WELCOME to International Student Orientation PACE UNIVERSITY

F1 and J1 NON-IMMIGRANT STUDENT VISA REGULATIONS International Students & Scholars Office Pace University

F-1 Students: Form I-20 (page 1)

F-1 Students: Form I-20 (page 2)

F-1 Students: Form I-20 (page 3)

J-1 Students: Form DS-2019

J-1 Students: Form DS-2019

F-1 & J-1 Students: Visa Stamp (in passport)

F-1 & J-1 Students: Form I-94 (at port of entry)

Exchange Visitor Program (J-1 ) “The purpose of the exchange visitor program, in part, is to foster the exchange of ideas between Americans and foreign nationals and to stimulate international collaborative teaching, lecturing and research efforts.” 22 CFR 62.20(b) Pace university has been designated as an exchange visitor program sponsor by the United States Department of State. The exchange visitor program has different categories, a few of these are: student degree, student non-degree, professor, research scholar and short-term scholar.

Exchange Visitor Program (J-1) Contact information for the Exchange Visitor Program Services of the Department of State Email: JVISAS@STATE.GOV United States Department of State Office of Exchange Coordination and Designation ECA/EC/AG - SA-44, Room 732 301 4th Street, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20547 Telephone: (202) 203-5029 Fax: (202) 453-8640

F-1 & J-1 Students Responsibilities The USCIS holds you responsible for maintaining your immigration status. See Page 2 of your I – 20 or DS-2019. Read Immigration Information section of the website at www.pace.edu/international for details about immigration regulations. Meet with an advisor for more information or questions. Show the handout about the location of the handbook when we begin.

F-1 & J-1 Students: Maintaining Legal Status To Maintain Status, Students Must: Enroll full-time each fall and spring semester - 12 credits is full-time for undergraduate students. - 9 credits is full-time for graduate students. - Students may be considered full-time if courses are combined with ELI classes. NEVER start working off-campus BEFORE obtaining written authorization from the International Students & Scholars Office (ISSO).

F-1 & J-1 Students: Maintaining Legal Status Keep immigration documents valid at all times - Form I-20 (F-1) or Form DS-2019 (J-1) must have accurate program info and valid dates. - Form I-94 must be valid for Duration of Status (D/S). - Passport must be valid for six months into the future. - Visa stamp in passport may expire in U.S. and can only be renewed at a U.S. embassy or consulate overseas.

F-1 & J-1 Students: Maintaining Legal Status THREE most important rules to maintain legal status: Always enroll full time in Spring & Fall semesters except last semester before program completion; Never work off-campus without ISSO authorization; Always maintain valid Form I – 20 or DS-2019; passport has to be valid 6 months into future

F-1 & J-1 Students: Maintaining Legal Status Notify an advisor & OSA regarding legal name and address changes within 10 days of the change • USCIS requires that they be notified of these changes. Changes will be reported to the USCIS to comply with their regulations. Note that students must notify both ISSO separately from OSA to satisfy this requirement.

F-1 Students: Maintaining Legal Status When changing to a new academic program level, a student must: Request a new Form I-20 to reflect the new academic level. See an advisor in the International Students & Scholars Office to process the Form I-20. Meet the deadline to complete this process, which is 15 days after classes begin.

F-1 Students: Maintaining Legal Status If you are transferring from another U.S school you must: Submit an Immigration Transfer Recommendation Form to the Admission Office on the appropriate campus. Meet the deadline to complete the transfer procedure, which is 15 days after classes begin in the semester you enroll. Follow the transfer procedure as outlined on page 2 of the I-20, Item 5, under “Instructions to Students”.

F-1 Students: Maintaining Legal Status If Form I-20 needs to be extended, a student must: See an advisor in the International Students & Scholars Office. Request an extension any time before the expiration date of the Form 1-20. Follow the extension procedure as outlined on page 2 of the Form I-20, Item 6, under “Instructions to Students”.

F-1 & J-1 Students: Traveling Outside the U.S. If traveling outside the U.S., a student must: Have the Form I-20 signed on page 3 by a Designated School Official (DSO) before leaving the U.S. (F-1s). Or, have Form DS-2019 signed by a Responsible Officer (RO or ARO) before leaving the U.S. (J-1s). Have a valid F-1 / J-1 visa in passport if traveling to countries other than Canada, Mexico or the adjacent islands (special rules exist for these territories). Have a passport valid for at least 6 months into the future when re-entering the U.S.

F-1 Students: Form I-20 (page 3)

J-1 Students: Form DS-2019

F-1 Students: F-1 Status Benefits Employment Opportunities On-campus Jobs Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Optional Practical Training (OPT)

F-1 Students: F-1 Status Benefit On-campus Jobs - Eligible as soon as enrolled in school full-time - Work is available in Pace offices, academic departments, cafeteria or bookstore - Limited to 20 hours per week when school is in session and full-time during vacations - Apply through Student Employment at the Office of Human Resources

F-1 Students: F-1 Status Benefit Curricular Practical Training (CPT) - Paid internships off-campus through Co-op Office. - Eligible only after one academic year of full-time study. - Limited to 20 hours per week when school is in session and full-time during vacations. - 12 months of full-time CPT will void OPT benefit. - Must have written authorization from ISSO on original Form I-20 prior to beginning internship. - An advisor will update SEVIS that CPT has been granted.

F-1 Students: F-1 Status Benefit Optional Practical Training (OPT) Post-Completion OPT: - Full-time employment authorization - Employment must begin within 60 days of completion of studies & may not accrue 90 days of unemployment time during OPT. - May only have a total of 12 months of OPT after each level of education in F-1 status; may be eligible for 17 months’ extension if in STEM major provided employer is enrolled in E-Verify. - Must file for Employment Authorization Document (EAD) with USCIS.

Quiz: Question 1. What are the most important THREE rules to maintain F1 or J1 visa legal status?

Quiz: Answer 1. Three most important rules to maintain legal status are: 1) Always enroll FULL TIME in Spring & Fall semesters except last semester before completion; 2) Never work off-campus without ISSO authorization; 3) Always maintain valid Form I – 20 or DS-2019; passport has to be valid 6 months into future

Quiz: Question 2. What does SEVIS stand for?

Quiz: Answer 2. SEVIS stands for Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, web-based system maintained by the Department of Homeland Security to track and monitor schools and programs, students, exchange visitors and their dependents throughout the duration of approved participation within the U.S. education system.

3.Where can you find your SEVIS ID Number? Does this number change? Quiz: Question 3.Where can you find your SEVIS ID Number? Does this number change?

Quiz: Answer 3. You can find your SEVIS ID Number at the top right corner of your I-20.

Quiz: Question 4. Where can you find your Admission Number?

Quiz: Answer 4. You can find your Admission Number on both your I-94 card and your I-20 form.

Quiz: Question 5. Do you fall out of status if your visa stamp in your passport expires while you are studying in the U.S.?

5. No. Visa in passport may expire while in U.S. Quiz: Answer 5. No. Visa in passport may expire while in U.S.

Social Security Number (SSN) Required for tax and payroll tracking purposes. Frequently requested to open bank accounts, purchase cell phone, etc. F-1 students are not eligible for an SSN without first securing on-campus employment or off-campus employment authorization

Social Security Number (SSN) Apply at the Social Security Administration. Passport Visa I-94 Letter from ISSO (for F-1) / proof of employment I-20 or DS-2019 2-3 weeks to process request.

Money Matters: Getting Started Bank Accounts To apply for a checking or savings account you will need: Passport Visa and Form I-94 Form I-20 Letter certifying status from an advisor Social Security Number, if available, or letter from International Students & Scholars Office

BEST WISHES! International Students & Scholars Office One Pace Plaza, W-207 Tel: (212) 346-1368 Kessel Campus Center, Pleasantville Tel: (914) 773-3425 www.pace.edu/international