As an international student, it is important to understand and be familiar with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) regulations relating to your particular nonimmigrant status. It is your personal responsibility to comply with all existing U.S. government regulations and laws as they apply to you. Take time to familiarize yourself with these rules. The following is an overview of basic things you need to know. If you have any further questions or concerns, please come to the International Student Center and speak with a Foreign Student Advisor.
You should keep your passport valid for 6 months into the future. If you notice that the expiration date on your passport is approaching, go to the State Department's web site at http://www.state.gov/s/cpr/rls/fco / for a listing of foreign consular offices in the U.S. You will need to send your passport to them to get it renewed. When sending your passport through the mail, it is a good idea to send it by certified mail or by a courier service, such as FedEx or DHL, which will allow you to track your passport. Also be sure to keep your receipt so that you can prove that the passport was sent for renewal.
The visa stamp that is in your passport can expire while you are in the United States. The visa stamp is used only for entry into the U.S. If you leave the U.S. and plan to return but your visa stamp has expired or you have changed your nonimmigrant status while inside the U.S., you will need to get a new visa before reentering the U.S. Please note that visa stamps can only be issued outside of the United States. For more information on U.S. visas, visit www.unitedstatesvisas.gov.
The State Department is now publishing on its Web site the average wait times for nonimmigrant visa interviews and for the processing of nonimmigrant visa applications. The wait times are listed by post. To access the wait-time site, go to: http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/tempvisitors_wait.php.
NAFSA: Association of International Educators has published, "10 Points to Remember When Applying for a Nonimmigrant Visa."
This document (a white card) in your passport is also referred to as your arrival/departure record and includes an 11-digit number known as your admission number . It is a good idea to keep this document with your passport. You will need to have it when you leave the United States and it is also needed to apply for a Social Security number.
Your I-94 tells you how long you are allowed to stay in the U.S. All F-1 and J-1 students should have the notation D/S on the I-94. D/S stands for "Duration of Status" and means that you are allowed to stay in the U.S. as long as you are a continuing student and are doing what your I-20 or DS-2019 says and are within the time limits shown on the I-20 or DS-2019. If your I-94 indicates something other than D/S, please stop by the International Student Center (ISC) and speak with a Foreign Student Advisor.
Be sure to keep your I-94 in a safe place, preferably stapled in your passport. At the time of this update (July 2007), the cost is $320.00 to replace the I-94. If you have lost your I-94, you can apply for a replacement using an I-102. This form can be obtained from the USCIS web site at www.uscis.gov
If you entered the U.S. as an F-1 student, your I-20 is the document you used to get your visa and then presented at the U.S. port of entry. The I-20 includes your personal information, major field of study, expected date of completion and financial information. If there are any changes in your situation as described on your I-20, such as a change in your major or expected date of completion, please stop by the International Student Center so that we can determine if a new I-20 needs to be issued.
Be sure to keep all of your current and previous I-20's. You may get new ones to show a change in degree program, financial information or dependents. However, it is very important that you retain all the old I-20's.
If you entered the U.S. as a J-1 exchange visitor, your DS-2019 is the document you used to get your visa and then presented at the U.S. port of entry. The DS-2019 includes your personal information, expected date of completion, exchange visitor category and funding information. If you have any questions about your DS-2019, please stop by the International Student Center and speak with one of the advisors.
It is extremely important that the completion dates on your I-20 or DS-2019 do not expire. If these dates are getting close and you need more time to finish your studies, please come to the International Student Center to request an extension of these dates.