ISSS Orientation 2012 An overview of F-1 & J-1 immigration documents,

ISSS Orientation 2012 • An overview of F-1 & J-1 immigration documents, • maintaining status, on- and off- campus work, • and other international student issues

International Student & Scholar Services Staff Doris Clausen, Director (dclausen@stevens.edu) Elizabeth Gill, Associate Director (egill@stevens.edu) Elisa Almeida, Assistant Director (ealmeida@stevens.edu) Dina Cenicola, Coordinator (dcenicol@stevens.edu) Location & Office Hours Howe Center, 5th Floor Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM Elizabeth’s open office hours: Tues., 1:30-4:30

Immigration Who’s Who • The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) consists of three main immigration-related agencies: USCIS, ICE, and CBP • Customs and Border Protection (CBP) manages arrivals to and departures from the U.S. are managed by • United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) grants immigration benefits (such work authorization) in the U.S. • U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) handles immigration enforcement • ICE is in charge of the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), an online database that stores all information on individuals with F, J, or M status • Stevens is required to report on all F and J students and scholars in SEVIS

Maintaining Immigration Documents • Visa • Key to enter the U.S. to study • Multiple entries (M) or limited entries (1 or 2) • Can leave and reenter up to the expiration date • Ok if it expires while you are in the U.S.; not necessary to renew it unless traveling outside U.S. and returning • We recommend you renew your visa in your home country • If you changed your status to F-1 while in the U.S., you must • apply for an F-1 visa the first time you leave the U.S. • Name of school on your visa does not have to be • Stevens as long as the visa has not expired

Visa (cont’d) • Give time for the visa renewal; don’t do it during spring break! We recommend you renew your visa during the summer/winter break • Visa wait times here: http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/wait/tempvisitors_wait.php

Passport • For most students, passport must be valid six months • into the future at all times, so make sure to renew it early! • Can renew at your country’s embassy or consulate in • NYC or D.C. • After renewing your passport, you must continue to • carry the old passport that contains your F-1 visa

I-94 • Says why you are here (F-1 or J-1) and how long you can stay: D/S • (duration of status; you can stay in the U.S. for as long as you are • engaged in full-time study or are engaged in Optional Practical • Training or Academic Training) • In general, your old I-94 should be surrendered every time you exit • the U.S. through a Port of Entry, and you should receive a new • one when you reenter the U.S. However, this will not happen if • you are traveling to Canada, Mexico, or the contiguous islands.

Document Check • Always check I-94 before leaving the Port of Entry (airport or U.S. border) • Is your name spelled correctly? • Does it say “F-1, D/S” or “J-1, D/S”? • Is it stamped with your entry date? • If anything is incorrect, get it fixed before you leave • If you later notice something incorrect, contact ISSS so • that we can instruct you on getting a correction.

I-20/DS-2019 • Agreement with the U.S. government regarding your F-1/J-1 status • Tells where you are studying, what your educational objective is, • how long it will take you to complete that objective, and how you • are supporting the costs of studying and living here.

Any document that changes must be photocopied for ISSS files! You should carry copies of your immigration documents or the originals with you at all times!

Maintaining Status: Full Course of Study • Required credits for fall & spring for each program • (summer is not a required term) • 12 per semester for undergraduates • 9 per semester for graduates • This means 9/12 credits EVERY SEMESTER, • not an average of 9/12 credits over the year • Full course of study equivalencies (with permission from ISSS) • Non-credit courses (such as ELC classes) • Research, thesis, or dissertation • Final semester of undergraduate/graduate study • Web Courses (online) • Can only register for 3 online credits per semester

Full Course of Study (cont’d) • Class registration is assessed at end of • drop/add period • If registered for the correct number of • credits, student is registered in SEVIS. • If not, student’s F-1 record is terminated • Final grade evaluation • After final grades have been submitted to Registrar • Any student who drops below full-time can be • terminated for non-attendance. • Less than full course load permitted only during final • semester of study. If only one class is remaining • final semester, it cannot be taken • online; it must be on campus.

Reduced Course Load • All reduced course loads (even during thesis/ • dissertation work, etc.) must be authorized by a • Designated School Official (ISSS staff) • Only for a very specified list of academic issues • For medical conditions with documentation from a • medical doctor or clinical psychologist • A student who reduces his/her course load without • authorization will have his/her record terminated in • SEVIS!

Changes to the I-20/SEVIS Record • Types • Change of address: • You MUST change your • address both in My • Stevens and with the ISSS. • Change of name • Change of support/sponsorship • Change of major • Addition of minor or second major • Report change within 10 days of its occurrence • Most changes should also be reported to • Student Services or via your • MyStevens account

Travel • Within the U.S. • Take your passport, visa, I-94, student ID card, and • Form I-20/DS-2019 • Outside the U.S. • Passport valid for at least 6 months into the future • A valid F-1 visa (not expired– if expired, you will • need to anticipate additional time for visa renewal) • Form I-20/DS-2019 with a valid travel endorsement • For I-20: A new signature is • recommended needed every six • months to one year if you are traveling. • On post-completion OPT: • EAD & offer letter • Travel to Canada, Mexico, or • contiguous islands

Concurrent Enrollment • F-1 and J-1 students are permitted to take • courses at other SEVIS-approved schools • Consult with the ISSS and your academic • adviser BEFORE registering for a • course(s) at another school; you must • submit an application to ISSS to do this!

Leave of Absence & School Transfer Leaves of absence and school transfers have specific deadlines and procedures in the SEVIS system. If you need to take a leave or wish to transfer to another school, please contact ISSS before moving forward with either of these processes so that we can properly assist you.

Program End Date • If you decide to leave before your program end date: Must • apply for Authorized Early Withdrawal (contact us!) • If you need more time to complete your program (i.e., you • changed your major or added a second major), you must apply • for an extension. You should apply for an extension even if • you are not certain you will need it; you cannot extend • your I-20 after your program end date. • If you will graduate early, you must request that your I-20 be • shortened and provide proof of anticipated graduation date

Program End Date (cont’d) • ONLY options after program end date • Depart the U.S. • Transfer to another school • Change education level or program • Start post-completion OPT

Violations of Status • What are some examples of violations of status? • Not pursuing a full course of study or not • getting permission to reduce course load • Working without permission or exceeding the • limitations of your authorized work • Not complying with immigration’s procedures • for transferring schools, changing levels, extending • the time you need to complete a program of study, • or departing the U.S. • If you violate your status, contact us immediately so you • may be advised of your options. • Violations of status must be reported to immigration in • SEVIS immediately by the ISSS staff.

Deadline Overview Please see our handout in your orientation materials for a helpful guide to the various deadlines you must follow in order to maintain your F-1/J-1 status!

On-Campus Work • 20 hours per week • During fall and spring semesters • Total among all departments, including • R.A./R.D. positions, assistantships, etc. • Full-time work • During breaks included in the program (Includes winter • holiday, spring break, and summer break) • Organizations that operate within the college, such as the • cafeteria, are counted as “on-campus” • Volunteer Positions (such as orientation leaders) not counted • Not during the 60-day grace period • F-1/J-1 students can only work from their program start • dates to their program end dates (not before and not after)

Off-Campus Work • Four types: • Optional Practical Training • Curricular Practical Training • Internship with an International Organization • Economic Hardship Employment • We will give you more information about these in the • form of e-mails, PPTs, and workshops at a later date

Social Security • You must have a job to receive a SSN • Social Security number is required to get paid for • employment but not to start working • You can get an SSN letter (for your on-campus • employer to sign) and information about getting an • SSN from our website

Driver’s Licenses • Commonly used as a form of U.S. ID • Stop by our offices for a list of documents you need • to apply, instructions, and directions to your local Social • Security office. • Contact the Department of Motor Vehicles for • more information: • 1-888-486-3339 or http://www.state.nj.us/mvc/ • If you are living in NY and attending Stevens, • you will not be eligible for a driver’s license • in either NY or NJ.

IRS Reporting • Form 8843 (for all F1/J1 students) • Required by U.S. law to be completed • by students every year • Deadline to file: June 15 (postmark) • Form 1040 NR/NR-EZ (for students who worked) • For a non-resident (NR) who had • any U.S. source of income • Deadline to file: April 15 • We will e-mail more information about tax filing early • in the new year.

Helpful Resources & Best Wishes • Resources: • ISSS Website: www.stevens.edu/isss • Facebook Page (Stevens Institute of Technology • International Student & Scholar Services) • One to World (www.one-to-world.org) • Conversation beyond Borders • Phone- 201-216-5189 • We wish you the best of luck in your studies here, and we’re happy to answer any of your questions to help you maintain your immigration status!

ISSS Orientation 2012 An overview of F-1 & J-1 immigration documents,