Maintaining your F-1 Status – The Basics

A failure to adhere to F-1 regulations is considered a violation of status and will severely impact your future opportunities in the US . The Designated School Officials (DSOs) in the Office of International Student Services are responsible for reporting any violations of status to the federal government Failing to maintain the terms and conditions of your F-1 status is grounds for removal from the United States . Read the information below carefully to be sure you are maintaining the requirements of your F-1 status

The Basics

• The 3 components of your of F-1 Status are:

- Form I-20

- Electronic SEVIS record

- F-1 visa in your passport

• The F-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa It only serves as the “key” to the door of the US . You may stay in the US if your F-1 visa expires but if you depart the US, you will need a valid F-1 visa to re-enter the country

• While your visa can expire while you’re in the US, your passport must be valid for at least six months into the future at all times

• SEVIS is a federal tracking system . Your SEVIS record is used to create your I-20 . Be sure to notice the dates on your I-20—the duration of your program on your I-20 is what dictates how long you can stay in the US

Enrollment - Always Full-Time

• You are required to register as a full-time student (at least 3 0 credits) each semester

• In order to complete the required 32 .0 credits in four years, you should plan to take 4 .0 credits per semester This is considered normal progress towards program completion

• Exceptions to full-time status are granted only in severe circumstances and must be authorized by the ISS team in SEVIS before you drop, withdraw, or stop attending classes

• During the academic year, you are only authorized to attend F&M . You may not attend classes at another college or university since you are only authorized through the US government to study at Franklin & Marshall College

• You must complete your program of study no later than the completion date on your I-20 Extensions to your graduation/program completion date are rarely given and must be applied for before your completion date

Situations That Impact Your Status

• House Deans & ISS Staff issue approval for leaves of absence (LOAs) LOAs are often referred to as gap semesters or gap years If you go on a leave of absence, you are required to leave the US within 10 days . Your SEVIS record will be closed . A planned LOA has no negative impact on your immigration record, but will require you to open a new SEVIS record when you return

• An academic or disciplinary suspension will result in termination of your SEVIS record . You will need to leave the country within 10 days In order to return to F&M you will need to petition for approval and provide evidence that you can be successful upon return

• If you chose to transfer to a different US school, you must request a transfer of your SEVIS record

Employment

• You can be authorized to work on campus . Please note that employment opportunities are limited Please see the student employment webpage for more information

• All F-1 students, employed or not, will complete tax return forms every spring

• ISS must authorize internships and off-campus experiences – paid or unpaid - in the US See more on the page titled “Opportunities for Professional Experience”

• Off-campus work experience that is not authorized by ISS is prohibited and considered a violation of status

Travel

• Please see the guidelines for international travel on page 31, titled “General Academic Year Break Information ”

• When you arrive in the US, the port of entry will admit you as an F-1 student Occasionally, students are entered in error under another type of visa (such as a B-1 or B-2) It is a violation of your F-1 status to enter/study on a status other than F-1 .

• Each time you enter the United States, you should use the US Customs and Border Patrol Website or app to verify that you have entered the country in F-1 status . It may take up to 24 hours for the website to update after your re-entry .

Life After F&M

• Upon reaching your program end date on your I-20 you will have some options:

- Transfer your SEVIS record to a US graduate school and begin within 5 months

- Participate in Optional Practical Training (OPT) and begin working within 3 months (see more information on page 34)

- Leave the United States within 60 days