

  • F-2 spouses may generally not study at the university level
  • F-2 child may study full-time at the elementary or secondary school level (kindergarten through 12th grade)
  • F-2 dependents may not work under any circumstances
  • Documents required for issuance of I-20 for dependents
             • Marriage certificate (in English)
             • Copy of passport of spouse
             • Copy of passport(s) for child/children
             • Proof of financial support for student PLUS dependents

Disciplinary Action

  • SHU must report to the USCIS any disciplinary action taken by the university against an international student as a result of the student being convicted of a crime

Change in Degree Level

  • For example: from ESL to Undergraduate, or starting a second graduate program
  • New I-20 form is required and must be authorized by the Student Life Office for the new degree level prior to starting the new degree

School Transfer

  • Student must notify the Student Life Office of intent to transfer and indicate the school to which the student wishes to transfer BEFORE changing schools
  • Students transferring out of SHU must complete a Withdrawal Form with the Registrar
  • Students transferring to SHU must have their SHU I-20 form issued by the Student Life Office within 15 days of starting at SHU

Grace Periods

  • 60-day grace period applies only when you have finished a program or degree or when your OPT ends
  • 15-day grace period applies if you withdraw from your program with the permission of the Student Life Office, there is no grace period for a student who has violated his or her student status
  • Student & dependents may enter U.S. up to 30 days before the start date given on the I-20 form

Taxes

  • All F students and their dependents must file a federal tax return form each year no later than April 15th
  • SHU scholarship money you receive may be taxable
  • You may have to file a state tax return as well as a federal tax return
  • International students are not exempt from federal and state taxes
  • International students may be exempt from FICA taxes (social security and medicare taxes). Refer to Publication 519 on the IRS web site, www.irs.gov

Revised 8/2011

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