F-/J-1 Student
Immigration Information
International Services Office
Alyssa Fox,
International Student & Scholar
Advisor and
Christopher Pedo
International Student Adviser
Fall 2015 International
Student Orientation
Welcome, we’re glad
you’re here!
About the ISO
Old Main
Phone: 202-994-4477
1922 F Street, NW
E-mail: iso@gwu.edu
Suite 205
Washington DC 20052
Who are we?
12 Full-time staff members including 6 advisors and
Several student staff assistants
ISO Video
IMPORTANT NOTICE
This presentation is meant to be a short synopsis of the
ISO online immigration module for F-1 and J-1 students
For detailed information on specific regulations please
watch our online video, refer to handouts/guidelines on
the ISO website and consult with your ISO advisor.
What is the ISO?
• Source for all F-1 & J-1 immigration advising AND…
• Campus resources & referrals
• Community information
• Workshops
• Business Hours (closed on Weekends & U.S. holidays):
Monday – Friday 9:00am-12:00pm and 1:00-4:00pm
• Walk-in Advising Hours
Monday – Thursday
1:30pm – 3:30pm
• 15 Business Day Processing Time
SEVIS – What is it???
• Holds information about F,M and J students
•
•
•
•
•
Name
Address
Current enrollment
Employment
Dependents (spouse or children)
E- Check In
• Upload immigration documents to student portal at
ISOGateway: I-20, visa, passport, I-94 card
• Update local current address/ current permanent
D/S
address
• In person check in at student services fair or the ISO
with your passport
F-1
ISO Website
• http://internationalservices.gwu.edu
• Consists of important immigration information about
regulations and benefits
• Forms and handouts
• Resources for new and current students
• Important news and updates
Maintaining your status
• Keep your documents safe
• Keep your immigration documents valid! Don’t let
them expire
• Update the ISO when changes to your I-20 or DS2019 take place or major life changes
• Update the ISO within 10 days of the change to your
address
Full time Enrollment Reminder
•
•
•
•
Graduate students: 9 credits
Undergraduate students: 12 credits
Online courses: limit of 3 credits
The following authorizations must be approved by the
ISO prior to under enrollment:
- Reduced Course Load (RCL): academic, medical or
final term
- Full time certification form (FTC): masters thesis,
doctoral dissertation, full time required internships,
preparation for comprehensive exam
Employment- On campus
On-campus
▪ Limited to 20 hours a week during the semester and
for programs that require full time enrollment in the
summer
▪ Full time during authorized vacation periods
▪ J-1 students must have authorization in writing
before engaging in on campus employment
▪ F-1 students may engage in on campus employment
without any written authorization
Employment- Off campus
Many different types of off campus employment:
▪ Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
▪ Pre-Completion OPT
▪ Post Completion OPT
▪ STEM Extension
▪ International Organization
▪ Severe Economic Hardship
▪ Academic Training for J-1 students
*Please review specific information in the online immigration presentation,
see handouts on ISO website and attend employment workshops.
Benefits- Travel Signature
• Must be requested from the ISO- do not need to have
specific travel plans
• Is valid for 1 year while pursuing a degree (and while
in status)
• Make sure you have a valid passport, I-20/DS-2019,
travel signature, financial documentation and GW
transcript
• If you receive an I-515A from a Customs and Border
Protection (CBP) Officer please see the ISO
immediately. Only 30 days to resolve the issue
Grace Period
Options after the completion of a program of study:
• Apply for post completion OPT
• Change status
• Change Degree Level
• Travel domestically
• Stay in the US and make preparations to exit before
the grace period ends
F-1 students: 60 day grace period
J-1 students: 30 day grace period
Connect with the ISO!
Trivia Game
We’ll divide into 2 teams. On the next slide are 5
categories with 5 clues in each category. One
person from the first team raise your hand, say your
name, where you’re from and what you’re studying
here at GW. Then choose a clue. We’ll read the clue
and the 1st person to raise their hand from either
team will answer. Then one person from the other
team chooses the next clue.
Immigration Maintaining F-1/J-1 Employment
Documents your Status Benefits
GW/ISO
Trivia
1
6
11
16
21
2
7
12
17
22
3
8
13
18
23
4
9
14
19
24
5
10
15
20
25
GAME FINISHED
Immigration Documents
An official document issued by your
home country government that
identifies someone as a citizen of
that country and is required for
overseas travel is called this….
A Passport
Immigration Documents
This is the only document that is
allowed to expire while in the United
States.
F-1/J-1A
Visa
Stamp
Passport
Immigration Documents
It is a certificate of eligibility issued
by the university/sponsor to facilitate
visa application and entry into the
United States
A Passport
I/20/DS-2019
Immigration Documents
It was issued by a Customs and Border
Protection (CBP) officer at the port of
entry.It indicates the immigration status in
which you were admitted & length of time
you may remain in the U.S. It is your ONLY
evidence of your legal immigration status
I-94
A Passport
Visit www.cbp.gov/I94 to access your
most recent I-94 each time you reenter the U.S. during your studies
Immigration Documents
If you arrive at the U.S port of entry
without all of your required documents,
Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
may deny your entry into the U.S. As an
alternative, the officer has the
discretion to issue you this type of form.
I-515A
A Passport
Maintaining Your Status
What is full time enrollment per
semester for Undergraduate students?
Graduate students?
Undergraduates- 12
credits per semester
A Passport
Graduates- 9 credits
per semester
Maintaining your Status
This type of authorization requires
approval from the ISO prior to
dropping below full-time credits. It
can be used in certain academic,
medical or final term scenarios.
Reduced Course Load
A Passport
Maintaining your Status
Name at least 2 grades/type of
grades that do not count toward your
full-time enrollment.
- W-Grade (authorized
withdrawal after deadline),
- Z-grade (stopped attending),
A
Passport
- Audit (attending class but not
for a grade)
Maintaining your Status
This is the maximum number of
credits you can take online each
semester
A Passport
Maintaining your Status
Update THIS in GWEB within 10
days of the change
Local U.S. or
Permanent
Overseas
Address
Immigration Benefits
During your academic program this
endorsement on your I-20/DS-2019 is
valid for 1 year while maintaining your
status
Travel Signature
A Passport
Immigration Benefits
Name the documents required to
travel abroad
- A valid I-20/DS-2019 with valid
travel signature
- A valid passport
- A valid F-1/J-1 visa stamp
A Passport
- Original financial
documents,
- A GW transcript or letter of
enrollment for new students
Immigration Benefits
You can apply for this unique number,
used for tax purposes, after receiving an
employment offer and the proper work
authorization.
Social Security Number
A Passport
See Guidelines on ISO Website!
Immigration Benefits
After one year in F-1 status, this type
of work authorization allows F-1
students to work off-campus during
their studies at a position related to
their major and appropriate to the
degree level.
Curricular Practical Training
(CPT)
A Passport
Immigration Benefits
Once you have completed your
program of study you can remain in
the U.S. for a specific length of time
to make preparations to go home.
What is this called?
The Grace Period
F-160 Days
A
Passport
J-1- 30 Days
Employment
This visa type must have prior
written authorization for BOTH on
and off-campus employment
J-1 Visa
A Passport
Employment
Employment is limited to this total
number of hours per week for both F1 and J-1 students during the
academic year
20 hours per week
A Passport
Employment
Name 3 types of F-1 Off-campus
work authorization that students
can apply for
CPT, OPT, STEM OPT, Intl. Org,
SevereAEconomic
Hardship
Passport
Employment
Working without prior authorization
is a violation of your status and
can lead to this...
Termination of your SEVIS Status
and Departure from the U.S.
A Passport
Employment
If a J-1 student would like to
engage in an internship offcampus related to his/her major
s/he needs to apply for this type of
authorization in advance
Academic Training
A Passport
GW/ISO Trivia
What is the official GW mascot?
George Washington!
A Passport
GW/ISO Trivia
What is the name of the GW
Sports Teams?
A Passport
The Colonials
GW/ISO Trivia
In which building is the ISO
located?
Old Main
GW/ISO Trivia
Approximately how many
countries are represented by GW’s
international student population?
130!!
GW/ISO Trivia
When are the ISO Advisor Walk-in
Office Hours?
Monday- Thursday
1:30-3:30
PM
A
Passport
ISO Contact Information
Old Main
Phone: 202-994-4477
1922 F Street, NW
E-mail: iso@gwu.edu
Suite 205
Washington DC 20052
Who is your ISO Advisor?
http://internationalservices.gwu.edu/advisingassignments
Questions???
Now it’s time for an icebreaker…
Stand Up/Sit Down
We are going to read a series of statements.
Stand up if the statement applies to you. Look
around and see who else is standing!
Final Announcements
• Remember to stop by ISO (with your
passport) the rest of the week to complete
check-in if you did not attend the services fair
this morning
Good luck with the semester!