International Student :

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Glossary of Terms

Visa Options
for Hiring International Faculty & Staff

H-1B Employment

Scholars without Appointments

Forms for J-1 Scholars

Department of State Codes

Announcements
to UMN Departments

Scholar Orientation

International Scholar Handbook

J-1 Students

J-2 Dependents

SEVIS

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Other Important Information

Report Change of Address
Required for F & J students & J scholars

Intercultural training resources

ISSS Weekly Update
Weekly announcements and news related to international student and scholars

Useful Links - foreign consular offices, DHS Forms ...

International Directory
U MN international offices and resources

Glossary of Terms:

F-1: A non-immigrant student visa. Individuals are required to have an I-20 to enter the United States as an F-1. This document is issued by the admitting school (i.e. the University of Minnesota). F-1 students must follow certain regulations set forth by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including but not limited to being a full time student.

F-2: Dependent of the F-1 (i.e. spouse or child, under the age of 21). F-2s are not allowed to work or to be a student.

J-1: Exchange Visitor Visa. U of MN is authorized to offer 4 J-1 categories (Research Scholar, Professor, Short-term Scholar & Student). The first 3 categories are individuals who are coming to the U of MN to do research, teach a course, etc. The student category is for someone who is admitted into a program of study and intends to be a student. The Exchange Visitor Visa objective is “to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries by means of educational and cultural exchanges” (Fulbright-Hayes Act, 1961). J-1 exchange visitors must follow certain regulations set forth by Department of State (DOS) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

J-2: Dependent of the J-1 (i.e. spouse or child, under the age of 21). J-2s are allowed to work with prior work permission from DHS. J-2s are also currently allowed to be students.

B-1/B-2: These are visitors for business and tourism, respectively.  They may not register for classes.

WB/WT: These are visitors for business and tourism, respectively, but the requirement for an entry visa stamp in the passport is waived for citizens of certain countries.

H-1B: The H-1B visa is an employment-based visa that is initiated by the employer not the employee.

H-4: Dependent of the H-1B (i.e. spouse or child, under the age of 21). H-4s are not allowed to work. However, they are allowed to be a student.

TN: The TN is an employment visa which allows Canadian and Mexican citizens to be employed in the U.S.

TD: The dependent visa for spouses and unmarried children under age 21 who accompany a TN employee. The TD does not provide for any employment, but a TD visa holder may accept expense reimbursement.

DS-2019: “Certificate of Eligibility for the Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status.”  This document is required for obtaining a J-1 visa and obtaining and maintaining the J nonimmigrant status.  The DS-2019 has two pages.  Page 1 contains program and biographical information.  Page 2 consists of pre-printed instructions.  Dependents (J-2) accompanying the J-1 Exchange Visitor must each have their own SEVIS DS-2019, which identifies them as the dependent.

I-20:  “Certificate of Eligibility for the F-1 Student Status.”  This document is required for obtaining an F-1 visa and obtaining and maintaining the F nonimmigrant status.  Unlike the DS-2019, the I-20 has three pages.  Page 1 contains program information, and biographical information.  Page 2 consists of pre-printed instructions.  Page 3 contains spaces for employment authorization data and space for travel authorizations.  Dependents (F-2) accompanying the F-1 student must each have their own SEVIS I-20, which identifies them as the dependent.

SEVIS: (Student & Exchange Visitor Information System): an electronic reporting system that provides the U.S. Department of Homeland Security with information on international students and scholars in the United States who hold F, J, and M visas. The DHS has created this internet-based record-keeping system to maintain electronic data.

Maintaining Legal Status: To follow the rules and regulations that pertains to that particular non-immigrant visa status.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS): Formerly known as Immigration & Naturalization Service. DHS writes regulations pertaining to non-immigrant visas. They establish restrictions and benefits for these visas, admit non-immigrants into the United States at the various ports of entry, and they manage the SEVIS system. Three bureaus exist within DHS and all share responsibility for immigration functions.

They are:
USCIS: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
ICE: Immigration and Customs Enforcement
CBP: Customs and Border Protection

Department of State (DOS):  DOS issues visas to exchange visitors, students and their dependents.  DOS designates exchange visitor program sponsors, and creates and administers federal regulations and policies governing the Exchange Visitor Program (J -1 Visa).