Transcript Fall 2005 Orientation New International Students

New International Student
Orientation:
International Coordinators:
Vida Bonsu (Takoma Park/Silver Spring campus only)
Heidi Russell-Kalkofen (Rockville and Germantown campuses)
Germantown WEDNESDAYS ONLY in SA150 - CIMS
Marlon Vallejo (Rockville Campus only)
General Information
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: (240) 567-5043
BEING AN F-1 STUDENT AT MC


UNDERSTANDING AND KEEPING YOUR
LEGAL F-1 STATUS IN THE UNITED
STATES
MAKING SURE YOU HAVE THE CORRECT
AND CURRENT MONTGOMERY COLLEGE
I-20 FOR “CONTINUED ATTENDANCE”
DOCUMENTS AND PAPERS

WHAT DO ALL THESE PAPERS MEAN??

WHAT ONES ARE IMPORTANT TO
KEEP??

HOW DO I USE THESE DOCUMENTS?
Your Passport

Your passport is your most important proof of your
identity (NOT your F-1 status).

It must be valid while you are in the United States
(and to travel to other countries).

Contact your country’s Embassy in Washington
DC to learn their procedure for extending a passport.
(it can take from one day to 3 months to extend!)
Your United States Visa

A Visa is glued into your passport by the United
States Consulate OUTSIDE of the US.

The Name on your visa should match your Passport name (though
it does not have a place for a ‘middle name’ so may show two ‘first
or given’ names)
Your United States Visa (continued)

The Visa is to help you ENTER the United
States until the date it “expires” (for the last
week or two it is valid you may need to explain your
plans to the border officers to enter the US).
– If the visa expires while you are inside the U.S.
it is NOT a problem.

If you travel outside the U.S., and your visa
has expired, you will need to renew it before
re-entering the U.S.***
–
***EXCEPT some short term travel to Canada,
Mexico, or Caribbean Islands that border the US
Your I-94 Card

Your I-94 card shows your Legal F-1 status in the
United States (Not used for identity)
It is given to you at the border when you enter the
United States and is usually stapled in your passport
It has an 11 digit ID number

Do not lose this card!


Your I-94 Card (continued)
If you Changed Status
inside the United States,
your I-94 card will be your I-797
Notice of Action for your Change
Of Status to F-1.
 Remove the right portion to
Staple it onto your original,
I-94 (white card). *Keep the left part
Safe as it has a lot information on it.

I-94 Card NEWS!!



The Name you wrote on your I-94 is your legal name in
the United States. SEE the Office if you have questions
I-94s will be CHANGING this Fall so will be different the
next time you travel. They will become electronic and
automatically match your passport name.
You give up your I-94 when you depart the United
States and get a NEW one each time you enter
(**EXCEPT when travelling to Mexico, Canada, or the Caribbean
Islands for a short trip)

F-1 Student I-94 cards do NOT have an end date = you
can stay as LONG as you are a student “In Status”!
To Review…Visa versus Status

The VISA is the sticker in your passport that
lets enter the U.S. and return after travel.
–

It is placed in your passport by the US Consulate
STATUS is your legal “state” inside the U.S.
–
–
It is given to you by USCIS and recorded on your
I-94 card.
It is also verified through the information on your
I-20 and in your I-20 computer record.
Your form I-20AB
“Certificate of Eligibility”


Your I-20 is the printout of a government computer
database about your F-1 status
It shows important information about:
You! (Name, citizenship, birthdate)
– Your school (campus and location)
– Your major/field of study
– How LONG (until what date) you will be a student
– Your expenses and financial support
**If ANY of the above changes you must get a NEW printout
with the new information!!
–
I-20 SAMPLE
Box 1 – Personal Information
Box 2 – Campus Information
# 3 – MUST say “continued
attendance at this school”
#5 – shows government title of
your major and ***the
DATE your I-20 ENDS!!
#6 – will change if you move
from EL to EN English
#8 – must change if your
sponsorship changes
TRAVEL SIGNATURE on last
page – page 3
SEVIS: Student and Exchange Visitor
Information System


Your I-20 has a bar-code and number above it. This is your
“SEVIS number”.
SEVIS electronically reports information such as the
following to USCIS (U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services:
– Personal addresses: US (no PO Box) and Home country
– Financial Information: estimated costs and sponsorship
– Academic Program: major changes, extensions, fulltime/part-time enrollment
– Employment Information: requests and authorization for
any off-campus employment
– Dependent Information
– Termination or completion of studies
– Transfer from one school (or campus) to another
Keeping Information Current




Make the Change of Address with the Admissions
and Registrar’s Office on your campus. This must
be done within 10 days of moving.
Change your Major with the Registrar’s Office
(Speak with an Academic counselor if you have
questions)
We will immediately update this information in the
SEVIS system.
Remember all “Official” information and
notifications are sent to you on your Montgomery
College email. You should check it on MyMC
daily!! But ALSO update your personal email
with the Registrar’s office if it changes.
Keep Sponsor Information current

All Sponsorship changes MUST be in writing.

The STUDENT must write why any change is made
– NEW sponsors must submit all sponsorship documents:
Affidavit of Support, Bank letter, Proof of Income, and the
signed Sponsor Responsibility Document

–
Sponsors ENDING or STOPPING sponsorship (before the
date on the original Affidavit of Support) must submit a
letter to the International Coordinators AND the to the
student 30 days before sponsorship ends


Continuing sponsors do not need to submit documents unless
specified by the Coordinator
A Student may LOSE F-1 STATUS if new sponsorship
documents are not provided within 30 days
Sponsorship information is for the I-20 ONLY. It is NOT shared with other
College offices or any other parties.
Maintaining (keeping) Your Legal F-1
Status in the United States

Enroll Full-time for
classes each Fall and
Spring semester.
–

Full time is usually 12
academic hours, (known
as “billing hours” at MC)
There are a limited number of
reasons for under-enrollment. The
International Student Coordinator
must authorize under-enrollment.
Maintaining (keeping) Your Status
continued



Enroll for “Credit”. Taking a course for “Audit”
and Non-Credit/WDCE courses do not count
toward the full-time requirement.
Withdrawal (dropping the course after the first
week and receiving a grade of “W”) does not
count toward the full-time requirement.
YOU MUST ENROLL IN AND COMPLETE
THE REQUIRED 12 BILLING HOURS TO
REMAIN IN F-1/STUDENT STATUS.
On-Line Courses
ONLY ONE ON-LINE COURSE PER
SEMESTER WILL COUNT TOWARD THE
FULL TIME ENROLLMENT (12 credit)
REQUIREMENT
(9 credits must be on a campus – “Blended”
classes count as on campus)

Maintaining (keeping) Your Status
continued

Make “normal” academic progress.
–
Maintain an average gpa of 2.0 (grade of C)

–

Some grades may be lower if others are higher
Do not repeat courses more than the allowed number of times
Graduate on time (by date on #5 on I-20)
– OR extend* program for valid reasons

*Need documentation on WHY more time is needed
–

From Medical Doctor or Academic Counselor
*Need proof of continued financial support from sponsor
Maintaining (keeping) Your Status
continued

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Get your I-20 signed each time you travel outside of
the United States
Make sure the information on your I-20 is correct and
up-to-date
Depart the United States within 15 days of stopping
studies (there is a 60 day period for transferring or
after graduation)
Follow United States federal and state laws
– Especially DO NOT WORK UNLESS YOU HAVE
LEGAL, WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION
TRAVEL INFORMATION


If you travel outside of the United States
the I-20 must be signed on page 3 to
allow reentry into the U.S.
If your visa has expired you must obtain
a new visa for re-entry to the U.S*.
*EXCEPT when travelling to countries immediately bordering
the United States: Mexico, Canada, and Island countries
In the Caribbean that touch US waters (except Cuba)


You can travel inside of the U.S. without
the endorsement on page 3.
See the International Coordinator TWO
WEEKS before traveling.
–
Make any travel plans between semesters
AFTER you know the date of your last exam.
WHO CAN HELP YOU???
ACADEMIC COUNSELING

**Academic Counselors
– Assist New Students: How to be successful working with
American faculty, prepare for your degree,
– Advice and documents to help you maintain your F-1 status.
– Assist all Students: Transfer Preparation and Scholarships
– Located in the Counseling Center
Additional Resources for all students:
Department (major) Advisors
Transfer Center
Working in the U.S.
You must have written AUTHORIZATION
from an International Coordinator to be
LEGALLY employed either ON or OFFCAMPUS!!
DO NOT WORK OFF CAMPUS
WITHOUT LEGAL PERMISSION.
F-1 Employment in the U.S.


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F-1 students may work ON CAMPUS or for a company
doing business as part of the campus. **These jobs
are very limited – Look for “Student Assistant” positions
on eJobs (through MyMC) and complete paperwork
through the Financial Aid Office
After one academic year (generally) students MAY be
able to apply for off-campus work authorization for
experience in their academic (major) field
Plan ahead and get additional information and help!
EMPLOYMENT RESOURCES

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
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Student Employment Services helps students
prepare for jobs (resumes and mock job
interviews) and can help you find a job
Internships through department advisors and
the Cooperative Education Office.
On-campus Student Assistant jobs listed on
eJobs. New students usually not hired.
“First Friday” Information Sessions ON the
ROCKVILLE CAMPUS – The First Friday of
each month regular classes are in session.
(Check MyMC calendar for times and place)
WHEN TO SEE A COORDINATOR
***ALWAYS READ EMAILS FROM OUR OFFICE FOR UPDATES
AND DEADLINES

TRAVEL
Two weeks before departure
Registered and paid for next semester (between terms)
Get help to apply for a visa stamp


TROUBLE (if we can’t help we’ll refer you)
TRANSFER
Bring forms when new school requires them
Be SURE how your credits will transfer FIRST (see Counselors)
We can only release your I-20 to ONE SCHOOL


TO EXTEND AN I-20 THAT IS ENDING/COMPLETING
WORK PERMISSION (appointment needed for off-campus)
HOW TO SEE A COORDINATOR

Visit the Office during WALK IN Hours for:
On-campus work forms, travel signatures (no visa application), questions
about whether to see an Academic Counselor, application packets,
transfer forms signed, other simple issues.

APPOINTMENT REQUIRED for:
Off-campus work authorization, visa applications, letters of reference or
any specialized letter, serious academic issues, change or problem with
financial sponsorship, I-20 extension

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
Office Hours will be POSTED at the Office, listed on the webpage,
and available by phone. CALL for information and Appointments.
Actual EMERGENCIES (emergency travel, personal crisis, etc) are
seen as soon as possible and may be referred to other offices
Student and Office Staff can help with many issues – ask them!!