1. WELCOME! Graduate and International Student Services Orientation
University of Central Missouri
Fall 2017

2. Overview What does International Student Services (ISS) do?
Important Documents
SEVIS
Advising
What is the student’s role in Maintaining
Status?
Enrollment
Authorized Employment
Address, phone, and updates
Valid I-20 documents
Travel requirements
Timely completion of studies

3. Important Documents I-20 Name Birth date (mm/dd/yyyy) SEVIS number
Start and end dates of your academic program
Program/degree
Off-campus work authorizations
Travel signatures
It is your responsibility to make sure the dates, biographical info, major and level are correct on your I-20
It’s important to sign your I-20 as soon as you receive it!

4. Important Documents Passport
Must always be valid for at least six months into the future.
Contact your home country’s Embassy to renew.
The stamp you received at the Port of Entry (POE) proves your current visa status, as well as legal entry into the U.S.
Your stamp should say “F-1 D/S” (duration of status)

5. Important Documents Visa You must have a valid visa to enter the U.S.
Your visa may expire while you are here.
If your visa expires and you plan to leave the U.S., you must renew your visa before reentering the United States

6. Important Documents I-94
Electronic Arrival/Departure Record and proof of your legal entry to the U.S.
Tracks every time you enter and leave the U.S.
Printout should say “F-1 D/S”.
I-94 record can be retrieved at:
Please provide a copy to our office if you haven’t already.
I-94 incorrect or trouble accessing it?
Be sure to call Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in Kansas City and bring your documents (passport, visa, I-94, and original I-20) to their office to make the correction.

7. What is SEVIS? Student Exchange Visitor Information System
Internet-based system used to transmit information to the Department of Homeland Security regarding foreign nationals present in the U.S. on F, J and M visas.
Requires timely updates and accurate information at all times
Students must report any changes within 10 days (address, employment updates, major changes, etc.) – this is a very important responsibility

8. Information Reported in SEVIS
Name
Date and place of birth
Country of citizenship
Address (U.S. and foreign)
address
Phone number
Degree program and field of study
Program start and end dates
Reduced Enrollment Authorizations
Training authorizations (CPT/OPT/OPT STEM extension)
Record Termination/completion date and reason, if applicable

9. Maintaining Status
To remain “in status,” you must comply with the rules of your visa status. It’s your responsibility to maintain your F1 Visa status.
Failure to comply puts you “out of status,” which requires you to
either apply for reinstatement or leave the U.S.
Being out of status is:
Risky – your request for reinstatement may be denied.
Short-sighted – you jeopardize future visas.
Time-consuming – lengthy applications or international travel
Expensive – application fees and/or a plane ticket. Also, you cannot work until you have been reinstated to valid F-1 status.

10. Top 3 Ways to Become “Out of Status”
Fail to enroll in enough credit hours
2. Let your I-20 expire (program end date pass)
3. Work without authorization

11. Maintain Full-time Enrollment
Graduate students must be enrolled in at least 9 credit hours each semester (fall and spring semesters)
Summer enrollment requirements vary. You are not required to enroll for Summer unless it’s your first semester at UCM.
Any exceptions to enrolling in 9 credit hours must first be approved by an International Student Advisor before enrolling for the semester

12. Maintain Full-time Enrollment
Only three credit hours of online coursework can count toward full-time enrollment status
Example: A graduate student wants to take six credit hours online. This student must still take at least six credit hours in the classroom to maintain full-time enrollment.
Total credit hours needed
Online
Classroom
Graduate (without assistantship) 9 3 6

13. Maintain Full-time Enrollment
You will need to speak with an International Student Advisor prior to dropping below full-time enrollment due to:
Final semester of study
Graduate student finished with required coursework or working on Master’s thesis
Medical condition
Concurrent enrollment at another school
Initial difficulties with English language, American teaching methods or course placement

14. Extension of Program
If your I-20 end date (program end date on page 1 of the I-20) is nearing expiration, but you do not believe that you will be finished with your academic program, be sure to let us know that you are needing an extension.
You will need to contact an International Student Advisor a few weeks to a month BEFORE the program end date on your I-20 in order to apply for an extension to your program.

15. F-1 Employment Authorizations
On-Campus Employment
Curricular Practical Training
Optional Practical Training

16. Employment: On-Campus
F-1 students can work up to 20 hours per week on campus while school is in session, and 40 hours per week during the summer and other school breaks
Students who are in valid F-1 visa status are eligible for on-campus employment until their academic studies are complete
F-2 and H-4 visa holders taking classes are not eligible to work. Other visa types should visit with an International Student Advisor to determine work eligibility.

17. Employment: On-Campus
On-campus employment must be located on the university campus
This includes on-location commercial firms that provide services for students (e.g. university bookstore or Sodexo).
You can locate on-campus jobs by using the Human Resources job search site at: jobs.ucmo.edu

18. Employment: Off-Campus
F-1 students must receive permission before beginning to work off-campus.
Students must have been in valid F-1 status for one academic year before becoming eligible.
F-1 Practical Training Options:
Curricular Practical Training (CPT): Internship in academic program prior to graduation
Optional Practical Training (OPT): 12 month work authorization in academic field after graduation. Students in STEM fields may be eligible for an extension.

19. Working without Authorization
Please do not do this!
Working without authorization is a violation of your visa status and we will be required to terminate your SEVIS record if we receive information that you have been working without authorization.
You would then need to leave the country, and you could be banned from returning to the US for a period of time.

20. Address Updates
F-1 students are required by the Department of Homeland Security to report a local address in the United States. Addresses are updated in SEVIS by International Student Services
Students must report any address changes to International Student Services within 10 days of moving.
Changes can be made through an electronic form on the following webpage:
Please also be sure to update your address in MyCentral
Students are required by the Department of Homeland Security to report new phone numbers and addresses as well. This information can be submitted to an International Student Advisor through the online form on our webpage.

21. Social Security Number
The Social Security Number (SSN) facilitates the reporting of wages to the government
Items needed to apply with the Social Security Administration for a Social Security Number:
Job Offer Letter/Proof of Employment
(*If you do not have a job offer, you are not eligible for a Social Security Number)
Passport, F-1 Visa, and I-94
• Most Current Original I-20
Letter from International Student Services confirming employment and F-1 status

22. Travel
You may leave the U.S. at any time. However, you must check-in with an International Student Advisor prior to leaving.
To re-enter the U.S., you must have valid:
Passport
U.S. visa
(Possible exception when traveling to Canada, Mexico and most Caribbean islands for less than 30 days)
I-20 with valid signature for travel - provided by an International Student Advisor
(Travel signatures should not be more than six months old at the time you re-enter the U.S.).

23. Completion of studies
After finishing your program, when you receive your degree, you have the following options:
Leave the U.S. within 60 days of program end date (F-1 students),
Receive admission to another program and continue your studies at UCM in that program,
Transfer to a different school for a new program,
Begin working with authorized Optional Practical Training employment (F-1 students), or
Change to another visa status.
Each option has specific regulations to consider – please contact an International Student Advisor for detailed information.

24. International Student Advisors:
UCM Warrensburg:
Jennifer Bock
Jana Brookshier
Andrea Wiggins
UCM Lee’s Summit:
Jennifer Ashley
Marcie Barajas
Cecilia Leugers
Shellie Hewitt- Director of Graduate and International Student Services
Emily de Melo- Assistant Director of Graduate and International Student Services

25. What do International Student Advisors do?
Report required information to the Department of Homeland Security through SEVIS
Advise students on how to maintain valid F-1 visa status
Help students process employment applications for academic related work
Guide students through the American Higher Education System
Refer students to additional resources as needed

26. Advising Walk-in and Phone Advising Hours Walk-ins:
Missouri Innovation Campus – in Lee’s Summit
GISS Office – WDE 1800
Monday through Friday 1 pm – 3 pm
Phone Advising: Students living outside of the Warrensburg/Kansas City area can call in Monday - Friday anytime between 8 am and 5 pm to get a message to their international student advisor requesting phone advising.
Live chat service on the website:
Monday – Friday from 1 to 5 pm

27. Advising Walk-in Advising
Walk-in advising is intended for short (10 minute) questions and requests.
General questions
How to apply for work authorization, etc.
Issues that will take more time to discuss will require a scheduled appointment.
Sign ups are on a first come first service basis. There is no need to sign up in advance.
**Please be sure to sign-in for walk-in advising at least 10 minutes prior to the end of walk-in hours.

28. Advising Phone Advising
Students currently on CPT or OPT and that are living outside of the Kansas City/Lee’s Summit/Warrensburg area.
Call the designated phone number. Student questions will be logged on our call sheet and you will receive a call back from your advisor.
** Please notice that walk-ins and phone advising are meant for answering questions. Documents will be issued outside of the designated walk-in advising time, and students may send an to check the status of I-20s and other supporting letters.

29. Walk-ins vs Appointments
Walk-ins - examples:
Quick questions
Emergencies
Reduced course load questions
Program extension questions
Appointments - examples:
Change of Status process
Reinstatement application and process
Severe Economic Hardship applications
Adding a dependent

30. Advising
Please stop by 1800 Ward Edwards, call (660) , or send an to schedule an appointment with an Advisor.
ISS staff members are here to help you. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns.
Please keep in mind that Federal regulations change, and we will keep you up to date on the newest processes.
You will need to get advice regarding your status from an International Student Advisor (not forums, friends, etc.)
**Your legal status is YOUR responsibility.

31. Additional Resources
GISS forms:
Be sure to check your UCM account for important updates and notifications.
You can meet with us during walk-in advising, or you are welcome to set up an appointment with an International Student Advisor if you have any questions or concerns. We are here to help!

32. Graduate and International Student Services
Missouri Innovation Campus – Lee’s Summit
Location: 1101 NW Innovation Parkway, Floor 2
Open: Monday - Friday
Hours: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Phone: (660)
UCM Warrensburg Campus
Location: Ward Edwards

33. Questions?