All F students who study in the United States need a Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status.” This document is your permission to stay in the United States as a full-time student. If your program of study takes longer than the time listed on your I-20, you must contact your International Student Advisor (DSO: Designated School Official) at least 30 days in advance to extend your stay. This will require updated financial documents. Staying beyond the end date listed on your I-20 is a violation of your status. Failure to apply in a timely manner for extension of your I-20 or a program is considered a violation of status, which will cause a loss of your F1 international student status. You are eligible to extend your F-1 status for an academic reason and medical reason.
Your passport must be valid during your stay in the United State. In the event your passport is close to expiring, you must apply for an extension through your embassy at least six months prior to the expiration date. Pursuant to the USCIS immigration law, an expired passport is a violation of status even if you have attended school.
An F1 student visa is a nonimmigrant visa for people who intend to study full time in the United States, which is placed inside your passport. Your visa gives you a permission to ENTER the United States, which is different from Form I-20 that is your permission to STAY in the United States. As long as students have a valid I-20, they are allowed to stay in the United States with an expired visa. If you plan on traveling outside of the U.S. with an expired visa, you must renew your F-1 student visa at the U.S. embassy in your home country to re-enter the U.S.
I-94 Form is the arrival and departure record in either paper or electronic format, issued by a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer to foreign visitors entering the U.S. The I-94 Form indicates your F-1 visa status and your admission to the U.S. for Duration of Status (D/S). Duration of Status is indicated by the dates on your I-20. An immigration officer will take your I-94 card attached in your passport or update your departure in the electronic record when you leave the U.S.
F-1 is your status in the U.S. As an F-1 nonimmigrant student, you are “in status” if you follow all of the rules and regulations. If you become “out of status,” you must speak with your international student advisor (DSO) immediately. In the case of “out of status,” you will need to apply for ‘reinstatement’ or leave the United States immediately.
An F-1 student is a person who comes to the U.S. and pursues a full-time academic or language program. F-1 students who are admitted to AmLotus ® must maintain a full course of study at least 18 hours per week. Failure to do so will result in a loss of your F-1 student status.
The United States has immigration laws governing foreign students residing within its borders. It is critical that F-1 international students be aware of and fully comply with the following regulations:
Please note that this information is subject to change without notice. If you have any questions, or concerns related to your legal status in the United States, our ISAs welcome you for the further discussion.
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