Checking in with ISSS
Immigration & Visas
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F-type visa information
- 17-Month STEM OPT Extension Request Form
- Termination of Employment Report
- OPT & 17 Month STEM Extension 6 Month Validation Report
- H-1B Visa Cap-Gap extension application
- 17-month OPT Extension as of 5/1/08
- OPT Changes - 4/23/2008
- F-1 reinstatement
- Change of status from H-1 to F-1 student
- Change of status from F-2 to F-1 student
- F-1/I-20 extension of stay
- Inviting an F-2 dependent
- F-1 students: Transferring schools
- Optional Practical Training for F-1 students
- Optional Practical Training for F-1 Undergraduate Students
- Optional Practical Training for F-1 Graduate Students
- J-type visa information
- Immigration updates
- Immigration resources / links
- Checking in with ISSS
- What is SEVIS?
- Maintaining your legal status
- How to get a Social Security Number
If you have NEVER reported to the ISSS office with your immigration documents, you MUST do so immediately. These documents include: Form I-20 or DS2019, passport, visa stamp, and I-94 card.
Enrolling full time
Undergraduate students MUST be enrolled for at least 12 credit hours per semester. Graduate students must be enrolled for at least 12 credit hours. If, you are a Teaching Assistant, then you must register for 9 credit hours each semester. Please note! If for some reason you don't intend to enroll full time during a semester (for example, if you have a medical problem or initial difficulties), you must talk to the ISSS Office before you drop below full time. The ISSS staff must approve this action prior to it happening or you will you will be considered out of status.
Changing your degree program
If you change the degree/major you are pursuing, you must notify the ISSS Office so that they may issue a new I-10/DS-2019 which notifies immigration of the change.
Transferring to another school
If you plan to transfer to another school, you must first come to the ISSS Office. The ISSS staff will need to complete an immigration transfer procedure in the SEVIS system BEFORE the new school will be permitted to issue you a new I-20 or DS-2019. If you want to transfer to another school, make an appointment to see the Director of the ISSS.
Updating your address
You MUST update your address whenever you move within the U.S. You must notify the International office. You also need to notify the Registrar's Office, you can do this in the Student Information System (SIS). You MUST update your address within 10 days of moving to a new residence.
Those subject to Special Registration (NSEERS) requirements must use the Special Registration AR-11 form.
The address you enter on the AR-11 should be the place you actually live, rather than a P.O. Box. If you cannot receive mail at your residence, you may indicate a P.O. Box, but must separately notify the ISSS of your actual physical location. No campus department office addresses may be utilized. Failure to complete the address change could result in fines, imprisonment or deportation.
Traveling outside of the US
If you are planning on traveling outside of the U.S., please check your documents. You will have to have a new Form I-20 or DS-2019 that was produced in the SEVIS system and that has the bar code in the top right of the form, prior to your departing the U.S.
Beginning January 30, 2003, embassies and consulates outside the United States will only accept SEVIS I-20s and SEVIS DS-2019s for new or renewal visa applications for F-1s and J-1s as well as F-2 or J-2 dependents.
As students/scholars have been requesting signatures on their Form I20/DS-2019 for travel, the ISSS Office has been entering them into the SEVIS system.
Traveling inside of the US
For travel in the U.S , we recommend that you carry your immigration documents (I-20/DS-2019, passport, I-94 card), or at least, copies of these documents.
Extensions
Extend I-20/DS2019 before it expires. Applications for extension can be picked up in the ISSS Office or downloaded from the ISSS homepage. Try to submit at least 2 weeks before end date.