Before we talk about immigration rules.

Let me introduce you to the ISS team,review your general responsibilities, and describe how our office can help you throughout your stay.

Introduction of ISS Staff

Terry EckersonStaff Assistant

Patti DiPassioSEVIS Coordinator

DSO/RO Advising Staff

Jeff Cox, Director

Lilli Holdgaard Jensen, Assistant Director

Sue Joseph, Program Coordinator

Shawna Szabo, International Student Advisor (starting 9/8/14)

the Peer Advisor Leaders (PALS)!!

http://www.rit.edu/studentaffairs/iss/newstudents_PALS.php

and thanks to the rest of our ISS team…

ISS Orientation Highlights

Raise your hand if you need a:

schedule,

map, or

new international student guidebook

An Overview of our Web Resources

http://www.rit.edu/iss

If you have not already done so…

Please report to the Bamboo Room, or after today, to the

ISS office(located in the SAU, above the Ben

& Jerry’s) anytime in next few days.

We’ll copy & sign your

documents and record your arrival in the US

government database (SEVIS).

Always keep your local address up to date.

Immigration regulations require you to update it

within 10 days of any move.• You can do this on-line here:

sis.rit.edu

Email Requirements•Regularly check your RIT e-mail account and read all notices from ISS.

•Some may be optional programs, but occasionally we will contact you about very important immigration matters. Students have been stuck crossing the border because they ignored emails from our office.

•Or, forward your RIT e-mail account to your own personal account if you prefer this approach. Do this

at: start.rit.edu

•Regularly check your RIT e-mail account and read all notices from ISS.

•Some may be optional programs, but occasionally we will contact you about very important immigration matters. Students have been stuck crossing the border because they ignored emails from our office.

•Or, forward your RIT e-mail account to your own personal account if you prefer this approach. Do this

at: start.rit.edu

www.rit.edu/eservices/

You are responsible for monitoring your bill.It lists tuition and fees, fines, credits, etc.

Be sure to click on “Account Activity”

Pay particular attention to “Health Insurance Charge”$618 for fall and $857 for spring/summer

* If you wish to cancel (waive) your health insurance, you must do so within first 30 days of school and only if you have another insurance plan in place. You must have another policy in place that meets RIT standards.

eServices

Contact us when you do not know where else to go. ISS can answer questions or refer you to professional resources on:

Cultural Adjustment & Intl Student Groups

Driver’s license (by the way, you can use your home country license while here as a student).

Social Security Number (if you have a job offer. More info @ our employment session).

Banking, cell phones, legal workshops or referrals, etc. (see the new student handbook/guide).

And now we move on to Immigration Rules…

Immigration Rules

Understanding F1 and J1 documents and your immigration responsibilities.

Maintaining your legal status

It is YOUR responsibility to know and follow the rules related to your F-1 or J-1 status. If your spouse or children are in the US, they are also required to know and follow the rules for F-2, J-2, etc.

No matter what you do, we will always advise you, but the responsibility to follow the rules is yours, as are the consequences of breaking the rules…

Important Terms• ISS: International Student Services

• SEVIS: Student & Exchange Visitor Information System (ICE database) funded by your $200 SEVIS fee.

• DSO (Designated School Official) the advisors at International Student Services, or certain staff at the English Language Center, if you study at ELC.

• RO (Responsible Officer) for J-1 program

Immigration Documents• Passport (keep updated through your

embassy or passport authority when home)

• Visa (F1 or J1) (only needs to be valid at time of entry to US)

• I-94 # (on-line process to print your number)

• I-20 (F1 students) Issued/updated by DS-2019 (J1 students) RIT or sponsor

Immigration Documents

You must have all of your original documents with you when you are downtown at the central bus or train station or at the airport!

And…whenever you leave Rochester.

Passport

PASSPORT

• Extended/replaced only by your embassy, or while in your home country.

• Must always be valid while you are in the U.S., and have at least 6 months remaining validity when entering the US.

F1 Visa

VISA• Can only be issued outside the U.S.

• The visa is like your “key” to get into the U.S.

• Your visa can expire while you’re in the U.S., but your I-20 and passport must remain valid.

• If you leave the U.S. with an expired visa, you must obtain a new visa in your home country before returning to the U.S.

I-94 #

You should go to this website:

CBP.gov/I94

and print out your I-94 #.

You may need to wait 4-6 weeks after entry to the US. You will need the I-94 # if you apply for a Social Security number or a New York Driver’s license.

Form I-20(F-status)

Form

DS-2019

(J status)

I-20 or DS 2019

• I-20 (Issued by RIT for F-1 status)• DS-2019 (Issued by sponsor for J-1 status)

• Must be signed every year for travel.• Name on form must match name exactly as it

appears on passport and visa.• Program of study – if you change majors, you

should request a new form.

How long can I stay in the U.S.?

• Line #5 is an estimate of when you will complete your degree requirements. This date can be shortened or extended with approval from your Academic Department and ISS.

• F-1 students have a 60-day grace period to stay in the U.S. after completion of program. 30-day grace period for J1. Within that time, you must depart the U.S., or commence employment on OPT or AT – details at employment session.

To Re-enter the US after a trip

REQUIRED• Passport valid at least 6 months into the future;• Valid US visa*; original I-20 (or DS-2019) endorsed (signed) by ISS/sponsor this current academic year.

Also Recommended•Proof of financial support•Transcript or “enrollment verification letter”

(available from Registrar’s Office)

*Travel to Canada

Same as previous page, with one exception:

• Your F-1 or J-1 visa, can be expired, but do not attempt to renew your visa in Canada. (Note: visa must not be expired if you are from Iran, Syria, Sudan, or Cuba).

• Certain citizens also require a Canadian entry visa - available only by mail. More information at:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp

Or, link may be found at rit.edu/iss

** It now takes about one month to get a Canadian visitor visa.

Traveling within the US

When traveling outside of Henrietta, always carry your:

Actual Passport andOriginal I-20 (or DS-2019) endorsed by ISS or sponsor within the current academic year.

This is particularly important at the Rochesterdowntown bus, train stations and airport!

HOW TO STAY IN STATUS

• Report to a ISS staff for initial registration in SEVIS. We will then sign your documents.

• If you’ve not yet “checked in” please drop-off your I-20/DS2019 & passport at ISS this week.

• Update your local address. Report a change of local address to RIT within 10 days of the change. We’ll then update SEVIS.

• Do this at: sis.rit.edu

HOW TO STAY IN STATUS

• Each semester, pursue a “full course of study” (at least 12 credits for undergraduates and 9 credits for graduate students), except during official school breaks, or obtain permission in advance, from ISS to drop below full time (only available in limited circumstances).

• “Full time equivalency” counts, as does Co-op, if you get employment permission from ISS first.

HOW TO STAY IN STATUS

• Make normal progress and complete your studies before the expiration of your DS-2019 or Form I-20.

• Keep DS-2019 or I-20 valid by following proper procedures for:– extension of stay – request before it expires– change in educational levels or programs of study– transfer of schools

HOW TO STAY IN STATUS

• Never work off-campus without advance authorization.J-1 must have advance written approval for both on- and off-campus work. F-1 must have written approval for off-campus work.

• On campus 20hrs/week maximum employment while school is in session. This is monitored.

• Abide by the grace period rules, (after completing studies). Or, apply for work authorization, change of educational level, or a school transfer.

Review Forms at ISS

http://www.rit.edu/studentaffairs/iss/

Reduced Courseload Form

Program Extension Form

Insurance Waiver Link, on-linehttp://www.rit.edu/studentaffairs/iss/howdoi_gethealthinsurance.php

All I need to do is:

Be a full time studentGet advance permission for off-campus workKeep I-20, DS-2019 & passport validKeep address up to date with RIT

What will I get if I do these things?

Ability to travel outside USAbility to work on-campusPermission for Co-op/CPTRecommendation for OPT/1 year work permit

(called ‘Academic Training’ for J-1)

Summary of Status

Questions?

Remember this Website:

rit.edu/iss