COUNSELORS NEED COUNSEL TOO –
Assisting High School Counselors and
DSOs with International Admissions and
Immigration Requirements
NCAIE Annual State Conference
March 07, 2014
Jeong Powell, jcpowell@ncsu.edu
Pascale Toussaint, pascale-toussaint@ncsu.edu
Why this session
• Increases in the
• Increased need for
numbers of
international students
attending US high
schools
• More transfers from
high school to colleges
and universities
more communication
between high school
and higher education
Institutions
• Resources
Role of the DSO
 A Designated School Official represents and
speaks for the school in all student
immigration matters
 Ensures institutional compliance with the law
by learning, interpreting and applying laws
and government policies
 Enters information/updates into SEVIS
 Issues and signs immigration forms
Role of the DSO
 Approves or recommends benefits for
F-1 students and their dependents
 Educates students and school about their
rights and obligations under the F regulations
 Maintains records (electronic and paper) on
all students as mandated by federal law
 DSOs must be listed on the school’s form I-17
Admission Process
Will vary based on the Institution
• Online Application (most institutions)
• Application fee
• Electronic submission of documents (transcripts, test
scores etc…)
Admission Process
• High School Transcripts (all four years and translated in
English)
UNC Charlotte: requires a course by course evaluation (all
grades must be on the US high school transcript)
For NC State University: either overseas transcripts or US high
school transcript are acceptable
• SAT / ACT scores
NC State University: required if enrolled in US high school for at
least two years. If enrolled for less than two years, SAT or ACT
is optional
UNC Charlotte: Either one is required but students are
encourage to take both
Wake Technical Community College: not required
Admission Process
• English Proficiency
NC State University: Either TOEFL or IELTS are required
UNC Charlotte: TOEFL, IELTS or enrollment in a US high
school for at least two years
Wake Tech: not required, but if submitted it is considered
as student’s placement information
• Certificate of Financial Responsibility (For F-1 and J-1)
NC State University: required as part of the application
UNC Charlotte: not required until student is admitted to the
institution
Wake Tech: required as part of the application
Visa Clearance
• Each institution uses different forms
• NC State Admissions office reviews the
Visa Clearance forms in house
• UNC Charlotte and Wake Tech send their
Visa Clearance forms to their Office of
International Services for review
SEVIS Transfer
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Student is admitted to new school
Student completes transfer out form from old school,
establishing release date (60-day grace period)
DSO from old school completes transfer in form from new
school (if requested)
DSO from old school releases SEVIS record to new
school (old school has inactive record upon release date)
DSO at new school issues student a “transfer pending”
I-20 on or after release date
DSO at new school reports “registration” within 30 days of
I-20 start date and issues student a “continued
attendance” I-20
The 5-month limit
SEVIS Transfer (restrictions)
• F-2 children may only engage in
full-time study at the K-12 level. To
attend a post-secondary institution
status must be changed to F-1
• J-1 exchanges and non-degree.
Students will have to return home
and apply for an F-1 visa
• J-1 secondary
Change of Status (eligibility)




Must be in legal status
Current status must be valid up until the date
the F-1 status is requested to begin
Studies may commence only once I-94 is in
hand (unless student is currently in a status
that allows study)
Employment may commence only once I-94 is
in hand
Change of Status (process)
 Via Travel

Issue I-20; pay SEVIS fee

Apply for F-1 visa and enter
 Within the U.S.

Issue I-20; pay SEVIS fee

Apply through USCIS ELIS (online application)

Or mail a paper application to the USCIS
Change of Status (restrictions)
Not permitted to change to F-1 status while in the
U.S.:
 C, D, K, M, WT, WB non-immigrants
 J non-immigrants subject to 2-year foreign residence
requirement
Entry with a B visa
 CoS = examine preconceived intent
 B-2 “Prospective Student” notation
Travel Outside the U.S.
 Endorsed I-20 for student and dependents
 New I-20 – if changes in finances, major, or
program level
 Valid passport and {visa stamp if needed}
 Letter of enrollment and/or transcript
 Issues: Change of status, 5 month absence,
SEVIS record status
Undocumented - DACA
• Undocumented: Children born abroad who are not U.S.
citizens or legal residents
• Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA): Deferred
action is a discretionary determination to defer removal
action of an individual as an act of prosecutorial discretion
Resources
• http://professionals.collegeboard.com/guidance/financialaid/undocumented-students
• http://www.northcarolina.edu/gearup/spanish/Ensuring_C
ollege_Access_Para_Todos1.pdf.
Resources
 NAFSA Advisor’s Manual
 NAFSA Regulatory Info - http://www.nafsa.org





practice advisories, DHS conference calls, updates
IssueNet – report an issue
Listservs – International Student Advising Network
http://www.nafsa.org/knowledge_community_network.sec
NCAIE Website – http://www.ncaie.org/
Customs and Border Protection
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/contacts/ports/nc/1503.
xml
SEVIS Help Desk 1-800-892-4829
More Resources
 SEVP Tutorials & Users Manual
 USCIS website - http://www.uscis.gov
regulations, forms, offices and check case status
 Conferences/workshops – National, Regional, and State
 Networking
 Other schools’ websites
 Immigration Attorneys (sticky situations outside DSO scope)
 DACA:
http://www.northcarolina.edu/gearup/spanish/Ensuring_College
_Access_Para_Todos1.pdf.
 Study in the State : http://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/
Homeland Security
Ombudspersons
North Carolina Regulatory Ombud
Assistant and NCAIE Board
Member:
 Denise Medeiros (F-1 questions)
Phone: 704.687.7784,
dvmedei@uncc.edu
Things you need to know
 Use your resources!
 Document and be consistent
 Immigration is constantly changing
so it’s your responsibility to stay
current!
 Reach out to colleagues if unsure
Contacts
NC State University
• Jeong Powell, jcpowell@ncsu.edu
• Pascale Toussaint, pascale_toussaint@ncsu.edu
• Amanda Beasley, acbeasle@ncsu.edu
UNC Charlotte
• Emily Ring, Emily.Ring@uncc.edu
• Denise Medeiros, dvmedei@uncc.edu
Wake Technical Community College
• Princess Solomon, pmsolomon@waketech.edu