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University of California, Los AngelesDashew Center forInternational Students and Scholars

F-1 Student Visa RegulationsHandbook

www.internationalcenter.ucla.edudcissf1unit@saonet.ucla.edu

Phone: (310) 825-1681Fax: (310) 206-1612

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BASICF1VISATERMINOLOGIES

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)The Department of Homeland Security overseesthree agencies:1. United States Citizenship and Immigration Ser-

vices (USCIS) is responsible for citizenship, asy-lum, lawful permanent residency, employmentauthorization, refugee status, intercountry adop-tions, replacement immigration documents,family and employment immigration related,and foreign student work authorization.

2. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) isresponsible for immigration investigations, de-tention, removal, intelligence, and SEVIS.

3. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is respon-sible for immigration inspections at U.S. ports ofentry, border patrol, and custom services.

U.S. F-1VisaIt is a computer-generated entry permit that is issued

by the U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad for you toenter the U.S. to begin your studies. The only timeyou are required to have a valid visa is when you areentering the U.S. from another country. For moreinformation about visa applications please visit the

U.S. Department of State at www.travel.state.gov.You can stay in the U.S. on an expired F-1 visa aslong as you have maintained your valid F-1 studentstatus.

I-94 Arrival/Departure CardYou received a small white index card upon yourarrival to the U.S. You are admitted for duration ofstatus, which is abbreviated by CBP officers as D/Son both forms I-94 card and I-20. Duration of statusmeans the period that you are pursuing a full courseof study, plus any Optional Practical Training follow-ing completion of the course of study. This card is

very important as it is needed for on-campus employ-ment, application for a Social Security number, and adrivers license.

http://www.travel.state.gov/http://www.travel.state.gov/

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SEVIS I-20 Form

You received an I-20 form after being admitted tothe University. You need to present this form tothe U.S. embassy or consulate in your homecountry to apply for your F-1 student visa. Thisform contains your study information such as yourmajor, degree objective, start and end dates of yourprogram, and other personal information relevantto your F-1 status.

I-20 ExtensionIf you are unable to complete your degree program

by the end date on your I-20, you must request foran extension of your I-20 with our office at leastone month before it expires. Failure to apply forI-20 extension in a timely manner will result intermination of your F-1 status.

Travel AbroadTo re-enter the U.S. after a trip abroad, you mustpresent the following documents at Port of Entry:1. Valid passport (for at least 6 months into the future)2. Valid F-1 student visa3. Valid SEVIS I-20 endorsed for travel by

Dashew Center for International Students andScholars (DCISS) (each signature is valid for six

months into the future even though the I-20 says one year).If you are engaging in post-completion OPTyou also need to carry your:

Employment Authorization Document (EAD)

Proof of employment letter

Automatic Visa Revalidation for

F-1 StudentsAutomatic visa revalidation allows F-1 students toenter the U.S. from Canada, Mexico, or one of theadjacent islands to the U.S. (other than Cuba) onan expired F-1 visa if the trip is not exceeding 30days. However, you must have a valid SEVIS I-20endorsed for travel by DCISS, valid passport,original I-94 card and an expired F-1 visa stamp.

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Automatic Visa Revalidation for

F-1 Students continuedIf you meet one of the following criteria, you willNOT be able to use automatic revalidation.

You applied for a new F-1 visa and it has notbeen issued

You applied for a new F-1 visa and weredenied

You have a terminated or completed SEVISrecord

You have been out of the U.S. for more thanthirty days

You are citizen from one of the followingcountries:

Cuba

Iran

Sudan

Syria

MAINTAININGF1STATUS

Mandatory Check-InAs a newly admitted UCLA F-1 student, you arerequired to check-in with DCISS upon arrival toUCLA. Failure to check-in will result in termina-tion of your F-1 student status. You are required to

bring photocopies of the following documents to

the check-in session:1.UCLA initial or transfer I-202.Front and back sides of I-94 arrival/departure

card

3.F-1 visa4. Valid passport

Address ReportingIn compliance with the U.S. Department of Home-land Security (DHS), you are required to have validaddresses recorded in URSA during your studies.DHS may terminate your immigration statusautomatically if you do not maintain your address

information with UCLA in this proper format.

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Address Reporting continuedWhile you are holding a UCLA-sponsored F-1 visa,

you are required to provide the University thefollowing addresses and keep them up to date throughURSA at www.ursa.ucla.eduMailing Address: is used as your local U.S. addressfor immigration purposes. This is where you areresiding while UCLA is the sponsor of your visa. Thisaddress cannot be your home country address, out ofstate address, department address, office or post office

box.

Permanent Address: address in your home country.This address cannot be a U.S. address or a post office

box.

EnrollmentTo maintain your F-1 status, you are required topursue a full course of study and make normalacademic progress towards completion of your degreeprogram. Undergraduate students are required toregister for a minimum of 12 units each quarter.Graduate students must be registered for a minimumof 8 units each quarter. Some graduate programs arerequired students to enroll in 12 units instead of 8,please check with your academic department forspecific unit requirements. Summer enrollment isoptional.

Reduced Course Load (RCL)F-1 students may take less than the required units ifyou meet one of the reasons below and have priorapproval by your Academic Counselor and DCISSF-1 counselor .

1. Academic Difficulty (this reason can only be used

one quarter per degree program at UCLA)2. Taking UCLA Extension courses (can only be used

in the final quarter. Students need to submit proof ofclass registration at UCLA Extension. This only

applies to undergraduate students)

3. Illness or medical condition (students must includea letter from Ashe Student Health Center, or Counsel-

ing and Psychological Services, or a private licensedphysician)

4. Final Quarter

http://www.ursa.ucla.edu/http://www.ursa.ucla.edu/

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Leave of Absence (LOA)-Graduate Students

F-1 graduate students who have completed all courseworkrequirements including electives, passed all required ex-ams and advanced to candidacy, may be eligible for aca-demic LOA to conduct research that is required as part oftheir thesis, or dissertation. Federal policy governing stu-dents on F-1 visa are restricted to certain LOA conditions.Therefore, DCISS in consultation with Graduate Divisionwill individually evaluate each students LOA request todetermine if such requests meet federal (and University)eligibility criteria. Students with personal LOA requestsmay be required to remain outside of the U.S. for a spe-cific duration in order to remain in compliance with F-1regulations. You are required to meet with an F-1 coun-

selor at DCISS for an approval by the quarters officialadd/drop deadline. Failure to comply will result in thetermination of your F-1 status. For more detailed infor-mation, please contact our office at (310) 825-1681.

Leave of Absence (LOA)-Undergraduate StudentsF-1 undergraduate students are eligible for LOA due topersonal reasons. All LOA requests must be filed inperson with an F-1 counselor at DCISS by the quartersofficial add/drop date. Failure to comply will result intermination of your F-1 status. Please be advised thatpersonal LOA applicant may be required to remain out-

side of the U.S. for specific duration.For more detailedinformation, please contact our office at (310) 825-1681.

Filing Fee StatusF-1 graduate students who have completed all courseworkrequirements including final thesis project may remain invalid F-1 status in their final quarter by paying the filingfee in lieu of enrollment in order to submit your thesis/dissertation to Graduate Division. However, the filing feemust be paid by the quarters add/drop date in order forDCISS to consider you in valid F-1 status.

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EMPLOYMENTFORF1STATUS

F-1 students are allowed to work in the U.S. with theproper authorization from DCISS or U.S. Citizenshipand Immigration Services (USCIS). There are twotypes of employment available to you:

1.On-Campus Employment2.Practical Training

On-Campus EmploymentF-1 students are permitted to work part or full-time onthe premises of UCLA, while you are maintainingyour F-1 status. You can work on-campus withoutobtaining employment authorization from the DCISS

or USCIS. You are allowed to work a total of 20hours per week during regular school quarters. Duringsummer and winter vacations, you can work beyond20 hours per week. On-campus employment mayinclude teaching assistant, research assistant, reader,campus library, or food/dining services, etc.

Practical TrainingF-1 students may engage in off-campus work withprior authorization from DCISS or USCIS to gainpractical experience in your field of study. There aretwo types of off-campus work authorization:Curricular Practical Training (CPT), and OptionalPractical Training (OPT).Curricular Practical Training (CPT): is an off-campus

work authorization that is approved by DCISS andyour academic departments for you to engage ininternship that is required or an integral part of youracademic program. Please visit our website atwww.internationalcenter.ucla.edu for more details.Optional Practical Training (OPT): is a 12-month full-

time work authorization approved by USCIS to workin the field of study upon completion of your degreeprogram. OPT requires USCIS authorization, whichcan take up to 4 months to obtain. Please visit ourwebsite at www.internationalcenter.ucla.edu or speak

to an F-1 counselor to learn more about eligibility,different types of OPT, when and how to apply.

http://www.internationalcenter.ucla.edu/http://www.internationalcenter.ucla.edu/

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Severe Economic Necessity Employment

F-1 students may be eligible to apply for off-campusemployment authorization based on severeeconomic hardship after being in F-1 status for oneacademic year. You cannot begin the off-campusemployment until you have received the Employ-ment Authorization Document (EAD) from USCIS.In addition to being in F-1 status for one academicyear, you need to demonstrate that there is anunforeseen severe economic necessity beyond yourcontrol and that other employment opportunities arenot available or insufficient, and that employmentwill not interfere with your full time study. Pleasemeet with DCISS F-1 counselor for more details.

COMPLETIONOFSTUDY

Grace PeriodUpon completion of degree program or authorizedpractical training you are allowed an additional60-day grace period to prepare for your departurefrom the U.S., to transfer to another academicprogram, or to change status to other non-immigrantclassification.

SOCIALSECURITYNUMBER

F-1 students are eligible to receive a Social SecurityNumber if they will receive payment for on or off-campus employment with the proper authorizationfrom DCISS or USCIS. Students with scholarships/fellowships should request an ITIN number. Formore details, please visit our website atwww.internationalcenter.ucla.edu