f-1 travel policy

8/12/2019 F-1 Travel Policy

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Travel Policy & Student Responsibilities under F-1 & F-2 visa/status

1. Requirement: You have to be in status and clear of holds preventing registration for travelpermission. Travel permission is having the 3rdpage of you I-20 signed for re-entry into the U.S.

This also means you are currently in full study or that you just completed at least 12 credits incurrent required semester.

2. I-20 travel signed endorsement on page 3- If you plan to travel outside the U.S. during Holidaybreaks or summer, and plan to come back for the next required fall or spring semester, you

will need your I-20 on 3rdpage signed by the International Department DSOs for re-entry intoU.S. If your I-20 on the 3rdpage is already signed, it is valid for 1 yearfrom the date

signed/endorsed. But will you need to come back to study full time every fall and spring to notfall out of status. I t is strongly recommended to make any request at least 1(one) month in advance toguarantee service in time, due to Holi days, winter, and summer break periods.

Please email DSO(s) in the morning on the same day you want to come if need signedendorsement except Wednesdays. Our contact information is below.

Response-If we are available, we will reply back to you the time to see one of us. You then

should be able to come straight to our office without waiting in line. This policy will beconvenient for you & guarantee that you do not come when we are not in or available.

3. F-1/F-2 visa can expire- In most cases, you dont have to leave the U.S. just because your visais expiring or has expired. As long as you maintainyourF-1student status like

enroll and complete at least 12 credit hours every fall & spring to not violate F-1 USCIS laws.The visa is mainly for entering the U.S. for full time study. But if do leave the U.S., you will

need to renew it at the U.S. Embassy to enter back. Please contact them on all requirements.Previous students have renewed outside the U.S. and not inside. As far as we are aware of, theF-1 visa is not issued in the U.S. You can always check with USCIS at your own discretion.

"How long may I stay in the U.S. on my student visa?

http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/info/info_4385.html

When you enter the U.S. on a student visa, you will usually be admitted for the duration of your student status. Thatmeans you may stay as long as you are a full time student, even if the F-1 visa in your passport expires while you are inAmerica. For a student who has completed the course of studies shown on the I-20, and any authorized practicaltraining, F-1 students are allowed an additional 60 days to prepare for departure from the U.S. or to transfer to anotherschool."

Your I-94 card that is issued to you upon entering the U.S. stamped in red D/S for duration of stay for studies.

A few U.S. Embassies will tell you to go back to renew, even though you do not have to by U.S. USCIS laws. Up to

you if leaving just to renew the F-1 visa that is meant for you to enter the U.S. to study. You are already here, whywould you leave if still studying and don't have to.

4. *Other Responsibilities by F-1 & F-2- you will need to contact/check with the airports, airlines, U.S.Embassy where your citizenship is at and country traveling to, travel agent if using one, or the border stop

for all travel requirements.

5. If you did a COS-Change of Status to the F-1 or F-2- you were issued the F-1 status, and were not giventhe F-1 visa for re-entry into the U.S. If you and or your family have to leave the U.S. during school

break, you will have to apply for the F-1 or F-2 visa outside the U.S. for re-entry into the U.S. for the next

required semester enrollment.

6. Passport and I-20- While in the U.S. under F-1, never let these expire. Expired documents will make youout of status and will have to file an expensive Federal Reinstatement. The I-20 dates are on page 1 #5.
http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/info/info_4385.htmlhttp://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/info/info_4385.htmlhttp://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/info/info_4385.html

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7. Valid Documents Required- make sure your I-20, passport, and F-1 or F-2 student visa are valid & notgoing to expire during your travel. Be ready to provide those to documents, along with showing your I-94

if asked.

8. SEVIS proof of payment-https://www.fmjfee.com/i901fee/dhs/loadSearchPage.do9. If leaving U.S. & not returning for next semester studies- If you plan to leave the U.S. and not coming

back for the next required fall or spring semester, you must inform the International Department DSO(s)

once you have left to terminate your F-1 status properly in SEVIS. This is important because once you

are terminated, you have 15 days to leave the U.S. If you completed a program and do not plan to transfer

or apply for OPT if qualify, you have 60 days to leave. We can then properly terminate your F-1 in the

Government system to not cause problems for you in future travel and at airports. Keep in mind you will

need to apply all over again for a new I-20 if intend to come back

under F-1.

10. Full study and Completion required while in the U.S. under the F-1 visa/status- You have to enroll andcomplete at least 12 credit hour courses every fall and spring to maintain your status and to not violate F-1

USCIS laws. Violation of F-1 status could mean no travel allowed, DHS contacting/looking for you,

required court appearance(s), having to voluntarily leave the U.S., filing an expensive Federal

Reinstatement asap, or mandatory deportation. In some cases, being banned from any stay in the U.S.Wecan help you do the expensive Federal Reinstatement but very risky and some have to pay a lawyer if

complicated.

11. What if I traveled and forgot to get permission signature on my I-20 page 3? Email us below for areprint of your I-20, who can pick it up, their contact email, phone#, a letter from you signed providing

permission for pickup. The letter can be emailed to us.

In the future if I am out for awhile, you can contact Tina for help. If she says will be out before you depart,

contact any of the DSO(s) at the other LSCS locations for assistance. They can sign the 3rdpage for travel.

12. Request in Advance-I t is strongly recommended to make any request at least 1(one) month in advanceto guarantee service in time, due to Holi days, winter, and summer break periods.

13. Appointment- If your I-20 on the 3 rdpage is not signed for Holiday or summer travel, please email me orTina with your cell phone #in the morning on same day plan to come except Wednesdays. If we areavailable, we will reply back with an appointment time on the same day to come see us. This will be

convenient for you & guarantee that you do not come when we are not available.

For Important Travel guidelines, please refer to:

http://www.tsa.gov/

http://www.ice.gov/sevis/travel/faq_f2.htm

http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/info/info_1298.html

CONTACTS:

[email protected]@lonestar.edu

*It is the F-1 students responsibility to understand & follow all regulations pertaining to their legal status required by the U.S. Nothingcontained herein should be construed as giving legal advice as contemplated under any statute, regulation, or other law. The information issubject to change without prior notice. 12/14/12
https://www.fmjfee.com/i901fee/dhs/loadSearchPage.dohttps://www.fmjfee.com/i901fee/dhs/loadSearchPage.dohttps://www.fmjfee.com/i901fee/dhs/loadSearchPage.dohttp://www.tsa.gov/http://www.tsa.gov/http://www.ice.gov/sevis/travel/faq_f2.htmhttp://www.ice.gov/sevis/travel/faq_f2.htmhttp://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/info/info_1298.htmlhttp://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/info/info_1298.htmlmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/info/info_1298.htmlhttp://www.ice.gov/sevis/travel/faq_f2.htmhttp://www.tsa.gov/https://www.fmjfee.com/i901fee/dhs/loadSearchPage.do