1. International Student Workshop University of Central Missouri Graduate and International Student Services

2. Topics to be covered: Visa status information – How to maintain valid F-1 visa status Address updates Driver’s license/State ID letters Social security letters Travel authorization Adding dependents Change of status – A brief overview

3. Visa Status Information How to maintain valid F-1 visa status

4. Three ways to maintain valid F-1 status: Maintain full-time enrollment Ensure that your I-20 does not expire before program completion Only work with authorization

5. Maintaining full-time enrollment: Fall and spring semesters: Graduate students: 9 credit hours Undergraduate students: 12 credit hours Summer semester: Academic department may have specific enrollment requirements Online coursework: Only 3 credit hours of online coursework per semester may count toward full-time enrollment

6. Reduced Course Load (RCL) requirements: Reasons to request a Reduced Course Load (RCL): Medical condition with a letter of recommendation from a doctor Difficulty with English, reading, or American teaching methods in the first year of your program Incorrect course placement Final semester of program

7. Enrollment requirements - Update: Please notice that international students will now be blocked from dropping below full-time enrollment after the add/drop deadline for the semester. Students must request prior approval from an International Student Advisor in our office before dropping below full-time enrollment.

8. Program extensions: Pay close attention to the end date listed on your I-20 document. You must contact our office to request an extended I-20 at least one month prior to your program end date if you will need additional time to complete your program.

9. Program Extensions: Caution: Do not allow your I-20 to expire! We will not be able to extend your program end date after the date listed on your I-20 has passed.

10. Work authorization: Four types of employment: On-campus employment Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Optional Practical Training (OPT) Severe Economic Hardship

11. On-campus employment: Students may work up to 20 hours per week during the semester, students may work additional hours during the university breaks, including the summer semester. Students must submit a request for a SSN letter from our office if this is their first job in the U.S. Students must ensure that the position held is an on-campus job. Students may not work for a local business that is not affiliated with the campus. This is very important!

12. Curricular Practical Training (CPT): Students with an offer to work in an internship position before their program ends may apply for CPT. Students must be in good academic standing, and students must have completed two full semesters in order to be eligible. The academic department and an International Student Advisor must provide work authorization, and a new I-20 will be issued before the student may begin working. For more information, a separate CPT workshop will be held on October 14 th.

13. Optional Practical Training (OPT): Students who are interested in applying for work authorization for after they graduate may apply for OPT. Students must be in good academic standing, students must be near program completion, and must have completed two full semesters in order to be eligible. An International Student Advisor will recommend OPT on an updated I-20, and the student will submit the I-20 copy, along with the application packet, to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for approval. The student must wait to receive approval from USCIS to begin working. For more information, a separate OPT workshop will be held on September 9th.

14. Severe Economic Hardship: Students who cannot find sufficient work on-campus, and who have had a significant change in their economic situation may apply for authorization to work up to 20 hours per week off-campus. Students must have completed two full semesters of coursework to be eligible. An International Student Advisor will recommend Severe Economic Hardship on the updated I-20, and the student will submit the I-20 copy, along with the application packet and payment, to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for approval. The student must wait to receive approval from USCIS to begin working. For more information, please schedule an appointment to speak with an International Student Advisor.

15. Work authorization: Caution: Do not work without authorization! Working without authorization is a violation of your visa status. We will be required to terminate your SEVIS record if you work without authorization. You would then be required to leave the country, and it could be difficult for you to obtain future U.S. visas.

16. Maintain accurate documents: Please be sure that all information listed on your I-20 is accurate at all times. You must report any changes or corrections to your name, program/degree, and local or international address to our office within 10 days of that change. Ensure that your passport is always valid at least 6 months into the future. If your visa expires while you are in the U.S., that is fine. You will need to obtain a new visa if you travel with an expired visa, and you plan to return to the U.S. If your I-94 has incorrect information listed, please contact Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in Kansas City to have it corrected.

17. Address Updates

18. Local address updates: F-1 international students must have their current local address, e-mail address, and phone number listed in SEVIS at all times. Please be sure to submit the address change request form, found on our webpage, within 10 days of moving to update your local address with our office. If your phone number or e-mail address changes, please also submit a request to have your information updated. A new I-20 will not need to be generated for you after an address change.

19. Driver’s License/State ID Letters

20. Driver’s license/State ID letters: Students must be in valid F-1 visa status, and they must obtain a letter from our office to apply for a Missouri Driver’s license/State ID with the local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). If you would like to apply for a driver’s license letter, please submit the State ID/Driver’s License Letter Request form, found on our webpage. Students may also submit the request form if an F-2 dependent is needing a letter. Due to registration requirements, students in their first semester are only eligible to receive a Driver’s license letter beginning two to three weeks after classes start.

21. Social Security Letters

22. Social security letters: Students who receive an offer of employment, and who are authorized to work, must be issued a social security card and number (SSN). Notice that you will not be eligible for a SSN if you do not have a job. Students must receive a letter from our office in order to request a social security card from the Social Security Office. Please submit the Social Security Letter request form, found on our webpage, and your job offer letter to apply for a social security letter. You may e-mail job offer letters to ISSS@ucmo.edu. Please be sure to have your social security card mailed to you directly.

23. Travel Authorization

24. Travel authorization: If you would like to travel outside of the U.S., and you plan to return to complete your program and/or authorized employment, then you will need to receive a travel signature from an International Student Advisor on the second page of your I-20 to re-enter.

25. Travel authorization: Please submit the Travel I-20 Request form, found on our webpage, two weeks to a month before you plan to travel. You will need to submit your most recent original I-20 to our office to be signed for travel. Travel signatures are valid up to 6 months into the future. In addition to your I-20 that is signed for travel, you must travel with a valid passport and visa. Please meet with an International Student Advisor if you have questions about automatic visa revalidation, for traveling to Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean for less than 30 days.

26. Adding Dependents

27. Adding dependents: If you are an F-1 student, and you would like to bring your spouse and/or child(ren) here on an F-2 visa, then you will need to request F-2 dependent I-20s. Please send an e-mail to admit_intl@ucmo.edu to request an F-2 I-20. You must submit to our office a copy of your marriage license, or your child’s birth certificate to prove your relationship. Please also submit a copy of the dependent’s passport – bio page. You must provide proof of financial support in the amount of $2,000 for each dependent to be added, in addition to the amount currently listed on your I-20.

28. Change of Status A brief overview

29. Changing status: Students have two options for changing their status. They may submit an application to USCIS to change within the U.S., or they can leave the U.S. and return with a new visa. Examples of change of status are individuals changing from H-4 or F-2 to F-1 status, or changing from F-1 to F-2 status If you plan to change status within the U.S., you will need to prepare all required documents for the application to USCIS, and schedule an appointment with an International Student Advisor to review the prepared documents. Students changing to F-1 will receive the updated Initial - Change of status I-20 after the application packet is reviewed with an advisor.

30. Changing status: Your current status must be valid when filing your application with USCIS If you are in F-2 status, changing to F-1, then you may begin your studies part-time while your application for change of status is pending. If the change of status is not approved before the start date listed on the Initial - Change of status I-20, then an advisor will need to defer the start date to a future semester for the record to remain active. USCIS can take up to 3 months to process your application. During this time you should not travel outside the U.S., or your application will be considered "abandoned" and automatically denied. If you travel outside of the U.S. after your application is approved, then you must apply for an updated visa prior to re-entering the U.S.

31. Changing status: The form issuance reason on the I-20 will indicate Initial – Change of status if you have been recommended for a change of status to F-1. This is the I-20 copy that should be sent to USCIS. We have a Change of Status Guide available upon request for students with questions about the documents required to change status.

32. Graduate and International Student Services Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Phone: (660) 543-4092 E-mail: ISSS@ucmo.edu Locations: UCM Warrensburg Campus: 1800 Ward Edwards Summit Center – Lee’s Summit: 850 NW Chipman Road, Door 54 Walk-in Advising Hours: Monday and Wednesday, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm *Walk-ins are currently held at the Summit Center. Beginning on September 19 th, both campuses will have walk-ins during this time. Phone Advising Hours: Tuesday and Thursday, 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm

33. International Student Advisors UCM Warrensburg Campus Jennifer Bock Jana Brookshier Sarah Zey Summit Center Marcie Barajas Emily de Melo Andrea Wiggins We are here to help with your questions and concerns!

34. Questions?