INTERNATIONAL STUDENT HANDBOOK
It is extremely important that you read and fully understand the following
information – please ask for clarification if needed.
While you are in the US on a F1 student visa you are responsible for learning,
understanding, and complying with the U.S. laws and regulations that apply to you. If
you fail to comply, you could experience negative consequences that affect your ability
to complete your studies or to return to the US in the future.
The NYFA International Office staff is here to help you with all your questions or
concerns regarding your immigration status, the rules and regulations and anything that
may come up during your time here.
If you have ANY questions about your immigration status or anything related to being an
international student - please contact the NYFA International Office first. Do not rely on
other sources, like fellow students or friends, as it’s common for things to get
misconstrued. Also, the US Immigration Customer Service telephone number often
gives out incorrect information and students may suffer negative consequences for
following it.
So call, email or come by with any and all questions!
International Office – Los Angeles
3300 Riverside Drive, Burbank, CA 91505
Phone: 818-333-3562 Fax: 818-333-3557
Email: LAinternational@nyfa.edu
Leslie Cummings: Director, LA and NY
Christine Daniels: Assistant Director, LA
Nancy Lam: International Student Advisor, LA
Mara Ongkeko: International Student Advisor, LA
Amira Amaar: International Student Advisor, LA
REQUIREMENTS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Don’t Exceed the Allowed Number of Absences
NYFA has a strict attendance policy. If you exceed the number of allowed absences, you
will be asked to leave the program and you’ll lose your F-1 visa status and have to
depart the US. You will be informed of the attendance policy and number of allowed
absences at orientation.
If you can’t attend class for a reason beyond your control and you are close to exceeding
the allowed absences - contact the school immediately and speak with the Registrar’s
Office and International Office.
If there is anything going on in your life that is affecting your ability to attend school and
complete your work please speak to us as soon as possible.
Report to International Office Upon Arrival
You must report to the International Office after arriving in the US and before starting
class. You must report your local address (even if it is only temporary) in order for you to
be registered in SEVIS. If you do not comply with this then you are in danger of losing
your student status and being required to leave the US immediately.
Report Address Changes
U.S. federal regulations [8CFR214.2(f)(17)] require you to report any address change
within 10 days of the address change directly to the International Office (you can send
an email to LAinternational@nyfa.edu). This includes address changes of any of your
dependents as well. If you are subject to the U.S. Governments Special Registration
Procedures, you must also report address changes within 10 days to the government,
per the government’s instructions.
Arrive and Depart the US Within Allowed Timeframes
U.S. federal regulations stipulate that students may enter the United States no earlier
than 30 days before the class start date on the Form I-20.
An F-1 student who has completed his or her academic program will be allowed a 60day period to prepare for departure from the United States. You cannot re-enter the US
as a student during this 60 days.
*Please note, a visa is only used to ENTER the US and has no relation to how
long you can stay in the US! An F-1 student can remain in the US as long as
they are in good status, meaning attending school full time or on authorized break.
An expired visa is not a problem if you are not traveling.
Your visa may end the same date as your program end date - you are
allowed to stay for an additional 60 days.
Note: this is a hard concept for many students to understand, because in some
other countries a visa stamp is used to show how long you can stay in a country. It
is different in the US, so don’t be confused about this.
If you drop out of a program, the 60 days do not apply! See the section on Early
Departure for more details.
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Obtain Prior Authorization from the International Office to Drop Below a Full
Course of Study or Leave of Absence or ANY Change in the Program You Enrolled
U.S. federal regulations require you to pursue a full course of study. You are allowed to
deviate from this full course of study only with PRIOR authorization of the International
Office, and only under very limited circumstances. All programs at NYFA are full time
with the exception of the evening classes. You may be granted a leave of absence if you
have a medical reason and doctors letter.
Only staff in the International Office are familiar with the student visa regulations
so even if you are given an academic leave by a Department Head or instructor that
does not necessarily mean you can stay in the US during this time. You must
immediately contact the International Office if you will have any change in your
program including: leave of absence, change to another program, leaving early or
re-starting a semester.
Report Early Departure Date and Reason
For a variety of reasons, students may leave school early or unexpectedly. Some of
these reasons include early graduation, leave of absence, suspension, or expulsion.
U.S. federal regulations require you to inform the International Office if you plan to leave
the school earlier than the program end date listed on your Form I-20 and your reason
for doing so.
An F-1 student who has been authorized to withdraw from classes prior to completing
his or her program is allowed a 15-day period to prepare for departure from the US.
Students who withdraw without the prior approval of the International Office must
depart the U.S. immediately.
You must inform the International Office if you will depart the US prior to your
program end date as specified in section 5 of your I-20 FOR ANY REASON. If you
have had to leave suddenly due to an emergency, contact the International Office
as soon as possible. If you think you may have to leave, please talk to us
immediately so we can properly advise you.
Obtain Travel Signature on I-20
If you will be leaving the US temporarily during your program and then returning, you
must report to the International Office to get a travel signature on the third page of your I20.
ALWAYS CARRY YOUR I-20 WHEN YOU TRAVEL AND GET A TRAVEL
SIGNATURE BEFORE LEAVING. Failure to do so may cause you to be delayed in
secondary inspection at customs or be denied admission.
*Travel to Canada, Mexico or one of the adjacent islands – please note that you can
usually travel with an expired visa when returning from a visit of less than thirty days to
Canada, Mexico, or one of the islands adjacent to the United States (other than Cuba)
provided that you have a valid I-20 and a valid unexpired Form I-94. This process is
known as automatic visa revalidation. There are certain restrictions so please speak
to the International Office if you have any questions.
SEEK TRAVEL ADVISING BEFORE YOU DEPART THE US
You are always welcome to consult us to make sure you have the correct documents to
re-enter the US after travel. You need a valid I-20 and valid F-1 visa stamp in your
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passport (except Canadians who do not need visa).
If your visa has expired, you need to apply for a new visa outside the US, usually in your
home country. You need to make sure you have enough time to do this and that you
have all the correct documents.
If you don’t have the correct documents you may be refused entry to the US, so please
pay special attention and contact us early, don’t wait until you are about to depart.
Request Extension Prior to Program Completion
You must pay close attention to the program completion date indicated on your I-20 in
the “Program of Study” section under “Program End Date.”
Your F-1 status will end on the program completion date unless extended by the
International Office.
In order to qualify for a program extension, you must contact the International
Office at least 2 weeks before your program end date on your I-20. It is advisable
to speak to the International Office as early as possible if you think you may want
to extend your stay to find out the requirements and application process.
You are supposed to be making normal progress in your studies, according to US
Immigration regulations. If you are at risk of having to repeat a semester due to
attendance or other issues, you should speak to the International Office as soon as
possible.
Follow Transfer out Procedures
You can transfer your I-20 to another F-1 school if you follow the rules for transferring.
If you have completed a program, then you have 60 days to transfer your I-20 to
another school. You must be admitted to the new school, and then bring us your
acceptance letter and transfer form from the new school. We will then release your
SEVIS record and the new school will issue you a new I-20. You must take the next
available program start date at the new school not to exceed 5 months from the date
your program at NYFA ended.
If you want to transfer to a new school before you have completed a program at
NYFA then you must first be admitted to the new school, then bring in your acceptance
letter or relevant transfer form, and we will release your SEVIS record to the new school.
You must continue to attend NYFA until the transfer has been completed. Do not drop
out of NYFA without being admitted to another school, or you will not be allowed to
transfer, as per US Immigration rules.
Keep Your Passport Valid
You are required to keep your passport valid. Please contact your country’s Embassy if
your passport will expire while you are in the U.S.
If you lose your passport, please notify us. You will need to file a police report and
contact your country’s ‘Embassy if you lose your passport in the US.
Optional Practical Training
One Year, Two Year, AFA, BFA, MA and MFA students may be able to apply for OPT,
which provides a work permit for 12 months. This allows you to do paid or unpaid work
that is related to your field of study.
Eligibility - you must be in good status and have completed at least one year of a one or
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two year program only. You will be invited to an OPT Information Session when you are
eligible to apply.
You must follow the rules for OPT when in this status, details will be provided when you
are eligible to apply.
Don’t Work Without Authorization
Employment in the US is strictly controlled. It is a serious immigration violation to work
without authorization. Usually the only time you’ll get work permission is for Optional
Practical Training, as described above.
NYFA does not offer on-campus employment.
If after one year of study you have unexpected loss of your funding, inquire at the
International Office about Economic Hardship work authorization which, if approved,
would allow you to work while in school. Please be aware, NYFA programs are
extremely intensive and more time demanding than a typical college program, so in most
programs, it’s difficult to have time to work, even if this were possible.
Obey US Federal, State and Local Laws
You are responsible to obey all laws in the US. If you are arrested, you should obtain
help from an attorney familiar with both criminal and immigration law, as commission or
conviction of a crime could impact your immigration status.
It is extremely important that you don’t have any immigration problems so pay
attention to this information. We know it is a lot of information so please ask if you
need help understanding anything - we are happy to assist you!
Tips on Important Documents
Make photocopies of your passport, visa and I-94. The I-94 is electronic. Most
students will have to retrieve their I-94 online unless they were given one at the airport in
special situations. Print a copy of this each time you enter the US. This will help in case
your passport is lost or stolen or the original card is lost.
Here is the link to retrieve your card: https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/request.html
Keep a file with your immigration papers in a safe place including: all I-20s your
issued, the SEVIS fee receipt, financial documents and photocopies of your documents.
This is important. Also, it’s good to scan copies of all your documents and keep them in
your email so you can access if you are traveling and lose them.
Don’t lose your passport! Be very careful with your handbags and backpacks, they do
get stolen. Hold onto your belongings in public places, including bars and restaurants.
I-20 CERTIFICATE - this is the 3 page document that was issued by NYFA. It has your
program dates on it. Make sure your I-20 program dates always match your actual
program dates. Always carry the I-20 when you travel!!
Save All Your I-20s – you’ll need them in the future if you apply for anything such as:
OPT, school transfer, other type of work visa, permanent residence or various other US
immigration benefits.
F1 VISA - is used for entering the US and has no relation to how long you may stay.
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If your visa expires and you leave the US during your studies, you must return home and
apply for a new visa in order to re-enter. If you do not leave the US, and your visa is
expired it is not a problem.
*If your passport is lost or stolen, you will have to obtain a new visa to re-enter the
US the next time you travel.
I-94 Record - The I-94 records are electronic. When you arrive in the US the I94 shows
how long you can stay. In the area, Admit Until Date, there should be a “D/S” means
“duration of status.” This means that you can stay as long as you are following the rules
to be in F-1 student status. The I-94 is very important – retrieve and print a copy of it
each time you enter the US and don’t lose it.
Student Resources
Maintaining your wellness
Changes in your life lead to changes in your health. When you arrive from your country,
you may experience a period of adjustment. This is NORMAL!
You are in a different time zone, the food is different, the water, the climate - there are
many stressors involved in traveling to a new place.
Health-related changes include: depression, stress, loneliness, and sometimes changes
in sleeping and eating patterns.
Physical symptoms: stomach problems, headaches, fatigue, and heart palpitations.
This is all normal, but you need to consult with a doctor or physician if symptoms persist.
Resources to help you maintain good health are available at NYFA.
Please contact the International Office staff with any concerns; we are here to support
you.
Why You Need Medical Insurance
The U.S. government does not pay any part of the medical expenses for international
students studying here.
By maintaining medical insurance, you relieve yourself from worry about unexpected
medical costs so you are free to pursue your educational goals. It is not possible to
purchase insurance after you get sick because an illness or injury that you already have,
called “pre-existing,” is not covered by insurance.
As medical costs can be unexpectedly high in the U.S., the New York Film Academy
strongly advises students to have health insurance coverage for the duration of any New
York Film Academy program. Students may choose to find a policy on their own, or they
may contact the insurance providers below for reasonably priced short-term coverage.
You can apply online or contact the company below to apply or get more details:
http://www.isoa.org/new_york_film_academy
1-800-244-1180
If you get the insurance you will be issued an insurance card- you must have this when
you make an appointment or visit a doctor.
If you have ISOA and you need to find a doctor - call 800-432-1776 (7 days per week, 24
hours) or do a search at the provider network website (note - you have a primary plan)
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You should always ask the doctor if they are in your insurance network plan before you
get any treatment - as doctors may leave the plan.
Once you obtain health insurance, review the list of doctors and get the names of a few
doctors who are local to you. It is best to locate at doctor before you get sick!
Also, you will need to pay what is called ”co-pay” for each doctor visit. See your plan for
the amount and other details of what services and treatments are and are not covered.
If you have serious medical issues, you may decide to return home for treatment.
About the US Social Security Card
A Social Security number is a number issued by the US government only for the purpose
of reporting income to the government. It is commonly requested in applications for cell
phones or other services because it’s also used to access a person’s credit report.
You are NOT ELIGIBLE for a social security number unless you are authorized to work.
Students at NYFA will not be authorized to work in almost all cases until they graduate
(one and two year programs only) and are eligible for Optional Practical Training.
You can get whatever you need without a social security number. Some payment plans
won’t be available to you, but you can get an apartment, cell phone or whatever else you
need. Another important point is that a social security number alone does not give you
legal permission to work.
How to have access to your money
In Los Angeles, there are ATM’s (automated teller machines) everywhere you go.
However, if the ATM is not issued by your bank, you are likely to be charged high
service fees (typically $2-3 per transaction).
If you would like to open a bank account at a local US bank, we can provide you with a
letter asserting your enrollment at NYFA. Certain banks, such as Bank of America
(www.bankofamerica.com), are International Student friendly. You need 2 forms of photo
ID to open an account, your I-20 and the letter confirming that you are a student.
Internet Access
NYFA has many computers for student use. Students can access the wireless network
using their own devices with passwords that will be provided upon arrival to campus.
Students are not required to bring their own computers to school, though it is
recommended. If you are interested in purchasing a computer or software programs,
NYFA students are eligible for an education discount on Apple computers. Please visit:
http://www.apple.com/education/ for store locations and student discounts.
Staying Safe and Getting Information
ICE ENTRY: ICE stands for "In Case of Emergency." Once you get a cell phone, be
smart and add an "ICE'" entry into your cell phone address book. Medical professionals
are using it to notify the person's emergency contacts to obtain critical medical
information when a patient arrives unconscious or unable to answer questions. You can
add more than one ICE entry to your phone (ex. ICE-mom, ICE-karen, ICE-roberto).
IMPORTANT NUMBERS: 911 and 411
All Emergencies call 911.
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A 911 operator will dispatch police, fireman, and ambulances to meet your immediate
and dire needs. This number will work from any phone. If you are calling from a
cellphone be prepared to give the address of your location.
411 is for Information - directory assistance for finding phone numbers.
You can call 411 from any phone to get a phone number, but there is a fee (check with
your cell phone provider or telephone service)
US Laws, Your Rights and What to do if You’re Arrested
Know your rights when encountering law enforcement - download this booklet
http://www.aclu.org/safefree/general/17444res20040528.html
If you are ever arrested, you must get an attorney and also an immigration attorney. Any
violation, even traffic violations, may impact your immigration status, so be careful out
there!
California ID Card or Driver’s License
If you wish to get a CA ID or Driver’s License, you must fo to the Department of Moto
Vehicles Office and show your I-20, F-1 Visa/Passport, and electronic I-94 to the
information dest, window #1. Tell them that you are an international F-1 student and you
do not get a social security number and you want to make your appointment,.
You then take I-20, F-1 Visa/Passport, and electronic I-94 to your appointment at the
CA Department of Motor Vehicles for your written and driving tests or CA ID. They offer
the written test in many languages and you can get the study guide before you take the
written test. You must have your own/rental vehicle to take the driving test.
California Department of Motor Vehicles / Glendale
1335 W. Glenoaks Boulevard
Glendale, CA 91201
Services Provided: Driver License and ID Card
Vehicle Registration
California Department of Motor Vehicles / Van Nuys
14920 Vanowen St
Van Nuys, CA 91405
Services Provided: Driver License and ID Card
Vehicle Registration
California Department of Motor Vehicles / Hollywood
803 Cole Ave
Hollywood, CA 90038
Services Provided: Driver License and ID Card
1335 North Formosa Ave
West Hollywood, CA 90046
Hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
Wednesday
Saturday
Services Provided: Vehicle Registration
8am-5pm
9am-5pm
(check website for days open)
DMV field offices accept payment by check, money order, or cash. Certain offices also
accept ATM/Debit cards for payment of fees. Credit cards are not accepted in offices.
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1-800-777-0133
www.dmv.ca.gov
NOTE: No F-1 Student is ever allowed a social security number unless they are on
OPT. You must complete at least a one-year program to qualify for OPT. If you would
like information about OPT, please come to the international office.
What documentation do I need to present to the DMV?
In general, an F-1 student should present:
Passport
Form I-94
Form I-20
Form I-766, Employment Authorization Document (EAD), if applicable
Form I-797, Notice of Approval, if applicable
Social Security number or Social Security Administration letter of ineligibility.
Does a nonimmigrant need an SSN to apply for a driver’s license or ID?
No. A nonimmigrant does not need an SSN; however, the nonimmigrant will need to
apply for a social security number. Follow the instructions on how to apply for a social
security
card
as
described
on
the
SSA
Web
site
at
http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10096.html#3. If the nonimmigrant is ineligible for an SSN, he
or she will receive a decision letter stating that ineligibility. The nonimmigrant must
present this SSA letter when applying at the DMV office to fulfill the SSA requirement.
If you already have a valid driver’s license from your own country, you can also
use it while you are in California.
According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles
(Source: (http://www.dmv.ca.gov/dl/dl_info.htm):
Section: International Driving Permits
The State of California does not recognize an International Driving Permit (IDP) as
a valid driver license. California does recognize a valid driver license that is
issued by a foreign jurisdiction (country, state, territory) of which the license
holder is a resident.
The IDP is only a translation of information contained on a person’s foreign driver license
and is not required to operate a motor vehicle in California. Citations issued to a person
in California who has an IDP, but does not have a California driver license will be placed
on the Department of Motor Vehicle database.
The IDP is also called an International Driver License, International License, etc.
For more information about travel and driver licensing requirements outside of the US,
visit the US State Department Road Safety Overseas website at:
http://travel.state.gov/road_safety.html
Any Other Questions or Concerns?
We are happy to assist you with any of your concerns.
International Office – Los Angeles
Phone: 818-333-3562, Fax: 818-333-3557
email: LAinternational@nyfa.edu
You can visit the office Monday – Friday, 9AM – 6PM, without an appointment.
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