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.
Introduction of ISS Staff
Terry Eckerson
Staff Assistant
Patti DiPassio
SEVIS Coordinator
DSO/RO Advising Staff
Jeff Cox, Director
Lilli Holdgaard Jensen, Assistant Director
Sue Joseph, Program Coordinator
Shawna Szabo, International Student Advisor (starting 9/8/14)
and thanks to the rest of our ISS team…
the Peer Advisor Leaders (PALS)!!
http://www.rit.edu/studentaffairs/iss/newstudents_PALS.php
ISS Orientation Highlights
Raise your hand if you need a:
schedule,
map, or
new international student
guidebook
An Overview of our Web Resources
http://www.rit.edu/iss
If you have not already done so…
Please report to the Bamboo Room, or
after today, 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).
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
Email Requirements
•Regularly 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”
Pay particular attention to “Health Insurance Charge”
$618 for fall and $857 for spring/summer
* 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.
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
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 now we move on to Immigration Rules…
Immigration Rules
Understanding F1 and J1 documents and
your immigration responsibilities.
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:
CBP.gov/I94
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 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 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 commence employment on
OPT or AT – 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 now takes about one month 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 I-20/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, if
you get employment permission from ISS first.
HOW TO STAY IN STATUS
• Make normal progress and complete your
studies before the expiration of your DS2019 or Form I-20.
• Keep DS-2019 or I-20 valid by following
proper procedures for:
– extension of stay – request before it expires
– change in educational levels or programs of study
– transfer of schools
HOW TO STAY IN STATUS
• Never work off-campus without advance
authorization.
J-1 must have advance written approval for both on- and
off-campus work.
F-1 must have written approval for off-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.
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/howdoi_gethealthinsurance.php
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 address up to date with RIT
What will I get if I do these things?
Ability to travel outside US
Ability to work on-campus
Permission for Co-op/CPT
Recommendation for OPT/1 year work permit
(called ‘Academic Training’ for J-1)
Questions?
Remember this Website:
rit.edu/iss