Maintaining Your Immigration Status
F-1 and J-1 students should familiarize themselves with the restrictions and reporting requirements of their immigration status. It is important you abide by the regulations governing your status in order to be eligible to remain in the United States and to apply for certain immigration benefits, such as off-campus employment authorization.
Visa Document versus Immigration Status
A U.S. visa document is used to request entry into the United States. The visa is typically pasted into your passport by a U.S. embassy or consulate officer. You should note the expiration date of your visa, and whether it permits single or multiple entries. The expiration date refers to the date until which the visa may be used for re-entry into the United States; the expiration date does not determine the end of your F-1 or J-1 status.
Immigration status refers to the lawful status you hold as a non-immigrant in the United States. Your immigration status is determined by the manner in which you last entered the United States, or the results of any change of status petition you have submitted to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Your immigration status is usually indicated on the entry stamp on your I-94 Arrival/Departure card.
Summary of Requirements
- Maintain an unexpired passport that is valid for at least six months into the future.
- Enroll full-time each academic quarter.
- Abide by relevant on- and off-campus employment restrictions.
- Request an extension of stay if you are unable to complete your program by the program end date on your I-20 or DS-2019.
- Report changes of address within 10 days of moving.
- Report changes of status before the effective start date.
Violations of Status
International student advisors are required to report violations of status to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In serious cases, your SEVIS record may be terminated, effectively ending your immigration status and requiring you to depart the country immediately. Violations of status include:
- Failure to enroll full-time
- Engaging in unauthorized employment
- Failure to maintain required health insurance coverage (J-1 students only)
Once your SEVIS record has been terminated, it can be costly and time-consuming to return to valid immigration status. In some cases, petitions for reinstatement to valid F-1 or J-1 status may be denied, and you may experience difficulty applying for visas or other immigration benefits in the future.
