U.S. Immigration Law Basics. U.S. Immigration Basics ISSO advisors are here to helpISSO advisors are...

U.S. Immigration U.S. Immigration Law BasicsLaw Basics

U.S. Immigration BasicsU.S. Immigration Basics

• ISSO advisors are here to helpISSO advisors are here to help

• Visa stamps and visa “status”Visa stamps and visa “status”

• ““Regulations” & “Maintaining status” Regulations” & “Maintaining status” – (how to follow the rules)– (how to follow the rules)

• WorkingWorking

• TravelingTraveling

ISSO advisors are your ISSO advisors are your advocatesadvocates

• We are here to assist you, but…We are here to assist you, but…

• We need YOUR help…We need YOUR help…

• It is a partnership... It is a partnership...

Visa Stamps & Visa StatusVisa Stamps & Visa Status

What’s the big difference?What’s the big difference?


• The Visa Stamp in your passport is only The Visa Stamp in your passport is only used for entering the U.S. -- it only used for entering the U.S. -- it only needs to be valid when you enterneeds to be valid when you enter

Visa StampVisa Stamp

• The visa stamp is like a key to get in the door of the U.S.

==

Visa StampVisa Stamp• After you open the door and get in,

• You can have an expired visa stamp and still be valid to stay here in the U.S.

you do not need the key.

Renewing the Visa StampRenewing the Visa Stamp

You will only need to renew your expired You will only need to renew your expired visa stamp when you travel outside of visa stamp when you travel outside of the U.S. and plan to re-enter.the U.S. and plan to re-enter.


• Your Visa Status is the Visa Your Visa Status is the Visa “Classification” that you are in “Classification” that you are in while you are here, like:while you are here, like:

– F-1 Student or F-1 Student or

– B-2 tourist, orB-2 tourist, or

– H-1 Temporary WorkerH-1 Temporary Worker


• We can illustrate this by telling We can illustrate this by telling the story of how you got your the story of how you got your visa “status”…visa “status”…

• Once upon a time…Once upon a time…

• In land far far away…In land far far away…

Visa StampVisa Stamp• Most of you had to get a visa stamp in Most of you had to get a visa stamp in

your passport in order to come to the your passport in order to come to the U.S. (unless you are Canadian)U.S. (unless you are Canadian)


• First you got First you got admitted to admitted to Cornell…Cornell…


• and then, Cornell asked you and then, Cornell asked you to show that you had the to show that you had the funding to afford Cornell….funding to afford Cornell….

… … and you did!and you did!


• So Cornell sent So Cornell sent you an I-20you an I-20

Visa StampVisa Stamp• At the top of the I-20, you will see it

states “certificatecertificate of eligibility”

Cornell is saying to the U.S. consulate, Cornell is saying to the U.S. consulate, we think this person is eligible for an we think this person is eligible for an

F-1 visaF-1 visa


• Then you went to the consulate to Then you went to the consulate to apply for your visa stampapply for your visa stamp


• The The consulate consulate officer was officer was probably probably very busy…very busy…


• Just like the I-20, the visa stamp says Just like the I-20, the visa stamp says that the consulate officer also thinks that the consulate officer also thinks you are eligible for F-1 statusyou are eligible for F-1 status

Visa StatusVisa Status

• Next you got on the plane…Next you got on the plane…


• … … Finally you landed at the port of Finally you landed at the port of entry and presented your documents to entry and presented your documents to the port of entry officerthe port of entry officer


• At that point, you were asking the Port At that point, you were asking the Port of entry officer to give you F-1 or J-1 of entry officer to give you F-1 or J-1 “STATUS” in the U.S.“STATUS” in the U.S.

• You only get the actual F-1 or J-1 You only get the actual F-1 or J-1 “status” at that point when you “status” at that point when you finally ENTER the U.S.finally ENTER the U.S.

Visa StatusVisa Status• Your “Visa Status” is written on your Your “Visa Status” is written on your

I-94 card by the port of entry officerI-94 card by the port of entry officer

Visa StatusVisa Status• Most of you

are either “F1” or “J1”

•“D/S” = Duration of Status


• ““D/S” = Duration of Status D/S” = Duration of Status (instead of a specific end date)(instead of a specific end date)

• status will be valid as long as status will be valid as long as you are doing what F1 students you are doing what F1 students or J1 students are supposed to or J1 students are supposed to be doingbe doing

Visa Status End DateVisa Status End Date

• The end date of your status is either The end date of your status is either the end date of your form I-20 or DS-the end date of your form I-20 or DS-2019 2019 OROR the day you complete your the day you complete your program or graduate:program or graduate:

WHICHEVER IS WHICHEVER IS

EARLIEREARLIER


• You have a grace period during You have a grace period during which time you can pack up your which time you can pack up your things or travel around the U.S.things or travel around the U.S.

•F-1 = 60 daysF-1 = 60 days

•J-1 = 30 daysJ-1 = 30 days

Regulations & Maintaining Regulations & Maintaining StatusStatus

• For each visa status, there are For each visa status, there are regulations or rules that you must regulations or rules that you must follow while you are herefollow while you are here

• We call this “maintaining” your statusWe call this “maintaining” your status

““Maintaining status”Maintaining status”

To maintain valid status To maintain valid status both F1 and J1 students must:both F1 and J1 students must:

Check in at the ISSOCheck in at the ISSO

If you have not yet checked in at the If you have not yet checked in at the ISSO, you MUST do so:ISSO, you MUST do so:

• ISSO is in B-50 Caldwell HallISSO is in B-50 Caldwell Hall

• Bring your passport, I-94 card and I-Bring your passport, I-94 card and I-20 or DS-201920 or DS-2019

Enroll Full TimeEnroll Full Time• Undergraduates must be enrolled in 12 credit Undergraduates must be enrolled in 12 credit

hours in the fall and spring semestershours in the fall and spring semesters

• Graduate students just need to be registered in Graduate students just need to be registered in the Fall and Spring semestersthe Fall and Spring semesters

• Each department has specific course-load Each department has specific course-load requirementsrequirements

Update your addressUpdate your address• Update your local residential address Update your local residential address

within 10 days of moving within the within 10 days of moving within the U.S.U.S.

• To update your address you must:To update your address you must:– Update “Just the Facts”Update “Just the Facts”– Notify the ISSO of your address change on Notify the ISSO of your address change on

the isso web site: www.isso.cornell.eduthe isso web site: www.isso.cornell.edu

Keep Your Keep Your Documents ValidDocuments Valid

• Keep your passport validKeep your passport valid• Make sure your I-20 or DS-2019 has Make sure your I-20 or DS-2019 has

the correctthe correct– LevelLevel– MajorMajor– End date End date

• If you need more time to complete your If you need more time to complete your degree, get an extension of your I-20 or degree, get an extension of your I-20 or DS-2019 DS-2019 BEFOREBEFORE the end date the end date

Discuss Plans for After Discuss Plans for After Graduation with ISSOGraduation with ISSO

• New Degree Program at CornellNew Degree Program at Cornell

• New Degree program at another schoolNew Degree program at another school

• Working after you graduateWorking after you graduate

Do NOT work off campusDo NOT work off campus without authorizationwithout authorization

• F1 and J1 students may work F1 and J1 students may work on campuson campus– 20 hours per week while enrolled20 hours per week while enrolled– 40 hours per week during vacation 40 hours per week during vacation

• F1 and J1 students are eligible to apply for F1 and J1 students are eligible to apply for certain types of certain types of off campusoff campus work work authorization authorization

F1 Work AuthorizationF1 Work Authorization

• After being enrolled full time for one After being enrolled full time for one full academic yearfull academic year

• Practical Training in your field of Practical Training in your field of studystudy

F1 Work AuthorizationF1 Work Authorization

• Curricular Practical TrainingCurricular Practical Training– For academic creditFor academic credit– For internships or Co-Op programsFor internships or Co-Op programs

• Optional Practical TrainingOptional Practical Training– Summer work that is not for creditSummer work that is not for credit– Work after graduation Work after graduation

We will hold workshopsWe will hold workshops

J1 Work AuthorizationJ1 Work Authorization

• Academic TrainingAcademic Training– For practical training in your fieldFor practical training in your field

– Either in summer vacation or after Either in summer vacation or after graduationgraduation

• Some other work authorization in Some other work authorization in special circumstances special circumstances

• Come to the ISSO to discuss optionsCome to the ISSO to discuss options

Traveling outside of U.S.Traveling outside of U.S.

• When you travel outside of the U.S., be When you travel outside of the U.S., be sure you have with you:sure you have with you:– Valid PassportValid Passport

– Current visa stamp in your passportCurrent visa stamp in your passport

– I-20 or DS-2019 signed for travelI-20 or DS-2019 signed for travel

– Financial support documentsFinancial support documents

– Proof of enrollment (available at the Proof of enrollment (available at the registrar’s office)registrar’s office)

Stay Informed!!!!Stay Informed!!!!

• These days, there are OFTEN These days, there are OFTEN changes in the regulationschanges in the regulations

• ALWAYSALWAYS read the emails from the read the emails from the ISSOISSO

Questions…?Questions…?

ASK US!ASK US!

Come to the ISSOCome to the ISSO

International Students & International Students & Scholars OfficeScholars Office

B-50 Caldwell HallB-50 Caldwell Hall

Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, FridayHours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday9:00-4:309:00-4:30

Wednesday: 1:00-4:30Wednesday: 1:00-4:30

[email protected]

http://www.isso.cornell.edu/

mailto:[email protected]

U.S. Immigration Law Basics. U.S. Immigration Basics ISSO advisors are here to helpISSO advisors are...

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