Before we talk about immigration rules.
Let me introduce you to the ISS team,
review your general responsibilities, and
describe how our office can help you throughout
your stay.
http://www.rit.edu/studentaffairs/iss/about-us/staff
and thanks to the rest of our ISS team…
the Peer Advisor Leaders (PALS)!!
http://www.rit.edu/studentaffairs/iss/new-students/peer-advisor-leaders
ISS Orientation Highlights
Please raise your hand if you need a:
schedule,
map, or
new international student
guidebook
General Updates
Bennington Hills
There is no bus running from Bennington Hills apartment
complex. Only students who are living at the RIT Inn &
Conference Center are allowed to commute on the RIT
Inn shuttle. You cannot walk over from Bennington and
ride that shuttle.
RTS #24 bus
From August 24-28, RTS has added one 11pm outbound
bus from RIT Gleason Circle. This new 11pm bus will
then officially appear on the RTS #24 bus schedule
starting on August 31st.
Campus Policy on Smoking
A new smoke-free policy takes effect August 17th which
restricts all smoking (tobacco, e-cigarettes, pipes, etc.) to
only the designated areas on campus pointed out on this
map:
http://www.rit.edu/fa/betterme/sites/rit.edu.fa.betterme/files//docs/Campus%20Map%20WIth%20Designated%20Areas.pdf
Peer Transfer
Handouts in back.
To pay your bills by wire transfer from your home
country bank. This may save you money on fees.
https://www.peertransfer.com/school/rit
Smoke Free Campus Policy
New smoke free policy in effect August 17th which
restricts all smoking (tobacco, e-cigarettes, etc.) to
only the designated areas on campus pointed out on
this map:
http://www.rit.edu/fa/betterme/sites/rit.edu.fa.betterme/files//docs/Campus%20Map%20WIth%20Designated%20Areas.pdf
An Overview of our Web Resources
http://www.rit.edu/iss
If you have not already done so…
Please bring your passport and I-20 (or DS-2019) to the
Bamboo Room, or, on Sunday and after this weekend,
to the ISS office (located in the SAU, above the Ben &
Jerry’s) anytime in next few days.
We’ll copy & sign your documents and record your
arrival in the US government database (SEVIS).
You are required to always keep your
local address up to date. Immigration
regulations require you to update it
within 10 days of any move.
You can do this on-line here:
sis.rit.edu
US Immigration requires you to
correctly format your address.
You can find the standard format with
www.usps.com
specifically:
https://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupAction_input
Email Requirements
•Regularly (at least every other day) check your RIT e-mail
account and read all notices from ISS.
•Some may be optional programs, but occasionally we will
contact you about very important immigration matters.
Students have been stuck crossing the border because they
ignored emails from our office.
•Or, forward your RIT e-mail account to your own personal
account if you prefer this approach. Do this at:
start.rit.edu
eServices
www.rit.edu/eservices/
You are responsible for monitoring your bill.
It lists tuition and fees, fines, credits, etc.
Be sure to click on “Account Activity”
(not just Statements)
Pay particular attention to “Health Insurance Charge”
$762 for fall and $1,060 for spring/summer ($152/month)
* If you wish to cancel (waive) your health insurance, you must do so within
first 30 days of school and only if you have another insurance plan in place. You
must have another policy in place that meets RIT standards.
http://www.rit.edu/studentaffairs/iss/life-at-rit/health-insurance
Contact us when you do not know where else
to go. ISS can answer questions or refer you to
professional resources on:
• Cultural Adjustment & Intl Student Groups/Clubs
• Driver’s license (by the way, you can use your home country
license while here as a student).
• Social Security Number (if you have a job offer. More info @
our employment session).
• Banking, cell phones, legal workshops or referrals, etc. (see
the new student handbook/guide and your PAL).
And now we move on to Immigration Rules…
Immigration Rules
You are responsible for understanding F1 and J1 rules
Maintaining your legal status
It is YOUR responsibility to know and follow the rules related
to your F-1 or J-1 status. If your spouse or children are in the
US, they are also required to know and follow the rules for
F-2, J-2, etc.
No matter what you do, we will always advise you, but the
responsibility to follow the rules is yours, as are the
consequences of breaking the rules…
Important Terms
• ISS: International Student Services
• SEVIS: Student & Exchange Visitor Information System
(ICE database) funded by your $200 SEVIS fee.
• DSO (Designated School Official) the advisors at
International Student Services, or certain staff at the
English Language Center, if you study at ELC.
• RO (Responsible Officer) for J-1 program
Immigration Documents
• Passport (keep updated through your embassy or
passport authority when home)
• Visa (F1 or J1) (only needs to be valid at time of
entry to US)
• I-94 # (on-line process to print your number)
• I-20 (F1 students) Issued/updated by
DS-2019 (J1 students) RIT or sponsor
Immigration Documents
You must have all of your original
documents with you when you are
downtown at the central bus or train
station or at the airport!
And…whenever you leave Rochester.
Passport
PASSPORT
• Extended/replaced only by your embassy, or
while in your home country.
• Must always be valid while you are in the U.S.,
and have at least 6 months remaining validity
when entering the US.
F1 Visa
VISA
• Can only be issued outside the U.S.
• The visa is like your “key” to get into the U.S.
• Your visa can expire while you’re in the U.S., but your
I-20 and passport must remain valid.
• If you leave the U.S. with an expired visa, you must
obtain a new visa in your home country before
returning to the U.S.
I-94 #
You should go to this website:
https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/
and print out your I-94 #.
You may need to wait 4-6 weeks after entry to
the US. You will need the I-94 # if you apply for
a campus job, Social Security number or a New
York Driver’s license.
Form I-20
(F-status)
Form
DS-2019
(J status)
I-20 or DS 2019
• I-20 (Issued by RIT for F-1 status)
• DS-2019 (Issued by sponsor for J-1 status)
• Must be signed every year for travel.
• Name on form must match name exactly as it
appears on passport (and usually visa).
• Program of study – if you change majors, you
should request a new form.
How long can I stay in the U.S.?
• Line #5 is an estimate of when you will complete your
degree requirements. This date can be shortened or
extended with approval from your Academic
Department and ISS.
• F-1 students have a 60-day grace period to stay in the
U.S. after completion of program. 30-day grace
period for J1. Within that time, you must depart the
U.S., or, obtain post-completion work authorization.
Details at employment session.
To Re-enter the US after a trip
REQUIRED
• Passport valid at least 6 months into the future;
• Valid US visa*; original I-20 (or DS-2019) endorsed
(signed) by ISS/sponsor this current academic year.
Also Recommended
•Proof of financial support
•Transcript or “enrollment verification letter”
(available from Registrar’s Office)
*Travel to Canada
Same as previous page, with one exception:
• Your F-1 or J-1 visa, can be expired, but do not attempt to renew
your visa in Canada. (Note: visa must not be expired if you are from
Iran, Syria, Sudan, or Cuba).
• Certain citizens also require a Canadian entry visa - available only by
mail. More information at:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp
Or, link may be found at rit.edu/iss
** It may takes one month or more to get a Canadian
visitor visa.
Traveling within the US
When traveling outside of Henrietta, always carry
your:
Actual Passport and
Original I-20 (or DS-2019) endorsed by ISS
or sponsor within the current academic year.
This is particularly important at the Rochester
downtown bus, train stations and airport!
HOW TO STAY IN STATUS
• Report to a ISS staff for initial registration in SEVIS.
We will then sign your documents.
• If you’ve not yet “checked in” please drop-off your I20/DS2019 & passport at ISS this week.
• Update your local address. Report a change of local
address to RIT within 10 days of the change. We’ll
then update SEVIS.
• Do this at: sis.rit.edu
HOW TO STAY IN STATUS
• Each semester, pursue a “full course of study” (at
least 12 credits for undergraduates and 9 credits for
graduate students), except during official school
breaks, or obtain permission in advance, from ISS to
drop below full time (only available in limited
circumstances).
• “Full time equivalency” counts, as does Co-op
(requires employment permission from ISS).
HOW TO STAY IN STATUS
• Make normal progress and complete your
studies before the expiration of your DS-2019
or Form I-20.
• Contact ISS for:
– extension of stay – request before docs expire
– change in educational levels or programs of study
– transfer of schools
HOW TO STAY IN STATUS
• Never work off-campus without advance
authorization.
F-1 must have written approval for off-campus work
J-1 must have advance written approval for both off-campus
and on-campus work.
• On campus 20hrs/week maximum employment while
school is in session. This is monitored.
• Abide by the grace period rules, (after completing
studies). Or, apply for work authorization, change of
educational level, or a school transfer before docs
expire.
Review Forms at ISS
http://www.rit.edu/studentaffairs/iss/
Reduced Courseload Form
Program Extension Form
Insurance Waiver Link, on-line
http://www.rit.edu/studentaffairs/iss/life-at-rit/health-insurance
Summary of Status
All I need to do is:
Be a full time student
Get advance permission for off-campus work
Keep I-20, DS-2019 & passport valid
Keep local address up to date with RIT
What will I get if I do these things?
Ability to travel
Ability to work
Recommendation for post graduation work permit
(called ‘Academic Training’ for J-1)
Questions?
Remember this Website:
rit.edu/iss