A welcome orientation for international students with important information on immigration issues. To be viewed AFTER completing Virtual Pre-arrival Orientation.

1. Welcome to NSU!
Office of International Affairs
Summer 2012

2. Office of International Affairs
Mission
The mission of the Office of
International Affairs is to develop,
facilitate, and oversee high quality
innovative international programs,
initiatives and partnerships by
providing leadership, coordination, and
service to students and faculty both on
and off campus.

3. Office of Enrollment and Student Services ESS
Office of International Affairs
OIA
Dr. Anthony J. DeNapoli, Executive Director
Alejandra Parra, M.A., Associate Director
Office of
International NSU Schools,
Students and
Scholars
Colleges, and
OISS Centers
Jim Vatral
Deborah Pabon
5 student workers

4. NSU Overall Facts and Figures
International Enrollment on campus:
over 1,100 students (student visa)
124 countries represented on
campus
(Spring 2012)

5. NSU in the world....
USA Europe
The
Caribbean
Africa Asia
Latin
America

6. Interesting Facts about
International Students at NSU…
Where are our international students from?
250 221 221
206
200 171
159
150
94
100
56
50 9
0
(Spring 2012)

7. Interesting Facts about
International Students at NSU…
Doctoral Bachelor's
Degree 35% Degree 29%
(397) (320)
Bachelor's Degree
Master's Master's Degree
Degree 36%
Doctoral Degree
(404)
(Spring 2012)

8. International students in the world…
Africa (2)
0%
Asia
(65)
7%
Africa (2)
Central/South
North Asia (65)
America (242)
America 27% Caribbean (499)
(36) Europe (61)
4% Middle East (12)
Caribbean (499) North America (36)
Middle 56% Oceania (0)
East (12) Central/South America (242)
2%
Europe (61)
4%
(Spring 2012)

9. International students in the world…
Total: 901 students
in
online programs
international cohorts
(Spring 2012)

10. Office of International
Students and Scholars
MAINTAINING
YOUR LEGAL STATUS

11. WHAT IS “VISA STATUS”?
A status granted by the United States
Custom and Immigration Services (USCIS) at
the port of entry. This status is stamped (or
written) on your Admission and Departure
Card (I-94).

12. AFTER YOU ARRIVE:
Check-In at the Office of International Students and
Scholars and bring your:
•I-20
•Passport
•Visa
•I-94 Card
•Local Address
•Local Phone Number
•Nova email address
•Certificate of Virtual Pre-arrival Orientation

13. IT’S EASY TO MAINTAIN
YOUR LEGAL STATUS
What document gives you your legal status as
an F-1 Student?

14. Port of Entry
Entry Date
Status
Limitation of Stay
I-94 CARD
11 Digit number

15. Usually SEVIS N# Printed Here
I-94 CARD
(Back)

16. I-94 CARD

17. What is SEVIS?
Student & Exchange Visitor Information System

18. SEVIS I-20

19. SEVIS I-20
Academic Level
Academic Program
Length of Program
Initial attendance/Continued attendance/Transfer in progress

20. SEVIS I-20
This area may or may
not be stamped by
immigration.

21. Information recorded in SEVIS
and reported to USCIS
•Program start/end dates
•Term start/end dates
•Educational level
•Program or major
•Program extension
•Transfer to/from NSU
•Off-campus employment/employer
information
• Dropping below full course load
• Authorized vacations
• Failure to enroll in classes
• Termination of program (graduation; withdrawal)
• Change of address for F-1 and F-2’s

22. Maintaining legal F1 status
• Passport – valid for at least six
months into the future
• Local Address – report any address
change to the OISS within 10 days
• Full Course of Study
Undergraduate: 12 credit hours
Master’s: 6 credit hours
Doctoral: 1 class
• On-line classes – only one per term
towards your program of study

23. Maintaining Legal Status
• Employment – only authorized employment
• Prior Approval
– Reduced Course Load
– Dropping/Withdrawing
– Change of Major/Program
– Off-Campus Employment
• I-20 – valid and properly endorsed (although the I-20 states
you should have a valid signature no older than a year, more
and more ports-of-entry are requiring a signature no older
than 6 months)

24. How does a student fall
out of status?
• Taking less than a full course load
• Not enrolling
• Not checking into OISS after coming
to Nova Southeastern University
• Withdrawing or dropping classes
without authorization
• Taking only online classes
• Letting your I-20 expire before you
complete your program.

25. How does a student fall
out of status?
• Taking more online classes than allowed
• Enrolling in programs that are only
offered online
• Changing residence and not reporting
the address change to the OISS within
10 days
• Working without
authorization

26. More on maintaining legal
status…
• Employment – only authorized employment
• Prior Approval
– Reduced Course Load
– Dropping/Withdrawing
– Change of Major/Program
– Off-Campus Employment
• I-20 – valid and properly endorsed (although the I-20 states
you should have a valid signature no older than a year, more
and more ports-of-entry are requiring a signature no older
than 6 months)

27. DON’T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU…
Non-Payment
Termination of Status for
“Failure to Enroll”!!!!
Bursars Hold
Cannot Register

28. WHAT IF I FALL OUT OF STATUS?
You can…
Apply for reinstatement.
Or, you can…
Leave and re-enter the
country with a new I-20.

29. Travelling while on a student
visa (to student’s home country)
Needed documents:
• a valid I-20
• a valid visa (except students from
Canada or Bermuda)
• a passport which is valid 6 months into
the future from the date the
student intends to re-enter the
USA

30. Travelling while on a student visa
(to a country other than
home country)
Needed documents:
• a valid I-20
• a valid visa (except students from Canada
or Bermuda)
• a passport which is valid 6 months into the
future from the date the student intends to
re-enter the USA
• Important: Check with the Embassy of that
country for any additional visa
requirements

31. Information to remember….
• Never destroy your “old” immigration
documents. You may need them in the
future.
• Always keep copies of your important
documents.

32. Information to remember….
• ALWAYS check your Nova email account.
The OISS uses this address to communicate
with students.

33. Information to remember….
• Your responsibility as an international
student is to know the regulations that keep
you in F-1 status. If you fall out of status, the
OISS may not always contact you.

34. Information to remember….
• Never act on “information” from
friends, relatives, or the grapevine. Always
check with OISS if you are unsure about a
course of action.

35. Can an international student work
while in the USA?
An international
student with an F1
visa can only work
ON CAMPUS for a
maximum of 20 hours
(part-time) while
school is in session
and 37.5 hours (full
time) during
approved vacations
and breaks.

36. What about OFF-CAMPUS
employment?
• CPT
Curricular Practical
Training
• Economic hardship
• OPT
Optional Practical
Training

37. Information to remember….
• Make appointments with the OISS for OPT or
CPT employment applications (at least 90
days prior to your last day of class for OPT—
or, as a general rule, at the start of your final
term)

38. Information to remember….
• Make sure all your documents are up-to-
date and valid before you travel
internationally.

39. Port of Entry
• Remember that your experiences at the port-
of-entry will vary depending on the city, port-
of-entry representative, world events, and
time of day.

40. Documentation
• If you forget your documentation or your
documentation is not up-to-date, do not use
a tourist visa for re-entry. If you do that, your
status as an F-1 student will be terminated.

41. Seeking Advice
• Academic advisors or counselors may not
always know international procedures.
Always check with the OISS if you feel unsure
of any information you’ve been told.

42. Academic Performance
Poor academic performance or behavior have
direct implications on your immigration status.
Your I-20 is IMMEDIATELY terminated should
you be SUSPENDED or DISMISSED from your
program of studies for academic or other
reasons
Should you be dismissed or suspended from
your program, you must leave the country
immediately.

43. I-20 Duration
Your I-20’s program’s end date should not
expire prior to completing your coursework or
you will fall out of status. I f you will not
complete your studies before this date, please
contact our office for instructions on how to
extend this time.

44. Emergency?
If you must return home due to an
emergency, please contact the OISS as there
may be options to keep your status active
during your absence.

45. After Completion
If you complete your program and do not
apply for OPT you have 60 days in which to
1- Transfer to another university
2- Begin a new program at NSU
3- Depart the United States

46. PAYMENT INFORMATION
• When you register for your courses, the NSU
automated system will create an E-bill, which
will be sent via e-mail to your NSU e-mail account.
• This e-mail contains information on the
amount you owe, the form of payment, and the
terms of payment.
• You will be able to make payments using our automated system
which you will find within the Sharklink area. Please keep in mind
that payments must be made within 30 days of the beginning of the
semester. If you pay after that, your account will have a “Bursar’s
hold” until you make a payment, and there will also be a “late
payment fee” of $100 if payment is made after the deadline.

47. OIA Contact information
Website:
http://www.nova.edu/internationalstudents/
Email:
intl@nova.edu
Phone:
954-262-7240 (24/7!)
Skype:
nsu.international