Maintaining your F-1 Visa Status Texas State University International Office

Immigration Terms/Acronyms to know DHS – Department of Homeland Security USCIS – United States Citizenship and Immigration Services SEVP – Student and Exchange Visitor Program SEVIS – Student and Exchange Visitor Information System web based program keeps your immigration information (i.e., SEVIS Number) ICE – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement CBP – Customs and Border Protection Study in the States – information hub for international students

Being an F-1 Student in the U.S F-1 students MUST follow specific regulations F-1 student status is classified as a non-immigrant status, which means you do not have intent to immigrate into the U.S. Your F-1 student status is for studying in the U.S., but does have certain privileges such as work authorization. You are required to submit the following documents to the International Office: Signed I-20 Passport Visa I-94.

Report to the International Office upon arrival *IMPORTANT! You must immediately submit your immigration documents to the International Office upon arrival to the US. Failure to do so could jeopardize your status. http://www.international.txstate.edu/prospective/orientation.html. If you cannot submit your documents at check-in, we will gather them at the International Student Resource Fair. If you cannot attend check-in or the resource fair please contact the International Office for late check-in dates and times.

Form I-20 The I-20 is a ”certificate of eligibility” and is needed to travel in and out of the U.S. The I-20 should always reflect accurate information (name, institution, program, major, funding source, etc.). Treat your I-20 like your passport. Do not damage or lose your I-20. Start Date – program start date and first day of classes You may enter 30 days before the Start Date. End Date – anticipated date of program of study completion. Program extensions will need to be requested before the I-20 end date. Change of Major – If you change your major you need to request a new I-20. Change of Degree Level – If you begin a new program (Bachelor's to Master's), you must obtain a new I-20 with the new degree information. Your new I-20 request must be made prior to classes beginning or any travel. Travel Signature – a DSO’s signature on the back of your I-20 is required prior to travel outside of the US. This certifies that you are eligible to re-enter. Travel signatures are valid for 6 months. *You must keep all copies of your I-20s*

These are your other immigration documents: Passport (identity) I-94 (Admission & Departure Record) U.S.VISA (entry permit) Your must keep your passport valid during your time as an F-1 student in the U.S. Keep your passport valid for at least 6 months into the future AT ALL TIMES. Renew your passport with your embassy if it expires while you are in the U.S. You can access your Electronic I-94 on the Custom Borders and Protection Agency (CBP) website by entering your passport information. D/S on your I-94 represents “Duration of Status.” This means F-1 students may remain in the U.S. as long as they maintain their F-1 student status. *If your electronic I-94 card has an error email CBPHOUI94@cbp.dhs.gov, the issue will be researched and corrected. If corrections cannot be made you will go the the nearest CBP office in Austin or San Antonio. Obtaining a U.S. visa is necessary for entry to the U.S. It is your Key to enter. IF your U.S. visa expires while you are in the U.S., it will not affect your F-1 status. You do not have to keep your visa stamp from expiring, but you must be in valid “F-1 Status" and keep your I-20 from expiring.

Update Address IMPORTANT! Other requirements: F-1 students are required to report any change of address to the International Office within 10 days after moving. We need your local address and phone number to report and register you in the SEVIS database with in 20 days of your program start date. Update address using our: online portal.

Full-Time Enrollment Requirements F-1 students are required to enroll in a full-course of study each long semester (Fall/Spring). At Texas State full-course enrollment is defined as: 12 hours for an Undergraduate Student 9 hours for a Graduate/Doctoral Student The International Office is required to report your class enrollment to ICE through SEVIS If you do not enroll, or enroll below full-time your SEVIS record will be terminated and you will be "Out of Status". Summer enrollment is optional unless you begin your initial program in the summer. (Summer students are required to be full-time.)

Reduce Course Load (RCL) F-1 students may be allowed an RCL under specific circumstances: Academic Difficulties Medical Conditions Completion of Course of Study If you are needing an RCL you must meet with an International Office advisor. Your request will be reviewed and may not be approved unless it fits certain circumstances. Submit all required documentation to the International Office and receive approval before you drop a class or register for less than full-time. http://www.international.txstate.edu/current/regulations.html The International Office is required to report all Academic & Medical RCLs to SEVIS

RCL for Academic Difficulties May be approved to drop a course(s) if there is evidence of: difficulty with the English language or reading requirements unfamiliarity with U.S. teaching methods improper course level placement To maintain your status: you must be enrolled half-time: Undergraduate - No less than UG 6 hours Graduate - No less than Grad 5 hours NOTE: Authorization for a RCL due to Academic Difficulties is limited to one term at each program level. Therefore, you may not have another RCL for Academic Difficulties during your degree program.

RCL for Medical Conditions F-1 student may be authorized to enroll in as few as 0 credit hours (for a maximum of 12 months) if documentation of a medical condition is provided. Note: documentation of a medical condition is required from a licensed medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, or licensed clinical psychologist.

RCL for Completion of Course of Study Students in their last semester of program may enroll for less than full-time. As little as 1 credit hour if it is the last credit needed to complete the program. Example: Students enrolled in thesis or dissertation hours If you hold an Assistantship the Graduate college will only allow you to be enrolled below full-time hours only ONCE for your program in order to still maintain your Assistantship. WARNING: If you do not finish your program and need to enroll for another semester you may lose your assistantship. In order to maintain your assistantship you will be required to be enrolled full-time the following semester.

A RCL for Financial Difficulty is NOT an option All F-1 students are required to enroll full-time unless authorized in the three previous circumstances. It is your responsibility to pay for the cost of higher education as you confirmed your ability when applying for an I-20. F-1 students who cannot pay for their tuition bills will be advised to apply for economic hardship or return home. If you are unable to enroll in classes this will cause you to be “out of status.” NOTE: The FI-1 regulations do not allow financial difficulty as an acceptable reason to not be enrolled full-time.

Transferring Institutions If you transfer-out to another institution, you must complete the SEVIS Transfer-Out Form. Texas State International Office will transfer your SEVIS record to the new institution. You must obtain a new I-20 from that institution. Your SEVIS record must follow you to every institution. If you finished a program, your SEVIS record must be transferred within 60 days of your last day of classes at your previous institution. You must begin classes at the new institution within 5 months of transferring out of the previous institution.

Concurrent Enrollment F-1 students may be enrolled in two different SEVIS approved institutions at one time as long as the combined enrollment amounts to a full time course of study. If a student enrolls part time at another institution, they must provide the International Office with: An academic advisor approved Concurrent Enrollment Form certifying the classes to be taken at the other institution. Documentation of course work completion at the end of each semester (i.e. transcript). NOTE: An F-1 student may not drop a concurrent enrollment course which is being taken to reach a full course load or your SEVIS record will be terminated upon notice that your hours fell below full-time.

Distance Learning Courses No more than one (1) distance learning class/online course (3 credits) per semester may be counted toward the full-time course of study requirement. A class considered “Distance Learning” is taken online or through correspondence and does not require the student's physical attendance for classes, examination, or other purposes integral to completion of the class. If you are not sure if a course is distance learning, check the syllabus, ask an academic advisor, or the International Office.

Employment F-1 students are allowed to work on campus (only), but must not exceed 20 hours a week while school is in session. When school is not in session (Spring & Winter Break) or during annual vacation (Summer) you may work full-time up to 40 hours a week. Off-campus work requires authorization from the International Office Generally, off-campus employment is not permitted for a student on an F-1 visa, but there are 3 types of possible off-campus work authorizations: Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Optional Practical Training (OPT) Severe Economic Hardship Work Authorization An F-1 student may be authorized to work off-campus with one of these work authorizations after enrolled in a full course of study for at least one academic year/two consecutive semesters (i.e., Fall/Spring or Spring/Fall).

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) CPT work authorization will only be approved by the International Office if confirmation is received from your academic advisor approving work is directly related to a course in your program of study, which you must be enrolled in, such as: Internship courses (optional or required) Thesis or Dissertation courses, where work is related to research Student Teaching Practicums If you apply for CPT you must submit the following documents: CPT advisor approved form Hiring Letter Class Schedule

Optional Practical Training (OPT) As an F-1 student, you may apply to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for authorization for 12 months of temporary employment OPT. The employment should be directly related to your major area of study and corresponds with your degree level. There are two types of OPT : Pre & Post Completion (of your studies) Pre-Completion is not commonly used. Only part-time during semester. Post-Completion is the most common OPT applied for. You may work full-time in a position related to your major for up to 12 months. You may not apply for Post-Completion OPT until your final semester. You may apply for Post-Completion OPT up to 90 days before your graduation. It takes up to 3 months for OPT approval by DHS/USCIS. The International Office hosts Post Completion OPT workshops each semester to inform you of OPT application requirements.

What happens when I graduate? After completing your studies, you have 60 days to proceed with one of the following: Apply for Optional Practical Training, OPT. Return home, send us your departure itinerary. Change your F-1 visa status to another status. Obtain a new I-20 by being accepted to another degree level or transfer to another institution.

When you finish reviewing your immigration regulations, you must take the online assessment to test your understanding of your requirements. You must score a 90% or above. Download this presentation to help you during the assessment. (This is an open book test).

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