Maintaining Your Status

International students are responsible for maintaining their immigration status.

To maintain status:

  • Keep your passport valid at all times (to renew your passport contact your consulate). While in the U.S. you must always be in possession of a valid passport. An expired passport renders the holder to be out of status.
  • Maintain full-time enrollment (completing 12 credits per semester) and normal progress toward your degree.
  • Do not work without proper authorization.
  • Complete transfer to another school or a change of educational program or level with your international student advisor in a timely manner. Visit our office for assistance with these matters.
  • Obtain extensions of stay as needed. Be sure to note the expiration date on your Form I-20 and apply for an extension in a timely manner. 

Extension of Stay

USCIS regulations state that F-1 students may stay in the U.S. for the duration of an educational program or a series of educational programs (for example, from an undergraduate degree through a master's degree) plus a period of practical training and an additional 60 days to leave the United States for F-1 students. However, appropriate extension, change of educational program/level and transfer procedures must be followed. Students who do not complete their educational program within the time indicated on their I-20 must request an extension of stay or possibly reinstatement. Program extension must be filed before the expiration of stay.

Travel Outside the U.S. F-1 students need the following documents to re-enter the United States after a temporary absence of five months or less:

  1. Valid Form I-20 endorsed by DSO (for F-1 students)
  2. Valid passport
  3. Valid U.S. visa
  4. Verification of adequate financial support

Visa Renewal 

If your visa has expired you must obtain a new visa by applying for a renewal at a U.S. consulate outside the U.S. (preferably in your home country) prior to returning to the U.S. Be sure to consider the timeframe involved in renewing your visa and plan accordingly

Special Note on Travel to Canada - You may travel to Canada if you have all the other papers necessary for re-entry.

  1. Valid Passport
  2. Form I-94
  3. Endorsed I-20
  4. Proof of adequate funds
  5. Enrollment certification letter from HFCC

Be sure to carry proper documents to re-enter the United States

For information on obtaining a Canadian Visa: www.cic.gc.ca

APPLICATION FOR REINSTATEMENT OF STATUS 

BACKGROUND:

  • Student must establish to the satisfaction of the immigration officer that the violation of status resulted from circumstances beyond student’s control, or that failure to receive reinstatement would result in extreme hardship to the student;
  • Student must be currently pursuing, or intending to pursue, a full course of study at the school which issued the Form I-20 A-B; 
  • Student has not engaged in unauthorized employment.
  • Students should not “have a record of repeated or willful violations of Service regulations.
  • Time limit of 5 months from point of loosing status, unless student can show exceptional circumstances and that the student filed for reinstatement as soon as possible under these circumstances

REINSTATEMENT OF STATUS PROCEDURE  (Collection of following documents to be submitted to the International Advisor)

  • The student’s check or money order made payable to BCIS
  • The original I-94
  • A completed for I-539-A recently issued , original I-20 (include both pages)
  • A letter from the student requesting reinstatement which explains the circumstances which caused him/her to go out of status
  • Financial documents proving that the student has the adequate funds to continue his/her studies
  • Copies of these pages from the passport: photograph, expiration date, passport #
  • Copies of any previously issued I-20s still in students possession

American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)

AILA is a national bar association of more than 5,200 attorneys who practice immigration law. For more information, call 1-202-216-2400, fax 1-202-371-9449, or write to American Immigration Lawyers Association, 1400 Eye Street, NW, Suite 1200, Washington, DC 20005 USA.

To have your International credentials evaluated:

Credential Evaluation Services - Credential evaluation services provide objective evaluations of the US equivalents of foreign education and work credentials. Here are links to credential evaluation services

Information on Obtaining a Social Security Number - F-1 students are not eligible to apply for a social security number unless currently working with proper authorization.

You will need

  • A valid passport
  • I-94 card
  • I-20
  • A letter from your DSO indicating that you are working on-campus and are enrolled full-time.
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