1	Dixie State College Immigration Status Information for New International Students
2	Purposes of this Session: To help you maintain your immigration status according to DHS regulations. To reduce later confusion or difficulties. To help you benefit from opportunities available to you. To provide you with information you need so you will not be deported!
3	Passport You must not allow your passport to expire while you are in the U.S. The U.S. government requires foreign passports to be valid for at least six months into the future. Contact your home country embassy for information on extending your current passport or obtaining a new passport.
4	“Visa” vs. “Status” A visa is a stamp in your passport from a U.S. consulate or embassy. Use it to enter or re-enter the U.S. after traveling. Your visa can expire while inside U.S.; you may remain in U.S. with expired visa. Renew your visa outside the U.S. when traveling, if necessary. Your status (F-1, J-1, F-2, J-2) is your legal right to be in the U.S. determined by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). You should always protect and maintain your immigration status by following the regulations.
5	SEVIS The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System F and J regulations were revised effective January 1, 2003 in connection with the introduction of SEVIS SEVIS is an information sharing system that the DHS has put in place to collect information about international F-1 and J-1 students and J-1 scholars. All I-20 and DS-2019 forms must be issued through SEVIS.
6	Dixie must send information to the DHS through SEVIS when students: Register, fail to register or under-enroll Change local address--students must notify the International Student Office . Post office box or department (campus) addresses are not acceptable. Change dependent information (name, address, birth date, travel in/out of US, departure) Graduate, withdraw from school, change major or change level Receive disciplinary action resulting from criminal conviction
7	SEVIS I-20 Forms Information required by DHS to be in every student’s file Personal information (contact information) Copies of passport, visa and I-94 Financial proof of $17,171.00 (subject to change) A new SEVIS I-20 will be issued each time students: Request CPT/OPT Change level or major Extend their stay Bring dependents to U.S.
8	Maintaining your Status Register Full-Time Register full time during the fall & spring semesters. 12 semester hours for undergraduate students. OR have a “Reduced Course Load” form on file at the International Student Office.
9	Maintaining your Status Register Full-Time Enrolling in short term sessions Students must be enrolled for a full course of study by last day of registration (12 hours). Students cannot take all of their courses in one short term session, i.e., one summer session, to be considered full time
10	Maintaining Status Register Full-Time You must get PRIOR APPROVAL from the international student advisor before you can drop below full-time registration: Have your Academic Advisor fill out a Reduced Course Load Form EVERY semester you enroll less than full-time. Give the Form to the Registrars Office either before the start of classes or before you drop a class after the semester begins. Failure to get prior approval is considered by the USCIS to be a violation of your status!
11	Maintaining Status Register Full-Time What are acceptable reasons for enrolling less than full-time (undergrad students)? In first year of study and having difficulties with English language, reading requirements or American teaching methods (note must still register for 6 credits and can use this option ONLY ONCE!); Have enrolled at improper course level; Show documentation of serious medical condition (Requires a very detailed letter from your physician.); OR In final semester of study and don’t need to take full-time hours.
12	Maintaining Status Complete withdrawal PLEASE see the international student advisor first. If you drop all your classes after obtaining approval from the international student advisor, you can only remain in the U.S. for 15 days. If you drop without seeing the advisor, you must leave the U.S. immediately. If you have obtained approval from the advisor to drop because of medical reasons, you may be eligible to stay in the U.S. for one year.
13	Maintaining Status Program Extension Do not let your I-20 expire! Get a new I-20 from the international student advisor the date it expires. The expiration date is the ending date listed on the I-20 under item #5. See us at least one month prior to the expiration date so that we may issue you a new document. If you let your document expire without getting a new one, you will be out of status and you may have to leave the U.S.!
14	Maintaining Status Reporting Change of Address You must report any changes of your local address by changing your information at the International Student Office. Each change must be made within 10 days of moving. Post office boxes and department addresses CANNOT be used.
15	Maintaining Status Transferring to Another School Contact the school you want to transfer to and ask about their process. If you wish to transfer from Dixie State College to another U.S. school, you MUST FIRST meet with the international student advisor. For additional details, including the procedure to follow if you need to transfer, how you can stay in the U.S. while waiting to transfer to another school, or how you can continue working if transferring, please see the International Admissions Advisor.
16	Maintaining Status Employment Limit for on-campus work is 20 hours/week during the fall and spring semesters. During the summer session and winter break you may work up to full-time (40 hours per week.)
17	Maintaining Status Employment You MUST obtain permission in advance for any off-campus work. Must meet with the international student advisor before beginning off-campus work and receive proper authorization, otherwise you are working illegally. You will only be eligible for off-campus work in very specific situations, you will need to meet with the advisor to determine eligibility and get proper authorization.
18	Off-Campus Employment OPT (Optional Practical Training) Must apply for OPT prior to graduation. Allows for 1 year of full-time work related to your field of study after completion of required coursework or graduation. No job offer needed. DHS authorization takes at least three months. Plan ahead!
19	Off-Campus Employment Economic Hardship Must maintain status for a full academic year to be eligible. Only available for situations such as loss of sponsorship, economic crisis in home country, excessive medical bills, loss of support from home, etc.
20	Maintaining Status Employment Do not work after your graduation day unless you have Optional Practical Training (F-1). Your I-20 may still have a valid date after graduating, but no matter: graduation makes an I-20, and consequently your ability to remain in the U.S., invalid – UNLESS you have applied for OPT or have applied to change your status within 60 days following graduation.
21	Maintaining Status Since the immigration requirements are changing sometimes weekly, see the international sutdnet advisor if you ever have questions about maintaining your status.
22	Maintaining Status What does it mean to “fall out of status?”
23	Results of Failing to “Maintain your Status” You may try to apply for reinstatement in the U.S. but with very few exceptions this will be difficult/impossible to obtain. You will not be able to do practical training (F-1) or academic training (J-1). You might not be able to transfer to another school. You may be deported.
24	More Consequences You might not be able to re-enter the U.S. until you get a new visa in your own country. You might be barred from re-entering the U.S. for one to ten years in any type of status. You might not be able to change to another non-immigrant status, such as H-1B. You might not be able to adjust to Permanent Resident status (“get a green card”).
25	Traveling Outside the U.S. You need: Valid passport Valid U.S. visa Signature of the international student advisor on the back page of your I-20. You may also need… Evidence of your financial support; Unofficial transcript or verification letter from Registrar’s Office.
26	Procedure for Getting Travel Signature Bring your I-20, I-94 card, and passport to the international student advisor. The signatures are technically valid for 12 months regardless of how often you travel.
27	"Question" Question: What if your visa has expired, or will expire before you need to re-enter the U.S.?
28	Applying for a New U.S. Visa Can be done only outside of U.S. at an embassy or consulate. You will need: Your SEVIS I-20 authorized for visa renewal; Documentation of your financial support; A current Dixie State College transcript; Additional document from the international student advisor called the “Visa Re-entry Letter”
29	Traveling Outside the U.S. If you are visiting a country other than your own country, you need to contact that country’s embassy to determine if you need a visa to enter. See this website for consulate and embassy contact information: www.embassyworld.com.
30	Leaving the U.S. F-1 students who complete the program of studies or any subsequent OPT will be allowed a 60-day period to prepare to leave the U.S. (J-1: 30 day period.) Any student who has been authorized by the international student advisor to withdraw from classes will have a 15-day period to leave U.S. Any student who fails to maintain a full course of study without approval or otherwise fails to maintain status must leave U.S. immediately.
31	Regulations for F-2 Dependents F-2’s can NEVER work legally, anywhere, under any circumstances – there is no way to get legal work authorization for an F-2. Because of new federal regulations passed last December, F-2’s can only take classes on “recreational or avocational” basis. If traveling outside the U.S., your F-2 dependent must carry their own I-20 with a valid travel signature from the international student adviser.
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33	"Stay informed- USCIS holds YOU..." Stay informed- USCIS holds YOU responsible for maintaining status-NOT the international student advisor. Ask the advisor before making any changes to your registration. Know that the USCIS might not forgive even simple errors (don’t assume you can simply write a letter or it can somehow be “fixed”). Do not rely on immigration advice from friends or faculty!
34	To do list for students Notify the international student advisor Verify status with the advisor before travel If planning to be away from St. George for more than two weeks, notify the advisor of contact information Activate your Dixie email address
35	To do list for students (continued) Students must notify the international student advisor in advance if they: Take a semester off Register for less than 9/12 credits Anticipate graduation later than expected Anticipate academic suspension or dismissal Plan to transfer to another college in the U.S. Add or change status of dependents Change physical address
36	Contacting the International Student Advisor (Jenny Callahan) By telephone – 435-652-7689 By email – callahan@dixie.edu Office – 109, Career Center To see an adviser in person – ALWAYS make an appointment in advance!
37	SEVIS/ F Regulation Resources DHS website: www.uscis.gov Dixie Web Site: www.dixie.edu/reg/inter.html Federal Register: www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fedreg/frcont02.html