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Q1. My visa is expired. Should I leave the United States?
A: The visa stamp on the I-20 or DS-2019 does not control how long an F-1 or J-1 visa students can stay in the United States. Visa stamps must be unexpired in order to enter or re-enter the United States. Students don’t have to leave the United States if their F-1 or J-1 visa stamp is expired. However, they must ensure that their I-20 or DS-2019 is not expired.
Q2. I plan to travel home and need a new F-1 visa to re-enter the U.S. What should I do?
A: Please check the Travel section on how to apply for an F-1 visa abroad. Collect the documents on the checklist and take an appointment with an IPS advisor.
Q3. My F-1 visa is valid for another year and I plan to travel abroad. Do I need to do anything with my I-20?
A: YES. The I-20 must be endorsed for travel by an IPS advisor who will also check your documents and status to advise you about travel. An appointment is needed to see the IPS advisor to get a travel endorsement on I-20.
Q4. My visa is expired and I want to visit my home country during the semester break. Can I renew my visa in the United States?
A: F-1 or J-1 visas are not renewed in the United States. Visas are issued and renewed at U.S. consulates abroad. Students planning to visit their home country during a semester break must read the “travel abroad” section on the IPS website ( www.ips.mtu.edu ) and follow the checklist and information on how to renew the visa abroad.
Q5. Can I renew my F-1 visa if it expires after I have applied for, or during my OPT?
A: NO, probably not. The advice we have received is that renewing an F-1 visa (a visa intended for study only) in order to work (even on OPT) would be virtually impossible and risky. You would need to convince the consular officer that you have ties to your home country, which may be difficult to do if you are going to the U.S. solely for work
Q6. I hear that it is easy to travel to Canada or Mexico as an F-1 student and I don’t have to have a valid F-1 visa to return to the U. S. right?
A: If an F-1 student travels to a contiguous territory (including Canada and Mexico) and is there for less than 30 days, they do not have to have a valid F-1 visa to re-enter the U.S. You must be in valid F-1 status, have a valid I-20, an unexpired passport and a valid I-94.
Q7. I want to return home immediately after completing my studies. If I don’t intend to apply for post-graduation training or another academic program, how long can I stay in the United States?
A: F-1 students are allowed to stay for a 60 day grace period after the completion of their studies. During the grace period, they can travel within the U.S. but can not leave and reenter the U. S. as an F-1 student.
Q8. I heard that the U.S. is giving away green cards.
A: The U. S. Congress has enacted an annual Diversity Immigrant Visa Program also known as the Visa Lottery. It is conducted once a year to make a certain numbers of green cards available to people from countries which are “under-represented” in recent immigration to the U.S. For more information on Green Card Lottery or Diversity Visa, visit the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov
Q9. I have applied for my green card. Do I have to maintain full-time status?
A: Applying for a green card can be a long and complicated process. An applicant may need to maintain current status (e.g., full-time student) so if the green card is denied for any reason, they can still complete their studies and stay legally in the United States.
Q10. I have been accepted in a graduate program at MTU. Does this mean that my transfer of F-1 is also complete?
A: NO. All F-1 or J-1 students must complete the International Transfer Procedure to be considered as F-1 or J-1 student at MTU. The information on Transfer Procedure is available at www.ips.mtu.edu .
Q11. My visa is valid but it is for another U.S. University. I have transferred to MTU as an F-1 student. Do I have to go outside the United States to get a visa stamp indicating MTU to continue my studies at MTU?
A: NO. However, F-1 or J-1 students are required to have an MTU I-20 or DS-2019 indicating that they have completed their transfer from another university to MTU. The MTU I-20 or DS-2019 will be used by students if they travel abroad and apply for the F-1 or J-1 visa so they can re-enter the United States.
ENROLLMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF STATUS
Q12. I am thinking of taking a leave of absence and not taking any classes. Can I stay in the United States?
A: If an F-1 or J-1 student takes a leave of absence from their studies, the student can not legally remain in the U. S. in student status. The only exception is for a documented medical condition. Information on this exception is available under the Reduced Course Load section at www.ips.mtu.edu
Q13. I am out of status. Someone in my department said that I am in the country illegally and I have to leave the United States. What should I do?
A: Being out of status does not mean that an F-1 or J-1 student is in the United States illegally and they have to leave the U.S. However, it does means that the student has failed to maintain their F-1 or J-1 visa status. In such situations, students must schedule an appointment for reinstatement with the IPS advisor, complete and bring the documentation listed on the checklist for reinstatement available at www.ips.mtu.edu. The IPS advisor will assist the student to apply for reinstatement to F-1 or J-1 visa status. The student does not need to leave the United States while their reinstatement application is processed at the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Q14. I am not able to enroll for a full course of study this semester because I could not find good classes. Is it O.K?
A: NO. It is not O.K. F-1 and J-1 students are required to take a full course load during fall and spring. They must consult with their academic advisor to find appropriate courses. Inability to find a course or lack of interest in offered courses is not an acceptable reason to take less than a full-time course load. Full-time enrollment is required as a part of maintaining F-1 and J-1 student status and failure to do so will result in the loss of visa status and eligibility to work on-campus and off-campus.
Q15. Is it O. K. to be a part-time student in the fall if I took summer courses?
A: Studying during the summer is OPTIONAL. Full-time course load is required during the academic year (fall and spring semesters). The F-1 and J-1 regulations do not allow students to “average out” full-time studies by including the summer.
Q16. I want to take all web-based or on-line courses this fall. Can I do that?
A: SEVIS regulations are very specific about F-1 visa students’ enrollment in 100% on-line courses (no human or in-person contact courses). F-1 students are allowed to take only 3 credits of 100% on-line courses in a semester. IPS strongly advises all F-1 students to comply with this requirement.
Q17. I heard that if I am sick or injured, I don’t have to take any classes. Is it true?
A: A medical leave of absence is a benefit under the regulations that must be documented and presented to the IPS advisor who will determine whether the full or partial reduced course load is allowed. This documentation is required for each semester if the medical condition persists.
Q18. I am an F-1 student and want to work on campus? Is this Okay?
A: Yes. An F-1 student with an MTU I-20 is eligible to work on campus as soon as they start studies at MTU and enroll for a full-time course load. On-campus work is allowed for a maximum of 20 hours per week during fall and spring semesters. More than 20 hours per week is allowed during breaks and summer semester. Course enrollment is not required during summer semester.
Q19. I am an F-1 student. Can I work off campus during summer vacation.
A: Any off-campus work requires specific work authorization, even during the summer semester. Off-campus work authorizations are only issued by the USCIS based on severe financial hardship (with strong documentation of hardships) beyond the student’s control. Please check the information on ‘Off-campus work authorization” at www.ips.mtu.edu .
Q20. I am an F-1 student and I want to gain work experience off-campus in my major area of studies. How can I do that?
A: An F-1 student with good academic and visa status records are eligible for this type of work experience. Please read the information on “Curricular Practical Training” available at www.ips.mtu.edu to find out how you can gain off-campus employment experience in your major field of studies.
Q21. I am an F-1 student and will be graduating soon. How can I receive permission to work in the U.S. after graduation?
A: Please read the information on “Optional Practical Training” at www.ips.mtu.edu to find out what is required to apply for the post-graduation practical training.
Q22. On-campus work permission means that I can work on any campus in the U.S?
A: NO. On-campus work permission is limited to the campus that a student is enrolled. If the student has an MTU I-20 or DS-2019, they can be employed on only jobs that are considered and defined as “on-campus employment”.
Q23. My advisor wants me to work 25 hours/week during the fall semester so we can finish our research project. Can I do that?
A: NO. F-1 or J-1 students can work up to 20 hours/week during fall and spring semester. More than 20 hours work is only allowed during breaks and summer. Students must check with the International Employment Office (Human Resources) to find out the starting and ending dates of the full-time work allowed during breaks and summer.
Q24. My friend said that when I complete 9 months in F-1 status, I can apply for an off campus work permit so I can get some extra money. Is it true?
A: There is no blanket work permit after the completion of 9 months in F-1 status. The only option is Off-Campus Work Authorization based on severe economic hardships beyond the student’s control. For more information on this option, visit www.ips.mtu.edu
Q25. I am pursuing a degree in computer engineering and a School in Detroit has offered me a position as a Math instructor. Can I do this as “curricular practical training”?
A: NO. Curricular Practical Training (CPT) must be in the major area of studies (in this case computer engineering). More information on CPT rules and procedures is available at www.ips.mtu.edu .
Q26. I heard that I can have practical training following every degree I pursue in the U.S?
A: Optional Practical Training (OPT) is available at the completion of each academic program at each academic level. Students must meet eligibility criteria for the application of OPT. Please read the detailed information at www.ips.mtu.edu
Q27. As an ESL student I can get practical training. Is it true?
A: NO. ESL students are not eligible for any form of practical training work permission.
CHANGE OF MAJOR/PROGRAM EXTENSION
Q28. I am not able to complete my program by the completion date in item 5 of my I-20. What should I do?
A: You need to apply for program extension before the expiration of I-20. The checklist to apply for program extension is available at www.ips.mtu.edu.
Q29. I have changed my degree program. Should I get a new I-20 showing my new degree?
A: YES. I-20 should always reflect the current degree. Please contact the IPS Office to obtain a new I-20 reflecting the change of degree program.
Q30. I have changed my major. Should I get a new I-20 that reflects my new major?
A: YES. Your I-20 should reflect the current major. Please contact the IPS Office to obtain a new I-20 reflecting the change of major.
Q31. I want to apply for a change of status to become an F-1 status student. How do I change my status to F-1?
A: T he student needs to follow the change of status checklist and procedure to apply for a change of visa status. After collecting the documents on the checklist, the student needs to make an appointment with the IPS immigration advisor to apply for the change of status. The application will be sent to the USCIS Office in Lincoln, Nebraska. It can take 2 to 3 months to accomplish a change of status.
Q32. I have applied for a change of visa status. Do I need to take a full course load in fall and spring semesters?
A: Students on all kinds of visas (except F-2 visa holders) who are applicants of a change of visa status to F-1 are required to maintain a full course load while they are applicants and waiting for the USCIS decision. The visa status change is time-consuming and students are not allowed to work on-campus or off-campus (curricular practical training) until their status change to F -1 is approved.
Q33. My change of visa status to F-1 is approved by USCIS. If I return home do I need to get an F-1 visa stamp to re-enter the U.S?
A: YES. To reenter the U.S., a student must have a valid F-1 visa stamp. Please see the Travel section at www.ips.mtu.edu on how to apply for an F-1 visa abroad, collect the documents on the checklist, and see an IPS advisor prior to visiting the home country.
Q34. I want my spouse and children to join me in the U.S. What do I need to do?
A: Spouses and children of F-1 visa students can join them on F-2 visa status. The F-1 student needs to request F-2 dependent I-20s from the IPS Office. You must also provide evidence of $4,000 for spouse and $3,000 for each child’s expenses, passport names and addresses to the IPS Office so an I-20 can be issued for each dependent. Please contact the IPS Office.
Q35. My F-2 spouse wants to take classes. Is it allowed?
A: F-2 spouses are not able to enroll for classes as F-2 visa holders. Individuals on F-2 visa status can apply for admission to pursue a major and upon admission; they can apply for the change of visa status to F-1. (Please check the change of visa status checklist). Upon approval of the F-1 status, they will be allowed to take classes.
Q36. I am an F-1 student and the consular officer said that my spouse can study and work in the United States. Is it true?
A: NO. Under F-1 regulations, F-2 spouses are not allowed to study or work in the U.S.
Q37. I heard that it is easy for an F-2 spouse to get a social security card. Is it true?
A: NO. F-2 visa holders are not eligible to work in the United States. Social Security cards are only issued to individuals who can provide evidence that they have an employment offer and that they are eligible to work in the U. S.
Last Updated: 06-May-2008