Abbreviations

1
Abbreviations
USCIS United States Citizen and Immigration
Services (formerly INS, BCIS) DSO Designated
School Official (International Student
Coordinator) SEVIS Student and Exchange Visitor
Information System
2
Maintaining F-1 Status
It is the students responsibility to maintain
status.
3
Maintaining F-1 Status (contd)

• You must maintain a full-time course load
  throughout the academic year
• CAS/SBA (day session) Undergraduates at least 12
  credits each semester
• SPCS (evening) Undergraduates at least 9 credits
  each trimester
• MBA and MS in Accountancy at least 6 credits per
  trimester
• MA in ED at least 6 credits per trimester OR 9
  credits per semester

4
Maintaining F-1 Status (contd)
Reporting Requirement for Colleges ! The DSO is
mandated by law to update every students record
to reflect registration in SEVIS within 30 days
of the add/drop period AND any subsequent changes
within 21 days of the change. For example, if an
undergraduate registers for 12 credits during the
registration period (prior to add/drop deadline)
he will be registered as full-time in SEVIS. If
he then withdraws from a class and is now only
enrolled in 9 credits his SEVIS record will be
terminated because he has dropped below
full-time without authorization. Once a SEVIS
record is terminated immigration is aware that
you are out of status and you may face
consequences of deportation, denial of re-entry
to the US, inability to change degree level,
denial of requests for Practical Training, denial
of requests to change visa status, and possible
denial of future visa applications. You are
STRONGLY ADVISED to speak to your DSO before
dropping any courses. Academic advisors are not
trained in immigration regulations. Your status
is your responsibility.
5
Maintaining F-1 Status (contd)

• Must maintain normal progress towards completing
  your course of studies before the completion date
  on your I-20
• Must keep I-20 valid by following the procedure
  for any change in information appearing on the
  I-20
• Extension of Stay
• must be entered into SEVIS before I-20 expires
  
• valid reason for extension must be logged
• Change of Major
• once filed in the Enrollment Services Center
  notify DSO immediately
• Change in Degree
• once filed in the Enrollment Services Center
  notify DSO immediately
• Change in Schools
• notify DSO of intent to transfer before the
  expiration of
• the 60 day grace period following program
  completion

6
Maintaining F-1 Status (contd)

• You must not remain in the United States longer
  than 60 days after completing your degree unless
  prior to completion you have followed the
  procedures for applying for practical training,
  moving educational levels or school transfer.
• Remaining in the US illegally for 120 days to 1
  year will carry a ban of 3 years barred from
  entering the United States.
• Remaining in the US illegally for over 1 year
  will carry a ban of 10 years barred from entering
  the United States.
• Change of address notify the DSO of change of
  US address within 10 days of the move. Only
  those subject to NSEERS registration must file
  AR-11 in addition to notifying the DSO.
• You must specifically notify the DSO call,
  e-mail or stop by. Changing address in any other
  College office will not get the information to
  the DSO and your reporting burden will not be
  met.
• You must keep a valid passport at all times
  (unless exempt).
• You must not work unless specifically authorized
  by USCIS.

7
Request for Less Than Full-Time
Authorized Leave of Absence or Less Than
Full-Time
Pre-Approval - You are only legally allowed to be
enrolled less than full-time in the FINAL
SEMESTER or TRIMESTER of your last year PRESUMING
that the reduced course load is all that you need
to graduate. Any other term in your academic
career you need DSO permission BEFORE dropping
below full-time. There are certain circumstances
for this to be legally authorized. Zero Tolerance
for unauthorized drops below full-time! No
other administrator is trained in immigration
law. Even if a dean or program administrator
gives you permission academically to skip a
semester you may not be in compliance with
immigration law. You must obtain permission from
your DSO who will update your SEVIS record.
8
Request for Less Than Full-Time
Authorized Leave of Absence or Less Than
Full-Time

• DSO authorization will only be considered in the
  following legally recognized circumstances
• Medical
• bring DSO an original letter from a licensed
  medical doctor
• (note the law limits the type of permissible
  doctors).
• partial reduction of credits or term leave may be
  authorized
• throughout the academic program no more than 12
  months medical reduction may be authorized
• Academic Difficulty
• cannot be reduced beyond 6 credits
• only an option for first year students having
  initial difficulties with the English language,
  reading requirements, American teaching
• methods, or improper course level placement

9
Request for Less Than Full-Time
Authorized Leave of Absence or Less Than
Full-Time

• How to get authorization
• See the DSO to obtain the form Request for Less
  Than Full-Time
• Bring the form to the Dean/Program Administrator
  for academic permission
• Return the form to the DSO for final approval and
  update of SEVIS record

NOTE Dropping below full-time (or not
registering at all) because of a treasurers hold
will absolutely not be authorized. As an F-1
student you had to prove sufficient funds to
study. USCIS does not allow less than full-time
for financial reasons.
10
Optional Practical Training (OPT)

• Important
• To be eligible the international student must
  have maintained F-1 status for 1 full academic
  year.
• The permit may be used for off-campus employment.
• APPLICATIONS MUST BE SENT BEFORE PROGRAM
  COMPLETION
• Eligible students have a total of 12 months of
  full-time practical training per degree level.
  These 12 months may be used before or after
  graduation.
• If used after graduation the request must be for
  a full-time permit. (not able to apply during the
  60 day grace period
• If used before graduation, during the academic
  year, the request must be for part-time
  employment. Using part-time optional practical
  training will detract from post-completion
  optional practical training at a 50 rate.
  (Example. If you use 4 months of part-time
  optional practical training it will count as 2
  full months of optional practical training. You
  would then have a maximum of 10 months of
  full-time optional practical training remaining.)
  

11
OPT (contd)
How to Apply for Optional Practical Training

• Bring the following items to the DSO
• Completed form I-765 (available at www.uscis.gov)
  
• at 16 use code ( c ) ( 3 ) ( i )
• 180 Check or Money Order payable to "US
  Citizenship and Immigration Services"
• Passport
• I-94 card
• All previous I-20s
• 2 ADIT style photos (instruction sheet available
  from DSO)
• As long as you are eligible your request will be
  entered in SEVIS and you will be given a new I-20
  which includes the OPT authorization
• The DSO will help assemble and copy the packet
  for
• SPC records and for your records.
• The Student mails the package to the Vermont
  Service Center
• certified recommended

12
OPT (contd)

• If you do not receive your EAD card within 90
  days of USCIS receipt see your DSO. Such a delay
  is not normal. However, there is no rush
  service with EAD cards. Application must be
  pending for at least 90 days of receipt notice
  for any of the following actions to be taken
• The DSO can report it to have a government
  liaison check its status and determine if there
  are any problems.
• Interim EAD cards If a student has an
  application pending for longer than 90 days and
  hasnt received a decision from Vermont, he may
  apply in person at the local district office for
  an interim card. He should bring a copy of all
  documents that were sent to Vermont AND a copy of
  the receipt which proves payment. This can be
  done at
• the Newark District Office any weekday excluding
  Wednesday.

13
Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

• Important
• To be eligible the international student must
  have maintained F-1 status for 1 full academic
  year.
• The permit must be used for off-campus employment
  in the field of the students academic major.
• Must have an offer letter from the prospective
  employer AND campus approval (usually through the
  Office of Cooperative Education) for credit.
• Students may engage in Curricular Practical
  Training on a part-time basis during the academic
  year and on a full-time basis during the
  winter/summer breaks.
• 12 months or less of Curricular Practical
  Training will NOT detract from the 12 months of
  Optional Practical Training that international
  students are entitled to.

14
Transferring to Another School

• 3 Steps of Transfer
• Notify the SPC DSO of intent to transfer to a
  specific school before expiration of 60 day grace
  period following program completion. Your SEVIS
  record will be released to the transfer school
  using the date we enter into the system. Once
  released we cannot access your record or undo the
  record transfer.
• The transfer school will then have access to a
  portion of your SEVIS information when the
  release date is reached. They will use this
  partial record to complete a new I-20 for your
  new program. If you are planning to travel in
  the summer you should request this I-20 which
  will be marked transfer pending
• When you actually begin classes at the transfer
  school the school will report registration in
  SEVIS thereby completing the transfer. An I-20
  printed for you will be marked continued
  attendance

15
Transferring to Another School
Under immigration law when transferring you must
begin your new program during the transfer
schools next regular term in the academic year
or within 5 months whichever is earlier. Example
1 If a student who graduated SPC on August 21st
gets accepted to New York University for a
graduate program with fall semesters beginning on
September 2nd and spring semesters beginning on
January 2nd she can only transfer into the fall
semester. If she defers her attendance to
January she is not eligible to transfer her I-20
even though it is within 5 months. In this case,
the next regular term (fall) begins earlier than
the 5 month window. Example 2 A graduate student
completes his studies during Winter Trimester on
February 21st. He gets accepted into a PhD
program on a semester schedule beginning on
September 3rd. Although it is the next available
term it begins later than 5 months of his prior
program. He cannot transfer his I-20 to this
school. The student should speak to the DSO at
the transfer school to learn what his options
are. In this hypothetical case, the student may
be able to begin in an optional term such as a
summer term beginning before July 21st .
16
NSEERS also known as Special Registration

• For those who are citizens or nationals of the 25
  countries subject to Special Registration you
  are advised to include proof of registration in
  every application you submit even for employment
  permits.
• Reminder - when traveling you must go to the
  appropriate table in the airport for an NSEERS
  exit interview. If you do not go through this
  special processing you may not be allowed to
  re-enter the United States.

Kuwait Lebanon Libya Morocco North
Korea Oman Pakistan Qatar Saudi Arabia Somalia
Sudan Syria Tunisia United Arab Emirates Yemen
Afghanistan Algeria Bahrain Bangladesh Egypt Eritr
ea Indonesia Iran Iraq Jordan
Certain citizens or nationals of the following
countries will require Special Registration.
Determination by sex, age, or date of travel
varies by country. Check the USCIS website for
more information www.uscis.gov
17
Authorized DSOs at Saint Peters College
Tushar Trivedi 201-915-9415 As the
International Student Coordinator, Tushar is your
campus contact for all F-1 questions and
concerns. If you have an immigration emergency
and Tushar is not available, contact Michele
Lacey , Webmaster 201-915-9161 Ginny Bender,
Office of the Provost 201-915-9202
1
2
3
18
Travel Reminders
Travel Documents to Carry (within and outside of
US) I-20 signed on page 3 within last
term I-94 Passport SPC ID card (EAD card if
graduate on OPT) (optional letter from Enrollment
Services to verify full-time) Visa Renewal MUST
Contact Embassy before traveling
19
Disclaimer
All information in this presentation is subject
to change without notice. Immigration
regulations are rapidly changing making it more
important than ever to maintain contact with your
DSO. PLEASE UPDATE YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS AND
CHECK YOUR ACCOUNT REGULARLY. ttrivedi_at_spc.edu