Missouri State UniversityMissouri State University

International Student ServicesInternational Student ServicesSpring 2009

Welcome

International Services StaffInternational Services Staff

Carrington 302Carrington 302

IntroductionsIntroductions

Folder information Folder information

SEVIS is a federal government SEVIS is a federal government database of the USCIS (U.S. Citizenship database of the USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) containing and Immigration Services) containing student information on F, J, and M visa student information on F, J, and M visa

holders.holders.

This is an electronic immigration record while you are in F, J, or M visa

status.

International Student ServicesInternational Student Servicesuses SEVIS to:uses SEVIS to:

Produce I-20 & DS-2019 documentsProduce I-20 & DS-2019 documents Request benefits on behalf of F & J Request benefits on behalf of F & J

students (ie, work authorization)students (ie, work authorization) Report your enrollment each termReport your enrollment each term Report any changes in your personal or Report any changes in your personal or

academic informationacademic information Report any violations of your F or J visa Report any violations of your F or J visa

statusstatus

International Student International Student Services is responsible for Services is responsible for

maintaining your SEVIS maintaining your SEVIS record.record.

Help us keep it Help us keep it current and accurate!current and accurate!

If you…If you…Leave the country for a semester,Leave the country for a semester,Change to another visa status,Change to another visa status,Apply for permanent residency, orApply for permanent residency, orComplete studies and leave the U.S.Complete studies and leave the U.S.

Please tell us! Please tell us! Help us maintain your SEVIS record.Help us maintain your SEVIS record.

Do not let your passport expire.Do not let your passport expire. Do not let your I-20/DS-2019

expire. If you need an extension, apply for it before the document expires.

Update your I-20 with major or degree changes. J-1’s should consult their sponsor before making academic changes.

The amount of time given on your The amount of time given on your immigration document is an estimate, immigration document is an estimate, which may be extended or shortened which may be extended or shortened

based on the time you need to based on the time you need to complete the degree.complete the degree.

Your F-1 or J-1 stay comes to an end Your F-1 or J-1 stay comes to an end when you complete studies.when you complete studies.

Students with coursework Students with coursework requirements only:requirements only:

F-1 or J-1 stay ends the last day in F-1 or J-1 stay ends the last day in which you complete coursework which you complete coursework requirements.requirements.

Students writing a thesis or Students writing a thesis or dissertation:dissertation:

F-1 or J-1 stay ends the last day of F-1 or J-1 stay ends the last day of term in which you defend your thesis term in which you defend your thesis or dissertation.or dissertation.

F-1: 60 days to leave U.S. or transfer to a F-1: 60 days to leave U.S. or transfer to a new degree upon completion or new degree upon completion or termination of studiestermination of studies

J-1: 30 days to leave U.S. or transfer to a J-1: 30 days to leave U.S. or transfer to a new degree upon completion or new degree upon completion or termination of studiestermination of studies

F-2 or J-2 dependents may not remain F-2 or J-2 dependents may not remain after the F-1 or J-1 has permanently left after the F-1 or J-1 has permanently left the U.S.the U.S.

USCIS requires that you report your USCIS requires that you report your address to MSU within address to MSU within 10 10 days of moving.days of moving.

Update your address with ISS. Update your address with ISS. International International Student Services Student Services will will forward your information to SEVIS.forward your information to SEVIS.

If your entry visa has expired (the visa in your passport) and if you are inside the U.S., that’s ok!

If your entry visa has expired and you are outside of the U.S., you will need to renew it before re-entering.

Entry VisasEntry Visas

You cannot renew a visa inside the U.S.

Before traveling outside the U.S., be sure your I-20 or DS-2019 has been

signed for travel at International Student Services.

(See page 3 of your I-20 or page 1 of your DS-2019)

All international students on F-1 or J-1 visas All international students on F-1 or J-1 visas must enroll in a full course of study each must enroll in a full course of study each fall and spring term.fall and spring term.

Full-time enrollment = 12 credit hours minimum, Undergraduates

9 credit hours minimum, Graduates

Summer enrollment is optional, unless Summer enrollment is optional, unless required for a GA position.required for a GA position.

If you withdraw from a course, and you If you withdraw from a course, and you fall below the minimum number of fall below the minimum number of credits, you will be under-enrolled and out credits, you will be under-enrolled and out of status.of status.

If you audit a course (take a course If you audit a course (take a course without earning a grade), the course will without earning a grade), the course will not count toward your full-time not count toward your full-time enrollment.enrollment.

Illness or injury;Illness or injury; Difficulties with English language or Difficulties with English language or

reading requirements; difficulty with reading requirements; difficulty with American teaching methods;American teaching methods;

Improper course-level placement;Improper course-level placement; All coursework completed except All coursework completed except

thesis/dissertation;thesis/dissertation; You are in your final semester of You are in your final semester of

study.study.

For an exemption, contact International Student Services BEFORE you under-enroll.

NEVER ...NEVER ...

Any unauthorized employment is a violation of your F-1

status.

work without employment work without employment authorization!authorization!

Student is in good academic standing;

Student continues to engage in a full course of study each semester;

Employment totals no more than 20 hours per week, except during official school breaks/vacations;

The employment must be considered ON-CAMPUS;

Work authorization ends when the program of study ends or when the student’s program is terminated.

Student is in good academic standing; Student continues to engage in a full course of

study each semester; Employment totals no more than 20 hours per

week, except during official school breaks/ vacations;

The employment must be considered ON-CAMPUS;

Work authorization ends when the program of study ends or when the student’s program is terminated.

Your program sponsor must approve the work in advance, in writing.

Includes graduate assistantships, Includes graduate assistantships, jobs in the school library, cafeteria, jobs in the school library, cafeteria, and administrative offices, etc.and administrative offices, etc.

Companies that are located on Companies that are located on campus, but are NOT providing campus, but are NOT providing school services are not considered school services are not considered on-campus employment.on-campus employment.

Very serious violation of your visa Very serious violation of your visa statusstatus

Obligation to report unauthorized Obligation to report unauthorized employment to SEVISemployment to SEVIS

Not a “fixable” problem inside the Not a “fixable” problem inside the U.S.U.S.

Economic Hardship (F-1 & J-1)

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) (F-1 only)

Optional Practical Training (OPT) (F-1 only)

International Organization (F-1)

Academic Training (J-1 only)

Economic Hardship:Economic Hardship:

work authorization for work authorization for unexpectedunexpected and and severesevere financial difficulties financial difficulties

Always see an international student advisorregarding off-campus employment questions.

Do not work off-campus without receivingauthorization from International Student

Services.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT):Curricular Practical Training (CPT):

work authorization for employment situations work authorization for employment situations that are required to complete your degreethat are required to complete your degree

Always see an international student advisorregarding off-campus employment questions.

Do not work off-campus without receivingauthorization from International Student

Services.

Optional Practical Training (OPT):Optional Practical Training (OPT):

work authorization permitting up to 12 work authorization permitting up to 12 months of work experience in your field of months of work experience in your field of studystudy

Always see an international student advisorregarding off-campus employment questions.

Do not work off-campus without receivingauthorization from International Student

Services.

International Organization:International Organization:

work authorization permitting work work authorization permitting work with certain international organizationswith certain international organizations

Always see an international student advisorregarding off-campus employment questions.

Do not work off-campus without receivingauthorization from International Student

Services.

Academic Training:Academic Training:

work authorization for off-campus work work authorization for off-campus work in your field of study for up to 18 in your field of study for up to 18 months (or longer for post-doc work)months (or longer for post-doc work)

Do not work off-campus without receivingwritten authorization from your program

sponsor.

Internships that are required to fulfill Internships that are required to fulfill coursework and degree requirementscoursework and degree requirements

Other work opportunitiesOther work opportunitiesRequire OPT (F-1) or Academic Training (J-1) work authorization; or Economic Hardship, if eligible

Require CPT (F-1) or Academic Training (J-1)

F-2: No work benefits; cannot be F-2: No work benefits; cannot be pursuing a degree, but can pursuing a degree, but can take courses for recreational take courses for recreational purposes onlypurposes only

J-2: Can apply to USCIS for work J-2: Can apply to USCIS for work benefits; can pursue studybenefits; can pursue study

A 5-month absence from the U.S. A 5-month absence from the U.S. terminates your F-1 status (some terminates your F-1 status (some

exceptions exist).exceptions exist).

Students who have interrupted Students who have interrupted their F-1 status are not eligible for their F-1 status are not eligible for

off-campus work benefits until off-campus work benefits until they have completed 9 months in they have completed 9 months in

F-1 status after re-entry.F-1 status after re-entry.

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