Transcript Immigration Rules and Regulations Affecting International Students

Immigration Rules and
Regulations
Affecting International
Students
International Student Office
Minnesota State University
Mankato
Important Concepts to
Understand:
Passport
Visa
I-20(or
IAP 66)
I-94 Card

IS YOUR I-94 Marked F-1(J-1) and D/S
 IF not see the ISO
Passport
You
can renew it if you go to your
home country to visit or within the
U.S by contacting your country’s
embassy.
The ISO can provide you with
contact information for your
country’s embassy in the U.S.
Visa
Your Visa
can expire while you are
here and remain in legal status.
A visa cannot be renewed within the
U.S.
The safest, most guaranteed way to
renew your visa is in your home
country.
Visa
So,
if your visa is expired and you
wish to leave the country, you must
get it renewed before you will be
allowed to re-enter the U.S.
Visa
It
is very difficult to renew it by
going to a third country where you
are not a citizen (Ex. Canada.or
Mexico)
I-20
Undergraduates are
given 5 years to
complete their degree
Graduate students are given 3 years
I-20
If
your I-20 expires before your
expected graduation date you will
need to request an extension. You
must be in status and making
satisfactory progress to get an
extension.
See an advisor in the ISO at least 30
days before it expires
I-20
Remember: you cannot take credits
beyond the number required for your
degree program.
I-20 – You need a New one
When…

You lose your I-20
 You change majors
 You change from Bachelor’s to Master
 It is expiring
OTHER Important names






INS = No longer exists
New Agency Department of Homeland Security.
INS divided into 3 departments
1) CBP = Custom and Border Protection (the
people at the airport)
2) CIS = Citizenship and Immigration Service
(They process benefits like OPT/green cards etc.
3 ICE = Imm. and Customs Enforcement
(Investigative and arresting agents)
TRANSFER STUDENTS

You must give the ISO a final transcript
from your previous school so we know you
maintained status at your previous school.
(We don’t have to print a new I-20)
 You have 21 days to do this or you will be
out of status.
Once you graduate, you have
60 days to do one of the
following:
Receive
admission and a new I-20
to pursue another degree
Leave the U.S. or Change status
Begin OPT that was applied for
before graduating
How to Maintain your status
on an F-1 Visa:
Do
Not allow your passport to
expire
Do Not allow your I-20 to expire
Maintaining Status
Make
sure you are a student in good
standing.
-Undergraduates must complete at
least 12 credits and earn a minimum
2.0 GPA each semester
Maintaining Status
Graduate
students must complete at
least 6 credits and earn a minimum
3.0 GPA each semester.
You are not required to take summer
classes to maintain your F-1 status.
Maintaining status
Never
work off-campus for pay
without first obtaining permission
(written on your I-20) from the ISO
and Immigration
Maintaining Status
Do
not apply for or accept any kind
of public assistance such as food
stamps or subsidized housing
Maintaining Status
Do
not transfer schools or change
your degree level (such as from
Bachelor’s to Master’s) without
consulting with an ISO advisor and
following the proper procedure
Work-On Campus

Work permission is granted based on your
maintaining status as a student in good
standing
 Not granted during first semester except to
Graduate students with assistantships and
U.S. transfer students above 2.75 GPA
 F.T. Summer, 20 hrs or fewer in semester
 If you do not have a SSN you will need to
show the ISO a Job offer note.
Travel
Must
have page 3 of I-20 Signed in
the last 12 months. To be safe if its
more than 7 months get new
signature.
Without the signature you will not
be allowed to re-enter
Travel
Also,
you will not be able to reenter with an expired Visa
If your Visa is expired you will need
to renew it when you go home.
Travel to Canada and Mexico: You
need to find out if you require an
entry visa. Check Canadian/Mexican
immigration web sites
Overseas Travel
It
would also be a good idea to carry
a transcript with you and proof of
your ability to pay for your expenses
upon returning to the U.S.
Common
Questions
????????????????????
Can I let my Passport Expire?
NO
Take note of the expiration date on
your passport and begin the process
of renewing it 6 months before it
expires
Can I let my I-20 Expire?
NO
Take note of the expiration date on
your I-20
Can I let my Visa expire?
YES
As long as you stay in the U.S.
Can I work (for Pay)?
On-Campus
Yes
<<An on-campus work permit must
be obtained from the ISO and we
need 4/5 days to process requests.
Can I work (for Pay) ?
Off Campus
Maybe
and only under special circumstances
Work-Off Campus

<<Only with written authorization on your I-20 and in
most cases, application to the CIS.
 Optional Practical training – Must apply before graduation
(12 months total approved by CIS and currently takes 3
months & $180 fee
 Curricular Practical training(must have required internship
in major) Approved by academic dept and ISO, no cost
 Economic hardship CIS approved (also costs $180)
 Must have been an F-1 student for 9 months before
applying for any of these.
What if I graduate before my
I-20 expires?
Can I stay in the U.S. until the
I-20 expires?

NO
What procedures should I follow if I
want to travel to my home country or
another country outside the U.S.?
You
will need to get the back of
your I-20 signed by an ISO advisor
before leaving. Don’t do it at the last
moment !!g
NEW SEVIS RULES
Student and Exchange Visitor
Information System
(SEVIS)
What is SEVIS?
A internet-based system through which schools will report
information to the U.S. Government on:

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F-1 academic students
M-1 technical/vocational students
J-1 exchange visitor students & scholars
Dependents of these individuals
Categories of Data
to Be Reported
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Personal (biographical)
Financial
Academic
Visa and Immigration
Employment
Dependent
Data to Be Reported (continued)

Student Events (19)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
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10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
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19.
Academic admission
Deferral of Admission
Personal Information
Financial Information
Academic Program Information update
Registration Each term
Disciplinary Action
Program Extension
Drop Below Full Course of Study
Resumption of Full Course of Study
OPT Employment
CPT Employment
Off-Campus Employment
Premature Termination of Studies
Completion of Study Program
Bring Dependent(s) to US
Update Dependent(s) Information
Departure of Dependent(s)
Reentry of Dependent(s)
Exception to full-time study

1. Academic Difficulties:
must have prior approval before
dropping. Cannot drop below 6cr for UG,
3 for Graduate.
Allowed only once during program:
a) Initial difficulty with English or
reading requirement
b) Unfamiliar with U.S. teaching
c) Improper course placement

2. Medical Reasons
can drop all credits for a maximum of 12 month.
Medical documentation req.
3 Completing studies/graduating this semester
Must authorize in advance of last
semesters start.
Reduced Course Load
Edit 39 turned on by Registrar- prevents drops
below 12 or 6
Immigration accepts F’s(if you attend class)
but not “W” (Withdrawl)
Student Leaves School

15 days to depart US if ISO was informed
prior to dropping.
 60 days to depart after graduating, if no
OPT applied for.
 If you transfer, you must request the ISO to
transfer your SEVIS I-20 record to your
new school.
How to STAY in STATUS
– Don’t let anything expire! Passport, I-20
(Immigration will know immediately via
electronic data transmission)
– take full-time credits
12 UG or 6 UG
Get PRIOR APPROVAL
For drops below full-time
and practical training permission.
Keep Mankato Address up to date at
www.mnsu.edu (this will be sent to SEVIS) along with
your Foreign address. NO P.O BOXES ONLY
What Does This Mean

You must pay attention to dates on all forms and
not let them expire. Immigration will know and
consider you out of status immediately via the
electronic data transfer. They may very well come
to look for you QUICKLY!
 Get all permissions: to drop below full-time, work,
and do internships prior to beginning.
 Add classes before dropping, so you don’t drop
below 12 or 6 for even a day.
SEVIS FEE

Began Sept. 1 2004. $100
 If you began studying before Sept 1,2004
you do not have to pay.
 If You lose your F-1 status or return home
for 5 months you will need to pay again.
 Web site: www.FMJfee.com
Special Registration

If you were registered at the Airport or have
a hand written FIN #_ _ _ _ _ on your I-20
 Keep sending AR-11 SR
 You must remember to check out with
immigration upon each departure from the
U.S. by land or air.
OFFICE PROCEDURES

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Call 389-1281 or stop in CSU 219 to make an
appointments (no same day appts)
There is an hour or two of walk-ins each day for a quick 510 minute question. No Appt needed.
Many forms are on-line and others available at the front
desk.
Allow 3-4 days to process forms. (more at semester’s end
and during orientation)
Always Plan. YOUR IMMIGRATION STATUS is YOUR
RESPONSIBILITY. WELL MEANING FRIENDS MAY
HAVE OLD OR OUT OF DATE INFORMATION.
Here to Serve You !!

International Student Office (ISO)
 CSU 219
 389-1281
 [email protected]

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