Maintaining F-1 Visa Status in the U. S.
The duration of status (D/S) notation on the I-94 Arrival/Departure Record (small, white card stapled in your passport) is considered to be the “expiration date” of your visa status. As a F-1 visa holder, this means you are allowed to remain in the U.S. until the completion of your program of study or the completion date of your I-20 (whichever is earlier), plus sixty days grace period to leave the country (see item 2, below). You may also remain in the F-1 status after completing your program of study if you plan to work in your field. However, in order to do so, you must first obtain Optional Practical Training (for more information on application procedures, consult with the International Student Center (ISC) at least 3 months in advance of completion of your program.
Although you are not likely to have much direct contact with USCIS, you should be fully aware of the primary conditions imposed by the USCIS for you to retain your F-1 status. Violation of any of these regulations may result in the loss of your visa status. If you “fall out of status” for any reason, you will no longer be eligible to apply for work permission or other benefits afforded by your visa status. In some cases, you may be required to return to your home country.
Listed below are guidelines that international students should follow to make sure their F-1 status remains valid. Although other situations not mentioned here may lead to the loss of status, following these guidelines will help you to avoid many unnecessary problems.
Basic Guidelines for Maintaining F-1 Visa Status:
- Enrollment. Must be full-time each semester. Full-time enrollment is to enroll and complete 12 units each semester. For immigration purposes, students may not drop below 12 units per semester (W’s do not count towards the 12 units).
- I-20 Document expiration and validity. Request an “Extension of Stay” of your I-20 if your completion date will expire, 60 days prior to expiration. Do this early as it cannot be done once expired. The completion date can be found in item #5 of your I-20 form. A revised Student Educational Planner is needed.
- On campus employment. Limit employment to 20 hours per week during the academic year while maintaining SCC I-20 full-time status.
- Off campus employment. Do not work off campus without permission. Work permission for F-1 is difficult to obtain unless authorized by USCIS.
- Attend the school noted on I-20. You must have a current, valid I-20 from the school you are attending. If you transfer to or from another school, see below.
- Transferring schools. If you transfer to another school, you must obtain an I-20 from that school. The International Student Advisor at the new school must have an “SCC Release Date” so a new transfer I-20 can be given. Be sure to inform the international student office at the new school that you are a transfer student within 10 days of the start of college.
- Passport. Keep it valid at all times. If your passport will expire within the next six months, call your home country’s embassy in the U.S. to find out how to extend the validity.
- Keep an updated address at SCC Admissions and the SCC International Student Center.
- Keep updated health insurance.
Sacramento
City College
3835 Freeport Boulevard · Sacramento, California 95822
This page was last updated: Monday, June 20, 2005 at 10:51:08 AM
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