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Maintaining Legal Status
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Information about Maintaining Legal Status
Legal status must be maintained while an international student is attending college in the US. Unless approval has been granted stating otherwise, a full time enrollment must be continued each fall and spring semester. The passport must be valid at all times. If it needs to be renewed, the local embassy must be contacted.
Necessary Forms
The I-94 document will show the arrival of the student in the US, the status of the visa, and the length of time that the student can remain in the states. If a temporary trip outside the US has been taken, a new document will be issued upon return. The I-20 form will state the study program, the date it started, and the date it is expected to end. If the major is changed, the end date is different, or employment is authorized, a new I-20 form is needed. If the student has exchange visitor status, the DS-2019 will state the start and end date and the exchange program information. Maintaining legal status depends on all these forms being correct and up to date.
Documents and More Info
The student must report any address change within ten days of moving, unless residence is on campus. Moving from one dorm room to another does not require changes of address to be reported. If any student stays in the US over the summer and resides off campus during this time, this change must be reported. Transferring to another school or university means that the SEVIS record must be transferred also to the new school. An F-1 visa student has 60 days to do this, and a student in the US on an exchange program status (J-1 ) must file the change within 30 days. All these changes must be reported if a student is intent on maintaining legal status.
Employment
F-1 visa status students will not need any special authorization to work on campus. However, J-1 students must obtain written permission from the responsible officer before beginning any kind of on campus employment. Hours that may be worked are limited to 20 per week while classes are in session. More hours can be worked during seasonal breaks. If a student wishes to be employed off campus, employment authorization must be granted in writing. Without this written documentation, off campus work is strictly prohibited. Maintaining legal status and residing in the US will always require that forms and documentation are kept current and in proper order.
Violating Immigration Status
Failure to keep immigration status and required paperwork current or up to date may mean that deportation is possible. It may also result in a student being rendered ineligible to return to the country once deported. Maintaining legal status is taken very seriously, and a student should take great care that everything is in order to avoid jeopardizing his or her stay. On campus help is available for any questions or issues that may arise. Adhering to the immigration rules and regulations is extremely important and not to be taken lightly.
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