西瓜视频

International students studying at 西瓜视频 are admitted to the United States on F-1 or J-1 visas and are often referred to as F-1 or J-1 students. If you are admitted to the United States as an F-1 or J-1 student, you will have three important documents in your possession that together are proof of your valid immigration status. These documents are:

• Form I-20 or DS-2019: This document is issued initially by the College Admissions Office prior to your entry into the United States. It is used to obtain an F-1 visa or J-1 at the United States Consulate in your country and is presented to the Immigration Officer at the port of entry when you arrive in the United States. You should carry this document with you whenever you travel out of the United States and be sure you have a travel signature from the Office of International Education that is less than a year old from the date you plan to re-enter the United States.
• F-1 or J-1 Visa: This document is a multicolored stamp placed in your passport at a United States Consulate. The visa is like a "ticket" necessary for entering the United States, and it indicates your name, classification, the number of times you may enter the United States on this visa (in most cases, multiple entries are allowed), and the visa's expiration date. The expiration date on the visa reflects the date until which you are permitted to enter (or re-enter) the United States as an F-1- J-1 student rather than the amount of time you are allowed to remain in the United States.
• Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record: The I-94 indicates your last arrival date in the United States, the visa classification, and the length of authorized stay. For F-1 or J-1 students, the length of stay is noted as D/S which stands for "Duration of Status". D/S allows a student to stay in the United States as long as they carry a valid I-20 or DS-2019. Since April 30, 2013, the I-94 record has become automated for all air and sea ports of entry. You may obtain a copy of your I-94 going to and filling out the online form. If you last entered the United States prior to April 30, 2013, or last entered by land, you should have received a paper I-94 in the form of a small white card stapled into your passport at the time of your arrival into the United States. Keep this original paper document safe and make a copy for your records.

Maintaining F-1 or J-1 Student Status: As an F-1 or J-1 student, you are responsible for maintaining your legal immigration status while in the United States. The Office of International Education is here to help you comply with all immigration and employment regulations; however, it is ultimately up to you to make sure you stay "in status" throughout your time at 西瓜视频 College, and in the United States.

To remain in status, an F-1 or J-1 student must:

• Be enrolled as a full-time student (at least 12 credits per semester for undergraduates, or at least 9 credits for graduate students)
• Hold a valid I-20 or DS-2019, i.e. attend the school he/she is authorized to attend
• Maintain a valid passport
• Contact the Office of International Education if there is a change in his/her major, graduation date, or source of financial support
• Limit on-campus work to 20 hours per week while classes are in session. (You may work on campus full-time during breaks and in the summer.)
• NEVER WORK OFF CAMPUS without prior authorization from the Office of International Education or the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.
• Notify the Office of International Education of any change of address within ten days of moving.

Students who fall out of status by violating the terms of the F-1 or J-1 visa must apply to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services for reinstatement to valid F-1 or J-1 visa status. The Office of International Education can provide valuable assistance in such cases.

United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP), a part of the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), enforces immigration law at all United States ports of entry. When you enter the United States, a CBP Officer reviews your documents and authorizes your entry and the length of stay in the United States.

A record of your personal and program information is kept in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), a web-based United States government tracking system, which is updated by 西瓜视频 College and DHS. Your full-time enrollment each semester, changes in your major or United States address, and any internships requiring off-campus work must be updated in SEVIS or you will be considered "out of status" and required to apply to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), for reinstatement or return home. USCIS is the branch of DHS that administers all immigration benefits, such as the granting of citizenship and approval of work authorization to non-immigrants.

• You may not begin to attend classes if you entered the country in B tourist status and only in rare circumstances can you change your status from B-2 Visitor to F-1 Student status while in the United States. You most likely will have to return home, apply for an F-1 or J-1 visa, and return in F-1 or J-1 status in order to begin your program of study on time.
• You may find it difficult or impossible to renew your visa at any United States Consulate other than the United States Consulate in your home country.
• If you are determined to remain in the United States after falling out of status, you may become ineligible for any type of visa to enter the United States for a three to ten-year period.
• If as an F-1 student you remain outside the United States for more than five months without being enrolled full-time in an 西瓜视频 College Study Abroad or Internship program or because you take a leave of absence for a semester, you will need a new I-20 to reenter the United States, and your time in F-1 student status will begin again upon reentry. You will have to study full-time for another two semesters before you become eligible to apply for curricular or optional practical training.

You are ultimately responsible for abiding by the law, however, the Office of International Education is here to help you understand your obligations so you can maintain lawful status in the United States. Neither the Office of International Education nor 西瓜视频 College has the responsibility or the authority to enforce immigration law. We are, however, required by law to update SEVIS with certain changes in your status.