Maintain Visa Status

The University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX 782491/3/11 1

Welcome to The University of Texas at San Antonio

International Student Services (ISS)Office of International Programs

Spring 2013


• Immigration Presentation handout is in your Orientation Packet.


Maintaining Visa Status

Important Documents and Terms

Part I


Student Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS)

SEVIS is a database used by U.S. Department of Homeland Security to track and monitor information about international students and their dependents.

International Student Services (ISS) reports all F-1/J-1 student information through SEVIS to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Through SEVIS, ISS issues Form I-20/DS-2019 to UTSA F-1/J-1 visa students.


Important Immigration Documents

Passport Form I-94 Visa Stamp placed in your passport Form I-20 – F-1 visa students Form DS-2019 – J-1 visa students


Passport Your passport is the

official identification document in the U.S.

Your passport must be valid at all times during your stay in the U.S.

If your passport is lost or stolen, visit ISS for instructions.

Check your expiration date!!Don’t forget to renew your

passport well ahead of time.


Renewing Your Passport

Two options to renew your passport:

1) When you are in the U.S., locate your embassy and apply according to their procedures.

2) When you are in your home country, you may renew your passport there.

Please remember to submit a copy to ISS when you renew your passport.


Form I-94 Arrival-Departure Card

I-94 Number Date of Entry into the US

Visa Type

Length of Stay


Form I-94

Your name and date of birth should match the information on your passport & I-20/DS-2019.

Form I-94 should be turned in to the Airline whenever you travel outside the U.S. to validate your departure.

A lost or stolen Form I-94 must be replaced through U.S. Immigration Services. The cost is $330.


Form I-94: Expiration Date F1/J1 visa students

“D/S” (Duration of Status)This means you can stay in the US as long as you maintain F1/J1 visa status properly.

E, L, H & other visasA specific expiration date should be written.

Length of Stay F-1/J-1 students – if your I-94 does not say D/S, meet with an ISS advisor.


U.S. Visa Stamp The visa stamp

indicates your eligibility for entry and reentry to the US in a specific visa category, such as F-1 and J-1.

It must be valid on the day you enter the US.


Expired U.S. Visa Stamp F-1/J-1 Students

What happens if your visa expires and you are in the U.S.?

As long as you maintain your visa status, you may remain in the U.S. with an expired visa.

However, if you travel outside the U.S., you will not be allowed to re-enter the U.S. with an expired visa. You must have a valid visa to re-enter the U.S.


U.S. Visa Stamp: Where to renew your visa

You must renew your travel visa at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your home country.

You CANNOT renew visa inside the U.S.


Form I-20 and DS-2019

Your SEVIS ID number is located

above the barcode and starts with

“N000”

Certificate of Eligibility for F visa

Certificate of Eligibility for J visa

Form I-20 Form DS-2019


Form I-20/DS-2019: Issuance and Endorsement

Your I-20/DS-2019 should be issued by

UTSA.

Your I-20/DS-2019 should be signed by ISS and you.


Form I-20/DS-2019

Make sure all information is correcto Name, birth date, major, degree levelo Financial information

Remember to request updates on any changes of the information on your Form I-20/DS-2019.


Form I-20/DS-2019: Program End Date F1/J1 students are required to complete their

academic program within an estimated period of time listed on their Form I-20/DS-2019.

Check item 5Form I-20 Form DS-2019

Check item 3


Form I-20/DS-2019: Program End Date

If you complete all academic requirements before the program end date, your program is considered ‘complete’.

If you are unable to complete your degree program by the I-20/DS-2019 program end date, you may apply for an extension of stay.

You are responsible for applying for an extension BEFORE the program end date.

Failure to extend your I-20/DS-2019 before your program end date will result in termination.


Immigration Documents: Safety Keep your

immigration documents in a safe place.

Carry copies of your documents with you.


Grace Period F-1/J-1

After completion of academic program students have a Grace Period to prepare to leave, transfer or to change to another visa status.

F-1 students: 60-day grace periodJ-1 students: 30-day grace period

If an F-1/J-1 visa student violates federal immigration law and loses their status, the student

must depart the U.S. immediately.


F-1 Transfer Student Form I-20

After confirming your class registration, International Student Services will update your I-20.

You will receive an email notification about the updated Form I-20. Please follow the instructions in the email to pick up your updated Form I-20.

Transfer Pending I-20

Continued Attendance I-20


Travel Inside the U.S. You must always carry

immigration documents, especially while traveling through states along the Mexico or Canada borders.

You could be stopped by immigration officers at any time and told to produce the following:– Valid passport– Valid Form I-20/DS-2019– Form I-94– U.S. visa


Travel Outside the U.S.

Take the following documents with you when you travel outside the U.S: Valid Passport Valid Visa Stamp Current Form I-94 Valid I-20/DS-2019 with

a current travel signature if F-1/J-1 visa.


Travel Signature F-1/J-1

You must have a current signature (within 6 months) from ISS on your Form I-20/DS-2019 to re-enter the U.S.

Bring your form to International Student Services at least one week before you plan to travel.

Failure to obtain International Student Services signature may prevent you from re-entering the U.S.

Travel Signature by international

student advisor


Pop Quiz Part I


Question 1

• Can an international student stay in the United States with an expired passport?


Question 1 - Answer

International students must have a valid passport at all times.

The passport should be valid for a minimum of six months into the future


Question 2

Can an international student stay in the U.S. with an expired visa stamp?


Question 2 - Answer

Student can stay inside the U.S. with an expired visa stamp if:

1. Student attends school; and2. Student’s I-20/DS-2019 is valid.


Question 3

What does “D/S” stand for on the I-94 card?


Question 3 - Answer

“D/S” means Duration of Status. Your I-94 is valid until you complete your program.


Question 4

When you travel outside of the U.S., what documents are needed?


Question 4 - Answer

Valid Passport Valid Visa I-94 Card Valid I-20/DS-2019 with recent travel signature

from International Student Services, if F-1/J-1 student.



• Part 2• Reporting and Enrollment Requirements


Reporting Requirments

• Federal law requires you to report the following changes within 10 days

Change of Address: You must update current address in two different places:– ASAP (link between student and UTSA) – International Student Gateway (link between student and SEVIS)

Change of Major: A letter from your academic advisor is required with new major and your new graduation date (dd/mm/yyyy).

Change of Level: An admission letter and financial documents are required.

International Student Services MUST report these changes to the U.S. Government on your behalf.


Enrollment Requirements non F-1/J-1

• Students who are not F-1 or J-1 and have the following visas can register for classes either full-time or part-time:

H-4 L-2 E-2 J-2

• F-2 Dependents can only enroll in English - language training for a limited period of time.


F-1/J-1: Enrollment Requirement

F-1/J-1 visa students must maintain a full course of study during each FALL and SPRING semester.

12 hours for Undergraduates

9 hours for Graduates



Enrollment during the summer semester is optional.If the summer semester is your first or last semester, you must register for 6 credit hours.

Summer



All courses must apply to your degree to be counted toward full time requirements.

Review your degree

plan with your

academic advisor!


F-1/J-1: Dropping Classes

BEFORE dropping a course that will put you below the full time hours requirement, you MUST meet with an international student advisor to check if you are allowed to drop the course.


Reduced Course Load - Final Semester

If you are in the final semester of your program and do not need to enroll full time, you must apply for a Reduced Course Load and get approval from International Student Services before you begin your final semester.


Academic Difficulty

If you are having problems with your class, you must seek advice from the course instructor, academic advisor and international student advisor.


Academic Probation and Dismissal

• F-1/J-1• If you are ever placed on Academic Probation or

become Academically Dismissed, you must immediately report to International Student Services to speak to an International Student Advisor.


Criminal Activity

All students are required to obey federal, state and local laws.

Conviction of a crime may have a serious impact on the international student’s visa status – including immediate deportation.


Pop Quiz Part 2


Question 1

What is considered full-time enrollment for an F-1/J-1 visa Undergraduate students?


Question 1 - Answer

Undergraduate students must maintain 12 credit hours each fall and spring semester.


Question 2

What is considered full-time enrollment for an F-1/J-1 visa Graduate students?


Question 2 - Answer

Graduate students must maintain 9 credit hours each fall and spring semester.


Question 3

What if an F-1/J-1 visa student is doing poorly in a class and wants to drop it so it does not affect his GPA (grade point average) negatively - can he do it?


Question 3 - Answer

No - if dropping the course puts his enrollment hours below full time. If F-1/J-1 visa students have any problems, they must come to International Student Services to discuss their options.


Question 4

When international students change their local address, when and where do they need to report their new address?


Question 4 - Answer

Within 10 days of such change, 1) Complete Change of Address Form on

International Student Services website; and2) Update ASAP.


Question 5

What can an F-1/J-1 student do if they cannot complete their program by program end date listed on I-20/DS-2019?


Question 5 - Answer

An F-1/J-1 student should request an extension of stay before the program end date listed on the I-20/DS-2019



• Part 3• Employment Rules and Regulations


Employment

• Students on a visa should not assume that they are automatically eligible to work in the U.S.

• Unauthorized employment is considered a serious violation.

It is your responsibility to know the requirements and limitations.


F-1 On-Campus Employment

F-1 students may engage in on-campus employment at UTSA if they:have properly maintained their F-1 visa status. are in good academic standing. are not academically dismissed.

F-1 students do not have to get a formal authorization from International Student Services before beginning on-campus employment.


J-1 On-Campus Employment

J-1 students may engage in on-campus employment at UTSA if they:properly maintain their J-1 statusare in good academic standing, are not academically dismissed.have written authorization from the ISS before the

employment begins. Authorization can be granted in periods of up to 12

months at a time.


F-1/J-1 On-Campus Employment

Hours per Week

• A maximum of 20 hours a week while school is in session.

• Full-time (40 hours per week) during official school breaks only if you will be enrolling in the next semester.

Your employment must end on your graduation date.


F-1/J-1 On-Campus Employer

The employment must be on campus, related to student services and considered part of the university.

Examples• Food Services ( Starbucks, Subway, etc.)• Housing• Recreation Center• Bookstore• Lab• Various UTSA departments


Social Security Card When you have an

offer of on-campus employment, you will need to apply for a Social Security Card.

This card is required for employment in the U.S.

For information visit ISS website:

http://international.utsa.edu/living-in-san-antonio/social-security-number/






F-1/J-1 Visa: Teaching Assistant If you need to start your

teaching assistantship soon, please bring an employment letter to ISS after registering full-time.

In order for you to be able to apply for SSN, your registration status needs to be updated in SEVIS.

Step 1: Register full-time

Step 2: Bring a hiring letter from your department to ISS.

Step 3: ISS updates your registration status in SEVIS and issue a support letter.


F-1/J-1 Visa: Off-Campus Employment You are NOT allowed to work

off-campus or to be self-employed without written employment authorization from ISS.

Failure to comply with this regulation will result in immediate termination of your SEVIS record and you will be deported.

Off-CampusWork


F-1 Off-Campus Employment Options

• Curricular Practical Training (CPT)o allows F-1 students to complete a paid/unpaid

internship needed for their degree programo authorized by International Student Services

• Optional Practical Training (OPT)o allows F-1 students to gain experience in their field of

studyo authorized by the Department of Homeland Security


J-1 Off-Campus Employment Option

• Academic Trainingo allows J-1 students to gain experience in their field of

studyo allows J-1 students to complete a paid/unpaid

internship needed for their degree programo authorized by International Student Services


Other Visa Type Employment

• The following dependent visas are not eligible for employment:– F-2–H-4– E-2 (child)

WORK


Other Visa Type Employment

• The following dependent visas are eligible for employment only if they apply and are approved for employment authorization through U.S. Department of Homeland Security:– The spouse of an L-1 – The spouse of an E-2– J-2 Dependants


Pop Quiz Part 3


Question 1

Where and how many hours are F-1/J-1 students allowed to work?


Question 1 - Answer

F-1/J-1 students are allowed to work • only on campus• Maximum 20 hours a week while school is in

session*J-1 students must get written authorization from International

Student Services.


Question 2

What happens if an F-1/J-1 visa student works off-campus without authorization?


Question 2 - Answer

If F-1/J-1 visa students work off-campus WITHOUT proper authorization, their record will be terminated and they must leave the U.S. immediately.


Question 3

An F-1/J-1 student has been offered an off-campus internship. The company wants him to work immediately. Can he begin employment?


Question 3 - Answer

No, F-1/J-1 visa students cannot begin employment without prior authorization from International Student Services.



• Part 4• Health Insurance Requirements


Health Insurance Requirement

By University of Texas System policy, all international students are required to have continuous health insurance coverage throughout the calendar year.


Student Health Insurance

The UTSA Student Health Insurance is Academic Health Plans.

You may review the insurance policy on their website: www.ahpcare.com

Health insurance for the Spring-Summer 2013 semesters is $775.00.

http://www.ahpcare.com/


How Am I Charged for Insurance?

The Health Insurance fee will be included into your student tuition bill after you register for classes.

The Health Insurance charge will appear twice on your bill:

Fall semesterSpring (The summer semester charge is included in the spring

semester charge.)


Alternate Health Insurance

• If you already have your own insurance you may be eligible for a health insurance waiver.

• Everyone must attend a mandatory Health Insurance session to learn about the student insurance and to submit waiver application.


Mandatory Sessions

All international students must attend one of the following health insurance sessions:

Wednesday, January 9th 2013Thursday January 10th 2013

Friday January 11th 2013

Please see schedule for time and location.


J Visa: Health Insurance Requirement

All J-1 student and J-2 dependents must maintain medical, evacuation and repatriation insurance coverage listed on their Form DS-2019 .

The coverage must be during the entire period of their program participation listed on their Form DS-2019.

Evidence of insurance coverage for J-1 student and dependent(s) must be submitted to ISS by January 11, 2013, before the Spring 2013 semester start date.


• Please remember that it is your responsibility to comply with F-1/J-1 rules and regulations.

• If you have any questions, please contact us. • We are here to help you!

• You can find more information about F-1/J-1 rules and regulations on our website at• http://international.utsa.edu

http://international.utsa.edu/


OIP Advising Hours

International student advisors are available during the following hours:

Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday12:00 pm – 4:00 pmThursday & Friday9:00 am – 1:00 pm

No appointment is necessary.

Document drop-off/pick-up 9:00am – 4:00pm

Maintain Visa Status

Education

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