You will need to present a newly prepared SEVIS I-20 to the visa
officer at a U.S. embassy or consulate. In addition, you will
be asked to document your resources,
your intent to return to your home country and you may be asked
for a transcript from each school you’ve attended in the
U.S. If your visa application is subject to a Security Check,
it could take a few months before you receive a decision. Determine
if you need to prearrange an appointment at the embassy/consulate.
See the ISSS F-1 Document Specialist for a new I-20 at least one
month before your travel; she will need to see your passport so
be sure you have it with you.
You will be required to reenter using a SEVIS I-20 if your reentry
will be after 7/31/03. Prior to that date, you will need to have
a valid reentry signature on page 4 of your I-20ID which has been
signed within 12 months of your proposed reentry date or you will
need to have a valid reentry signature on your SEVIS I-20. See
the F-1 Document Specialist to obtain a SEVIS I-20 for reentry
or to obtain a reentry signature on your current SEVIS I-20; she
will need to see your passport so be sure you have it with you..
You will need to be admitted to a program of study at the University
of Minnesota and be issued a Form I-20. A change to F-1 status
can be done either through reentry into the U.S. after having
obtained an F-1 entry visa stamp from a US embassy/consulate or
by submitting an application for a change of status to the Immigration
and Naturalization Service. See an ISSS adviser for further information
on procedure.
You must apply for a program extension before your I-20 expires.
Do not allow your I-20 to expire without completing your program.
That will result in the automatic loss of your legal status. See
an ISSS adviser regarding the procedure to apply for a program
extension.
Your I-20 should always reflect your current degree program. If,
however, you are pursuing an MA/MS concurrently with a PhD and
you wish to participate in practical training based on the MA/MS,
you should not request a new I-20 to reflect your PhD program.
Please see the ISSS F-1 Document Specialist regarding the new
I-20.
If you are an undergraduate, a non-degree seeking, or a first-year
graduate student, please see an ISSS adviser before making the
decision to register for less than a full course load or withdrawing
from a class which will result in less than a full course load.
The ISSS adviser will be able to determine if your reason for
falling below full-time enrollment is valid under F-1 visa regulations.
You will be asked to complete an Exception from a Full Course
of Study Form and to obtain a letter from your academic adviser
verifying your specific situation.
Graduate students beyond the first year of their program should
complete an Exception from a Full Course of Study form, have it
signed by their academic adviser and mail it to or drop it off
at ISSS. Exception from a Full Course of Study forms are available
at ISSS. Exception forms should be submitted to ISSS before the
first day of class.
You will need to request a dependent I-20 from the ISSS F-1 Document
Specialist. Your dependents must apply to the US embassy/consulate
for F-2 entry visa stamps.They must present the dependent I-20,
evidence of financial resources, and evidence of intent to return
home. They may also be asked to present a copy of your transcript
and evidence of your current enrollment.
Your spouse is not able to enroll for classes as an F-2. Individuals
in F-2 status can apply for admission to a program of study and
file for a change in status to F-1 before the program begins.
F-1 status will need to be approved by INS before the spouse can
enroll.
F-1 students holding a valid University of Minnesota I-20 and
enrolled are eligible to work on the campus. Students transferring
to the University of Minnesota from another U.S. college or ESL
program must have their transfer authorized by ISSS before they
are eligible for employment. Employment is limited to 20 hours/week
while school is in session and up to full time during semester
breaks and the summer vacation period.
Any employment off the campus requires specific work authorization,
even during the summer vacation period. You must meet eligibility
requirements for employment authorization. See an ISSS adviser
regarding work options and eligibility requirements.
You may be able to obtain Curricular Practical Training authorization
to work in a job related to your field of study. See an ISSS adviser
regarding eligibility requirements and the application process.
If you are completing your program of study, you are eligible
to apply for post-completion Optional Practical Training. This
application must be recommended by ISSS and approved by the Immigration
& Naturalization Service (INS). The employment authorization
will allow you to work in a job related to your field of study.
You may submit your application to ISSS/INS 120 days prior to
your date of completion. See an ISSS adviser regarding eligibility
requirements and the application process.
You will need to ask an ISSS adviser for a transfer release to
the new school. You must be sure of the school you want to attend
and you must be prepared to provide a date by which you plan to
depart the University of Minnesota. You will be eligible for the
transfer release if you have maintained legal F-1 status at the
University of Minnesota. The Foreign Student Adviser at your new
school will not be able to process a new I-20 for you until the
transfer release has been electronically input in SEVIS. You may
also effect a transfer by using the new school’s I-20 to
reenter the U.S. Be prepared to show U.S. inspection evidence
of your financial support.
Reentry into the U.S. after 7/31/03 will require a SEVIS I-20
with a valid reentry signature. Your I-20ID can be used for reentry
if it has a reentry signature signed within 6 months of your reentry
date and that reentry date is prior to 7/31/03. If you do not
have a valid reentry signature on your I-20ID or your reentry
will be after 7/31/03, you will need to obtain a SEVIS I-20 with
a valid reentry signature. You will be required to have a valid
F-1 entry visa stamp in your passport and will need to present
to US inspection your Employment Authorization Card and evidence
of funding. If you need a new entry visa stamp, you should contact
the ISSS F-1 Document Specialist for a SEVIS I-20 and discuss
the potential risks of making an application for a new visa.
If you have completed a program of study, you are allowed a 60-day
grace period from the date of your completion. During the grace
period you can travel within the U.S. but you cannot leave and
reenter the U.S. as an F-1 student. You must permanently depart
the U.S. within the 60-day grace period to avoid “visa overstay”.
Please inform ISSS of your permanent departure and your departure
date for SEVIS reporting.
To see an ISSS Adviser you will need to either schedule an appointment
or come in during scheduled Walk-In Hours. Please contact the
ISSS Receptionist at 612-626-7100 to schedule an appointment or
determine the Walk-In schedule.
No appointment is necessary to see the ISSS F-1 Document Specialist.
You may stop by after 10:30 a.m. Monday through Thursday or after
1:00 p.m. on Friday afternoons to see this staff member regarding
travel issues, dependent I-20’s or degree/major change I-20’s.
Please remember to bring your passport as well as your I-20ID
when seeing the F-1 Document Specialist.
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F-1 Student