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Immigration
SEVIS F-1 and J-1 Student Requirements
WHAT IS SEVIS?
SEVIS is the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System that requires all colleges and universities in the US to report electronically to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) information about F-1 students and J-1 students and visiting scholars beginning January 30, 2003.
New reporting requirements include:
- Failure to enroll (termination of studies);
- Dropping below full-time without OIP authorization;
- Any other failure to maintain status, such as unauthorized employment or failure to complete an academic program;
- Change in legal name and address;
- Disciplinary action taken by UA as the result of the student being convicted of a crime;
- Student's graduation prior to expected end date as listed on the I-20 or DS-2019; and
- Start date of student's next session.
FULL-TIME ENROLLMENT REQUIREMENT
USCIS regulations require all undergraduate students to enroll for 12 credit hours per semester, and graduate students must enroll for 9 credit hours per semester
It is not mandatory for F-1 or J-1 students to be enrolled during the summer session, unless you entered the country using either an I-20 or DS-2019 for and academic program that begins in the Summer session. In that case you must be enrolled.
COURSELOAD REDUCTION
OIP must report to SEVIS each semester about students who are not enrolled full-time. Those who do not maintain a full course of study will be considered out of legal status by USCIS and must depart the US, or apply for reinstatement.
There are, however, six USCIS approved reasons for students taking less than full-time. They are:
- Initial difficulty with the English language or reading requirements, unfamiliarity with American teaching methods, or improper course level placement (allowed only once per academic level, and undergraduates must enroll for at least 6 credit hours)
- Last semester of study of a student's degree program (may be less than 6 credits)
- Concurrent enrollment (total combined enrollment at each institution must meet the full-time definitions as stated above)
- Graduate students who are engaged in a graduate thesis, research, or a special project that is part of their academic program
- Graduate students who have completed all coursework and are still working on their dissertation or thesis may be enrolled less than full-time. (1 semester for M.S. or M.A. graduate students, 2 semesters for Ph.D. students)
- Temporary illness or medical condition for a period of time not to exceed an aggregate of 12 months while the student is pursuing a course of study at a particular program level. Documentation from a licensed medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, or licensed clinical psychologist is required and must be provided for each new semester that a student is ill
TRAVEL
Effective immediately, if you will be traveling outside the US, you must come to OIP to request a new SEVIS I-20 or DS-2019 travel document, if you plan to return after August 1, 2003. If you have dependents, each one must now have his or her own SEVIS I-20 or DS-2019 in order to get a visa and/or enter the US.
If you already possess a SEVIS I-20 or DS-2019, you must come to OIP for a travel signature for reentry. You must bring in travel documents for signature at least 24 hours prior to your departure.
If you choose to apply for a US visa in Canada and are denied, you will not be readmitted to the US under Automatic Revalidation. You will need to travel DIRECTLY to your home country to obtain a new visa in order to reenter the US.
NOTE: Please do not request a new SEVIS I-20 or DS-2019 now if you are not traveling. The OIP will issue an SEVIS I-20 or a DS-2019 to all students and scholars and their dependents prior to August 1, 2003.
CHANGE OF U.S. ADDRESS
In order to be in compliance with immigration regulations, all international students and scholars holding an F-1 or J-1 visa MUST do the following:
Inform the Office of International Programs of any address changes within the United States within 10 days of moving. This can ONLY be done by filling out, signing and submitting an OIP Change of Address Form to the Office of International Programs. OIP Change of Address forms are located in the lobby of the Office of International Programs and can be downloaded at
http://www.uakron.edu/oip/immigration/downloads.php . This requirement includes students on Optional Practical Training and Academic Training.
Note: In order to keep your academic records updated, it is also your responsibility to change your address with the Registrar's Office. This can be done by completing a Change of Address form in the Registrar's Office or by changing your address online at www.uakron.edu . Please note that the Registrar's Change of Address Form is different than the Office of International Program's Change of Address Form.
Summary of what to do when you move to a new U.S. address:
1. Fill out an OIP Change of Address form and return it to the Office of International Programs within 10 days of the move.
2. Change your address with the Registrar's Office by either changing your address online or by filling out a Change of Address form in the Registrar's Office.
* * * Note: In addition to the above requirements, all international students and scholars who do not hold an F-1 or J-1 visa must also submit changes of address to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services through the completion of an AR-11 form.
F-2 AND J-2 DEPENDENT STUDY
Individuals in F-2 status are no longer able to study for a degree on either a part-time or full-time basis. Therefore, those who are studying full-time or part-time toward a degree must apply to USCIS for a change of status to F-1 by March 11, 2003. Those in F-2 status may continue to study while the petition is pending with USCIS.
EXTENSION OF I-20 OR DS-2019
Students must obtain an extension of their I-20 or DS-2019 PRIOR to the program end-date noted on their current I-20 or DS-2019 by coming to OIP during regular walk-in hours. Students who do not obtain a new I-20 or DS-2019 prior to the program end-date violate their status.
CHANGE OF ACADEMIC LEVEL
Undergraduate students who change their majors must bring in a letter from their academic advisor and request a new I-20 or DS-2019 reflecting the change. Graduate students need to apply to the Graduate School and obtain a new admission letter. The OIP must notify USCIS within 21 days of this event.
CHANGE OF MAJOR
Undergraduate students who change their majors must bring in a letter from their academic advisor and request a new I-20 or DS-2019 reflecting the change. Graduate students need to apply to the Graduate School and obtain a new admission letter. The OIP must notify USCIS within 21 days of this event.
GRACE PERIODS
F-1 students have a 60-day grace period following completion of study or completion of optional practical training to 1) depart the US, 2) transfer to another institution, or 3) change status.
However, students who terminate their studies before completion of their academic program do NOT receive a 60-day grace period. These students MUST notify OIP BEFORE terminating studies in order to receive a 15-day grace period to depart the US.
F-1 students who do not notify OIP before termination of studies receive no grace period and must leave the US immediately.
J-1 students have a 30-day grace period following completion of study or completion of academic training to 1) depart the US, 2) transfer to another institution. J-1 change status requests should be done prior to their current program end date, if eligible
SAFEKEEPING DOCUMENTS/REPLACING LOST DOCUMENTS
Never throw away any I-20 or DS-2019 after receiving an updated form. USCIS may request to see these forms in the future
TRANSFERS
Students must now notify OIP prior to leaving UA for another institution. Students will not be able to receive an I-20 or DS-2019 from the new school unless the following steps are completed:
- Notify OIP of your intent to transfer and provide the name of the new school to which you intend to transfer;
- OIP will update your record in SEVIS as a transfer out and indicate the name of the school to which you intend to transfer, along with a release date (and for J-1 students, the exchange visitor program number). The release date is usually the last day of a semester or the date of expected transfer;
- You may request that OIP cancel the transfer at any time prior to the release date;
- As of the release date, the new school will have full access to your SEVIS record and assumes responsibility for you, at which time the new school will issue you a new SEVIS Form I-20 or DS-2019;
- Students must contact the international office at the new school within 15 days of the start date listed on the SEVIS I-20 or DS-2019 to avoid violating their status;
- The new school will verify enrollment with SEVIS, thereby acknowledging that the student has completed the transfer process; and
- For F-1 students, in the remarks section of the student's SEVIS Form I-20, the new school must note that the transfer has been completed, indicating the date, and returning the I-20 to the student.
F-1 STUDENT EMPLOYMENT
F-1 students in valid status may work on-campus up to 20 hours per week while school is in session, and more than 20 hours per week during semester breaks and the annual summer vacations. F-1 students may not begin on-campus work more than 30 days prior to the actual start of classes. Other employment in the US requires recommendation or authorization by USCIS or OIP.
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
F-1 students may apply for OPT authorization for temporary employment directly related to the student's major area of study.
USCIS regulations state that:
- Students may apply for 12 months of OPT after completion of their course of study and may become eligible for another 12 months when he/she changes to a higher educational level;
- Students in English language training are not eligible for OPT;
- Students may apply for OPT up to 120 days prior to completion of studies, but MAY NO LONGER apply for OPT after completion of studies; and
- Authorization to engage in OPT is automatically terminated when the student transfers to another school or begins study at another educational level.
Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
F-1 students may participate in a CPT program if it is an integral part of an established curriculum. CPT is defined to be alternate work/study, internship, cooperative education, or any other type of required internship or practicum that is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school. CPT may be full-time or part-time. Students doing part-time CPT must still enroll in classes full-time. Students doing full-time CPT are required to register for an internship or coop class.
Students must enroll for at least one semester after completion of CPT. Students who are finished with all coursework may not apply for curricular practical training, rather they must apply for OPT.
F-1 and J-1 STUDENT EMPLOYMENT
On-campus: F-1 and J-1 students may work on-campus up to 20 hours per week while school is in session. J-1 students should receive permission from the OIP prior to working.
Academic training: J-1 students remain eligible for academic training work authorization as before. However, OIP must electronically report the authorized period of academic training in SEVIS prior to the first date of employment.
REINSTATEMENT TO LEGAL STATUS
F-1 students may make a request for reinstatement on Form I-539 accompanied by SEVIS Form I-20 indicating OIP's recommendation for reinstatement. F-1 students must not have been out of status for more than five months at the time of filing the request for reinstatement and does not have a record of repeated or willful violations.
J-1 students may request OIP to submit an electronic request for reinstatement to DOS through SEVIS. OIP prints a copy of the reinstatement request from SEVIS (draft copy of DS-2019. OIP must submit the initial request along with the required supporting documentation justifying the reinstatement and the required, non-refundable fee (paid by student), to DOS within 30 calendar days of the SEVIS submission date. Under no circumstances is reinstatement possible after 270 days. If approved, DOS will enter the approval in SEVIS, and the OIP will then print the new DS-2019 to notify the student that it is ready for pick-up.
Students and their dependents that fail to timely report a change of address (see above) are not eligible for reinstatement.
Students who need reinstatement must arrange an appointment with a Foreign Student Adviser in OIP
Check for updates to these regulations on OIP Website
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