1. Welcome To ISS Orientation
International Student Services

2. Meet the Staff of ISS

3. Purpose of Presentation
Introduce you to your international student services office, ISS.
Provide critical information to help you maintain your legal status.
Complete your mandatory check-in procedure with SEVIS.

4. The Role of ISS
ADVICE: Advise on immigration and governmental regulations.
SUPPORT: Assist you in your transition to the UW-Madison campus and the United States.
PROGRAMMING: Offer opportunities for campus and community involvement.
ADVOCACY: Represent and voice your interests, needs and concerns.

5. Who Is An International Student?
A person on the F-1 or J-1 student visas.
Their purpose in the U.S. is to be a full-time degree seeking student.
They are require to comply with F-1 or J-1 nonimmigrant visa regulations.

6. For More F & J Visa Information
Consult with ISS:
In person: Red Gym, Room 217
Office Hours: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Advising Hours: 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Monday – Thursday starting September 2nd By
Via the web:
By phone:
Read Access ISS, our electronic newsletter
Government websites: and

7. Important Note
ISS is here to help, but you are ultimately responsible for your status.
Please do not hesitate to ask us for help at any time.

8. SEVIS
The Student Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is a secure internet-based system, run by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
SEVIS allows schools to:
Provide certain authorizations to students.
Convey required information to the U.S. federal government.
Parts of SEVIS information can be seen by U.S. Embassies and Consulates, the school you are attending, and other U.S. federal agencies.

9. Maintain Your Status Enroll full time.
Accept employment only as authorized.
Maintain valid documents:
Passport must be valid at all times.
I-20 or DS-2019 must be valid and up-to-date at all times.
Update your address changes in MyUW.
Be aware of your grace period.
Be smart!
Observe university policies and US laws

10. Fulltime Enrollment
You must enroll fulltime during fall and spring semesters:
ESL: 6 credits
Undergraduates: 12 credits
Graduates & Professionals: 8 credits (including Research Assistants- RAs)
6 credits for graduates with a 33.3% Teaching Assistantships (TA) / Project Assistantships (PA)
4 credits for graduates with a 50% TA/PA
3 credits for dissertators
Please also check department requirements

11. Summer Enrollment
Fulltime enrollment is required if your first term is summer:
ESL = 4 credits
Undergraduates = 6 credits
Graduates & Professionals = 4 credits.
Graduates with assistantship of any type = 2 credits.
After your initial semester, summer enrollment is usually optional.
Graduate & professional students should consult with their departments as enrollment may be required by them.

12. On-line Courses
You may take on-line courses, but only one course (maximum of 3 credits) per semester may count towards your fulltime enrollment requirement.
During your final semester of study, even if it is summer, you must enroll in an on-campus UW-Madison course.

13. Reducing Your Course Load
There are a few acceptable reasons you may be authorized to enroll below fulltime.
You MUST first obtain approval from ISS before reducing your course load in order to maintain your legal status.
ISS approvals are reported to the federal government via SEVIS.

14. Acceptable Reasons
Academic or language difficulty- Available for only one semester of the entire degree program.
Final term of study – Available when you do not need a fulltime load to complete your degree requirements.
Medical problem- You can be authorized to take a reduced load for a maximum of one year.
Coursework completed - Graduate students pursuing their thesis or dissertation can be authorized to reduce their course load once required courses are completed.

15. On-Campus Employment F-1 Status
No additional work permission is needed.
Cannot exceed over 20 hrs/wk during fall & spring semesters.
Can work over 20 hrs/week during vacation periods (winter, spring & summer breaks).
J-1 Status
Can work with written sponsor permission letter.
Cannot exceed over 20 hrs/wk during fall & spring semesters.
Can work over 20 hrs/week during vacation periods (winter, spring & summer breaks).

16. Off-campus Employment
Position MUST be related to major(s).
Generally available after maintaining visa status for one academic year.
Information is available on the ISS website and in the ISS office.
As you have just arrived, we will not cover off-campus work regulations today.

17. The Social Security Number
Only students with employment are eligible to apply for a Social Security Number (SSN).
Everyone needs a letter from ISS in order to apply for an SSN.
F-1 students: Bring a job offer letter to ISS.
J-1 students: If the UW-Madison is your sponsor, apply for on-campus work permission at ISS. If not, you must request work permission from your sponsor listed on your DS-2019.

18. Rules & Regulations Pop Quiz

19. Where is the ISS office located?
What are the ISS office hours?

20. During fall and spring semesters, how many credits are required for full-time enrollment?

21. Report Your Addresses
Federal regulations require you to report address changes within 10 days of moving.
Report address changes through your MyUW:
Home Address must list permanent address abroad.
Mailing Address must list current residence in U.S.
Emergency Address is not required, but strongly recommended.
All addresses must be a physical street address. No P.O. Box addresses allowed.
Your Visa Check-In today is not complete until you update your addresses in MyUW.

22. Keep Valid and Accurate Documents
Your I-20 or DS-2019 cannot expire during your studies. If you need additional time to complete your degree, start the renewal process at the beginning of the semester your document will expire. ISS processing takes 2 weeks.
Report to ISS any changes on your I-20 or DS-2019:
Field of Study (Major)
Degree Level
Financial Support
Name
Dependent Status

23. …continue
Your Passport cannot expire in the U.S. Contact your home country embassy or consulate in the U.S. to renew your passport at least 6 months before it expires.

24. I-20
I-20 Expiration Date is shown in item # 5 following the phrase, “…and complete studies not later than _______.”
Requesting an I-20 extension even ONE DAY AFTER the expiration date is too late and you would no longer be in legal visa status.

25. DS-2019
DS-2019 Expiration Date is shown in item # 3 following the phrase, “Form Covers Period From:_______
and To:_________.”

26. Your Visa May Expire While in U.S.
It is okay for your F-1 or J-1 visa in your passport to expire while you are in the U.S.
The visa must only be valid when crossing the border to enter into the U.S.
Since the F or J visa can expire without consequence while you are in the U.S., it is not possible to renew your visa while inside the United States.

27. Get Your I-94 Card (Arrival by Air or Sea)
Go to
The following information is required to retrieve your Admission (I-94) number. Enter the information as it appears on the passport you used to enter the U.S.:
Family name
First name
Birth date(MM/DD/YYYY)
Passport number
Country of Issuance

29. I-94 Arrival/Departure Card (Land Entry Only)
The reason why it is okay to remain in the U.S. after your visa expires is because F and J visa holders are admitted for “Duration of Status”. This can be seen on your I-94 card, another important document for your visa status. This card is often given to you on the airplane or at the port of entry and stapled into your passport. Replacing a lost I-94 card can cost $300, so be careful with it! One ½ of this card was taken by the immigration officer at the port of entry to mark the date of your arrival. This portion will be turned in when you leave the U.S. to mark the date of your departure. So, if you are asked to provide your I-94 Admission/Departure Number, you can find it here.... Please let an ISS staff member know if you do not have a D/S or are not sure whether you have a D/S on your I-94 card.

30. Grace Periods
The grace period is the additional time permitted in your visa status after completing the academic program.
F-1 students have a 60-day grace period to legally remain in the U.S. to pack, travel, apply for OPT or another academic program, or change visa status.
J-1 students have a 30-day grace period.
If you withdraw from the university, with ISS permission you may be granted a 15-day grace period.

31. Maintain Your Student Status
Enroll Fulltime during the academic year at the school listed on your I-20 or DS Obtain ISS authorization before reducing your course load.
Keep your I-20 or DS-2019 valid. Extend it at ISS before it expires.
Renew your Passport with your home country embassy before it expires.
Work only as authorized.
Maintain updated addresses in your MyUW.
Depart the U.S. within your grace period.
Abide by the U.S. law. Conviction of a crime that leads to UW disciplinary action could jeopardize your status.

32. Travel Endorsement Valid passport Valid visa stamp
To re-enter the U.S. you need:
Valid passport
Valid visa stamp
A valid travel signature
Request takes 1 business day with ISS
Financial support documents
Lower right
corner of
DS-2019
Page 3 of I-20

33. Tips For Your Travel:
Check if you need visas for the countries you are visiting, or transiting through, especially if you are not going home.
Check the expiry date of your visa. If you do need a new one, allow sufficient time to obtain it. Visa applications can take a month or longer due to security and background checks.
Expect travel delays.

34. Rules & Regulations Pop Quiz

35. True or False?
It is okay for your visa to expire in the U.S.

36. What are three of the things you need to do to maintain your legal status?

37. Dependents
F-2 and J-2 dependents are the spouse and children (under 21 years of age) of the F-1 and J-1 student.
F-2 and J-2 dependents are required to report changes in U.S. and foreign addresses within 10 days of moving using the AR-11 form. Available online at

38. Dependents F-2 Study Eligibility: F-2 spouses may not
engage in full-time or degree-related study
F-2 children may study at the elementary and secondary school levels (no college prep courses)
F-2 Work Eligibility:
F-2 dependents are not permitted to work at all
J-2 Study Eligibility:
J-2 spouses are allowed to study
J-2 children may study at any level until they reach 21 years of age
J-2 Work Eligibility:
J-2 spouses may apply through the USCIS to obtain temporary work authorization

39. General Advice Make and keep copies of all your visa status documents:
I-20 or DS-2019
I-94 card
F-1 or J-1 visa stamp
Passport (photo & expiry pages)
Do not carry around your documents unless needed.
Keep originals in a safe place and copies in separate location.

40. Pay Your Tuition
Are you getting funded from your government or a third party for your education? If so, stop by the Bursar’s office at 333 Campus Mall or visit their website to set up your account properly and to learn how to pay tuition.

41. UW Policy
All students must activate their university Net ID and their UW account.
The UW account is the University’s preferred means of communication with all students.
Students are responsible for all information sent to them via their UW account.
If you choose to forward your UW s to an outside provider, you are still responsible for all information and attachments sent to you that may be lost through filters and spam settings.

42. Rules & Regulations Pop Quiz

43. What do you need to get from ISS when you travel outside of the country?
How long does it take for this service?

44. What is the name of the UW-Madison Mascot?

45. Mandatory Visa Status Check-In Process
Please take out the orange ISS receipt (or photocopies of your visa status documents if you don’t have the orange ISS receipt)

46. Step 1: Create Your ISS Folder
On the folder tab, write your:
FAMILY NAME, First Name
UW Student ID Number (if you know it)
Write expiry date of I-20/DS-2019 on front left side of folder
F-1 Students Use Green Folder
J-1 Students Use Yellow Folder

47. Step 2: Place Documents into Folder
ORANGE ISS Receipt verifying that your documents were scanned:
I-20 or DS-2019
Passport identity and expiry page
F-1 or J-1 Visa stamp (excluding Canadians)
I-94 card

48. Update Your Addresses
Don’t forget to update your HOME and MAILING addresses in your MyUW after orientation. WE CANNOT REGISTER YOUR SEVIS RECORD UNTIL THIS IS DONE.

49. Our Service
Our goal is to help you transition successfully to life in the U.S. and at UW-Madison. We look forward to working with you!
Help us help you:
Please bring your current visa status documents when you visit ISS (Passport & I-20 or DS-2019).
Please do not wait until the last minute; document requests and authorizations may take up to 2 weeks to process.

50. Welcome to UW-Madison! NOTES:
Questions? (Don’t go in depth, refer to topical session of orientation if applicable.)
THANK YOU!