Maintain Visa Status

Spring 2013

Welcome to
The University of Texas at San Antonio
International Student Services (ISS)
Office of International Programs
1/3/11 The University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX 78249 1

• Immigration Presentation handout is in your
Orientation Packet.


Maintaining Visa Status

Part I

Important Documents and Terms


Student Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS)

 SEVIS is a database used by U.S. Department of
Homeland Security to track and monitor
information about international students and their
dependents.
 International Student Services (ISS) reports all F-
1/J-1 student information through SEVIS to the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security.
 Through SEVIS, ISS issues Form I-20/DS-2019 to
UTSA F-1/J-1 visa students.


Important Immigration Documents

 Passport
 Form I-94
 Visa Stamp placed in your passport
 Form I-20 – F-1 visa students
 Form DS-2019 – J-1 visa students


Passport
 Your passport is the
official identification
document in the U.S.
 Your passport must
be valid at all times
during your stay in the
U.S.
 If your passport is Check your expiration date!!
lost or stolen, visit ISS Don’t forget to renew your
passport well ahead of time.
for instructions.

Renewing Your Passport
Two options to renew your passport:

1) When you are in the U.S., locate your
embassy and apply according to their
procedures.

2) When you are in your home country, you
may renew your passport there.
Please remember to submit a copy to
ISS when you renew your passport.

Form I-94 Arrival-Departure Card
I-94 Number Date of Entry
into the US

Visa Type

Length of
Stay


Form I-94
 Your name and date of birth should match the
information on your passport & I-20/DS-2019.
 Form I-94 should be turned in to the Airline
whenever you travel outside the U.S. to validate
your departure.
 A lost or stolen Form I-94 must be replaced
through U.S. Immigration Services. The cost is
$330.


Form I-94: Expiration Date
 F1/J1 visa students
“D/S” (Duration of Status)
This means you can stay in
the US as long as you
maintain F1/J1 visa status
properly.
 E, L, H & other visas
A specific expiration
date should be Length of Stay
written. F-1/J-1 students – if your I-94
does not say D/S, meet with an
ISS advisor.

U.S. Visa Stamp
 The visa stamp
indicates your
eligibility for entry and
reentry to the US in a
specific visa category,
such as F-1 and J-1.
 It must be valid on the
day you enter the US.


Expired U.S. Visa Stamp F-1/J-1 Students

What happens if your visa expires and you are in
the U.S.?
As long as you maintain your visa status, you may
remain in the U.S. with an expired visa.
However, if you travel outside the U.S., you will not
be allowed to re-enter the U.S. with an expired visa.
You must have a valid visa to re-enter the U.S.


U.S. Visa Stamp: Where to renew your visa
 You must renew your
travel visa at the U.S.
Embassy or Consulate in
your home country.

 You CANNOT renew visa
inside the U.S.


Form I-20 and DS-2019
Certificate of Eligibility Certificate of Eligibility
for F visa for J visa

Your SEVIS ID
number is located
above the
barcode and
Form I-20 starts with Form DS-2019
“N000”


Form I-20/DS-2019: Issuance and Endorsement
Your I-20/DS-
2019 should
be issued by
UTSA.

Your I-20/DS-
2019 should
be signed by
ISS and you.


Form I-20/DS-2019

 Make sure all information is correct
o Name, birth date, major, degree level
o Financial information
 Remember to request updates on any changes of
the information on your Form I-20/DS-2019.


Form I-20/DS-2019: Program End Date
 F1/J1 students are required to complete their
academic program within an estimated period
of time listed on their Form I-20/DS-2019.
Form I-20 Form DS-2019
Check item 5

Check item 3


Form I-20/DS-2019: Program End Date
 If you complete all academic requirements before the
program end date, your program is considered ‘complete’.
 If you are unable to complete your degree program by the
I-20/DS-2019 program end date, you may apply for an
extension of stay.
 You are responsible for applying for an extension BEFORE
the program end date.
 Failure to extend your I-20/DS-2019 before your program
end date will result in termination.


Immigration Documents: Safety
 Keep your
immigration
documents in a safe
place.

 Carry copies of your
documents with
you.


Grace Period F-1/J-1
After completion of academic program students
have a Grace Period to prepare to leave, transfer
or to change to another visa status.
F-1 students: 60-day grace period
J-1 students: 30-day grace period
If an F-1/J-1 visa student violates federal
immigration law and loses their status, the student
must depart the U.S. immediately.

F-1 Transfer Student Form I-20
 After confirming your class
registration, International Transfer Pending I-20
Student Services will
update your I-20.
 You will receive an email
notification about the
updated Form I-20. Please
follow the instructions in
the email to pick up your Continued Attendance I-20
updated Form I-20.


Travel Inside the U.S.
You must always carry
immigration You could be stopped by
documents, especially immigration officers at
while traveling through any time and told to
states along the Mexico produce the following:
or Canada borders. – Valid passport
– Valid Form I-20/DS-2019
– Form I-94
– U.S. visa


Travel Outside the U.S.
Take the following
documents with you
when you travel outside
the U.S:
 Valid Passport
 Valid Visa Stamp
 Current Form I-94
 Valid I-20/DS-2019 with
a current travel
signature if F-1/J-1 visa.


Travel Signature F-1/J-1
 You must have a current
signature (within 6 months) Travel Signature by
from ISS on your Form I-20/DS- international
2019 to re-enter the U.S. student advisor

 Bring your form to International
Student Services at least one
week before you plan to travel.

 Failure to obtain International
Student Services signature may
prevent you from re-entering
the U.S.


Pop Quiz Part I


Question 1

• Can an international student stay in the United
States with an expired passport?


Question 1 - Answer

International students must have a valid passport
at all times.
The passport should be valid for a minimum of six
months into the future


Question 2

Can an international student stay in the U.S. with
an expired visa stamp?


Question 2 - Answer

Student can stay inside the U.S. with an expired visa
stamp if:
1. Student attends school; and
2. Student’s I-20/DS-2019 is valid.


Question 3

What does “D/S” stand for on the I-94 card?


Question 3 - Answer

“D/S” means Duration of Status.
Your I-94 is valid until you complete your program.


Question 4

When you travel outside of the U.S., what
documents are needed?


Question 4 - Answer

 Valid Passport
 Valid Visa
 I-94 Card
 Valid I-20/DS-2019 with recent travel signature
from International Student Services, if F-1/J-1
student.



• Part 2
• Reporting and Enrollment Requirements


Reporting Requirments
• Federal law requires you to report the following changes
within 10 days

Change of Address:
You must update current address in two different places:
– ASAP (link between student and UTSA)
– International Student Gateway (link between student and SEVIS)
Change of Major:
A letter from your academic advisor is required with new major and your
new graduation date (dd/mm/yyyy).
Change of Level:
An admission letter and financial documents are required.
International Student Services MUST report these changes to the U.S.
Government on your behalf.


Enrollment Requirements non F-1/J-1
• Students who are not F-1 or J-1 and have the
following visas can register for classes either full-
time or part-time:
H-4 L-2 E-2 J-2

• F-2 Dependents can only enroll in English -
language training for a limited period of time.


F-1/J-1: Enrollment Requirement
F-1/J-1 visa students must
maintain a full course of
study during each FALL and
SPRING semester.

 12 hours for
Undergraduates
 9 hours for Graduates



Enrollment during the
summer semester is
optional.
If the summer semester is Summer
your first or last semester,
you must register for 6
credit hours.



All courses must apply
to your degree to be
counted toward full
time requirements.


F-1/J-1: Dropping Classes
BEFORE dropping a
course that will put you
below the full time hours
requirement, you MUST
meet with an
international student
advisor to check if you
are allowed to drop the
course.


Reduced Course Load - Final Semester

If you are in the final semester of your program
and do not need to enroll full time, you must
apply for a Reduced Course Load and get
approval from International Student Services
before you begin your final semester.


Academic Difficulty

If you are having problems with your class, you
must seek advice from the course
instructor, academic advisor and international
student advisor.


Academic Probation and Dismissal
• F-1/J-1
• If you are ever placed on Academic Probation or
become Academically Dismissed, you must
immediately report to International Student Services
to speak to an International Student Advisor.


Criminal Activity

 All students are required to obey federal, state
and local laws.

 Conviction of a crime may have a serious impact
on the international student’s visa status –
including immediate deportation.


Pop Quiz Part 2


Question 1

What is considered full-time enrollment for an F-
1/J-1 visa Undergraduate students?


Question 1 - Answer

Undergraduate students must maintain 12 credit
hours each fall and spring semester.


Question 2

What is considered full-time enrollment for an F-
1/J-1 visa Graduate students?


Question 2 - Answer

Graduate students must maintain 9 credit hours
each fall and spring semester.


Question 3

What if an F-1/J-1 visa student is doing poorly in a
class and wants to drop it so it does not affect his
GPA (grade point average) negatively - can he do
it?


Question 3 - Answer

No - if dropping the course puts his enrollment
hours below full time. If F-1/J-1 visa students
have any problems, they must come to
International Student Services to discuss their
options.


Question 4

When international students change their local
address, when and where do they need to report
their new address?


Question 4 - Answer

Within 10 days of such change,
1) Complete Change of Address Form on
International Student Services website; and
2) Update ASAP.


Question 5

What can an F-1/J-1 student do if they cannot
complete their program by program end date
listed on I-20/DS-2019?


Question 5 - Answer

An F-1/J-1 student should request an extension of
stay before the program end date listed on
the I-20/DS-2019



• Part 3
• Employment Rules and Regulations


Employment

• Students on a visa should not assume that they
are automatically eligible to work in the U.S.
• Unauthorized employment is considered a
serious violation.

It is your responsibility to know the requirements
and limitations.


F-1 On-Campus Employment
 F-1 students may engage in on-campus
employment at UTSA if they:
have properly maintained their F-1 visa status.
are in good academic standing.
are not academically dismissed.
 F-1 students do not have to get a formal
authorization from International Student Services
before beginning on-campus employment.


J-1 On-Campus Employment
 J-1 students may engage in on-campus employment
at UTSA if they:
properly maintain their J-1 status
are in good academic standing,
are not academically dismissed.
have written authorization from the ISS before the
employment begins.
 Authorization can be granted in periods of up to 12
months at a time.


F-1/J-1 On-Campus Employment
Hours per Week

• A maximum of 20 hours a week while school is in
session.
• Full-time (40 hours per week) during official school
breaks only if you will be enrolling in the next
semester.

Your employment must end on your graduation date.


F-1/J-1 On-Campus Employer
The employment must be on campus, related to student
services and considered part of the university.

Examples
• Food Services ( Starbucks, Subway, etc.)
• Housing
• Recreation Center
• Bookstore
• Lab
• Various UTSA departments


Social Security Card
 When you have an
offer of on-campus
employment, you will
need to apply for a
Social Security Card.
For information visit
ISS website:
 This card is required http://international.ut
sa.edu/living-in-san-
for employment in the antonio/social-
security-number/
U.S.


F-1/J-1 Visa: Teaching Assistant
 If you need to start your
teaching assistantship Step 1: Register
full-time
soon, please bring an
employment letter to ISS
after registering full-
time. Step 2: Bring a hiring
letter from your
 In order for you to be department to ISS.
able to apply for SSN,
your registration status Step 3: ISS updates
needs to be updated in your registration
SEVIS. status in SEVIS and
issue a support letter.


F-1/J-1 Visa: Off-Campus Employment
 You are NOT allowed to work
off-campus or to be self-
employed without written
employment authorization
from ISS.

 Failure to comply with this
regulation will result in
immediate termination of
your SEVIS record and you
will be deported.


F-1 Off-Campus Employment Options
• Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
o allows F-1 students to complete a paid/unpaid
internship needed for their degree program
o authorized by International Student Services
• Optional Practical Training (OPT)
o allows F-1 students to gain experience in their field of
study
o authorized by the Department of Homeland Security


J-1 Off-Campus Employment Option

• Academic Training
o allows J-1 students to gain experience in their field of
study
o allows J-1 students to complete a paid/unpaid
internship needed for their degree program
o authorized by International Student Services


Other Visa Type Employment

• The following
dependent visas are
not eligible for
employment:
– F-2
– H-4
– E-2 (child)


Other Visa Type Employment

• The following dependent visas are eligible for
employment only if they apply and are approved
for employment authorization through U.S.
Department of Homeland Security:
– The spouse of an L-1
– The spouse of an E-2
– J-2 Dependants


Pop Quiz Part 3


Question 1

Where and how many hours are F-1/J-1 students
allowed to work?


Question 1 - Answer

F-1/J-1 students are allowed to work
• only on campus
• Maximum 20 hours a week while school is in
session
*J-1 students must get written authorization from International
Student Services.


Question 2

What happens if an F-1/J-1 visa student works off-
campus without authorization?


Question 2 - Answer

If F-1/J-1 visa students work off-campus WITHOUT
proper authorization, their record will be
terminated and they must leave the U.S.
immediately.


Question 3

An F-1/J-1 student has been offered an off-campus
internship. The company wants him to work
immediately. Can he begin employment?


Question 3 - Answer

No, F-1/J-1 visa students cannot begin employment
without prior authorization from International
Student Services.



• Part 4
• Health Insurance Requirements


Health Insurance Requirement
By University of Texas System policy, all
international students are required to have
continuous health insurance coverage
throughout the calendar year.


Student Health Insurance
 The UTSA Student Health Insurance is Academic
Health Plans.

 You may review the insurance policy on their
website: www.ahpcare.com

 Health insurance for the Spring-Summer 2013
semesters is $775.00.

How Am I Charged for Insurance?

 The Health Insurance fee will be included into your
student tuition bill after you register for classes.

 The Health Insurance charge will appear twice
on your bill:
Fall semester
Spring (The summer semester charge is included in the spring
semester charge.)


Alternate Health Insurance

• If you already have your own insurance you may
be eligible for a health insurance waiver.
• Everyone must attend a mandatory Health
Insurance session to learn about the student
insurance and to submit waiver application.


Mandatory Sessions
All international students must attend one of the
following health insurance sessions:

Wednesday, January 9th 2013
Thursday January 10th 2013
Friday January 11th 2013

Please see schedule for time and location.


J Visa: Health Insurance Requirement
 All J-1 student and J-2 dependents must maintain
medical, evacuation and repatriation insurance
coverage listed on their Form DS-2019 .
 The coverage must be during the entire period of
their program participation listed on their Form DS-
2019.
 Evidence of insurance coverage for J-1 student and
dependent(s) must be submitted to ISS by January
11, 2013, before the Spring 2013 semester start
date.


• Please remember that it is your responsibility to
comply with F-1/J-1 rules and regulations.
• If you have any questions, please contact us.
• We are here to help you!
• You can find more information about F-1/J-1 rules
and regulations on our website at
• http://international.utsa.edu


OIP Advising Hours
International student advisors are available during the
following hours:

Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday
12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Thursday & Friday
9:00 am – 1:00 pm
No appointment is necessary.

Document drop-off/pick-up 9:00am – 4:00pm


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