Legal Requirements in the U.S.

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Acronyms and Definitions

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Legal Requirements

Your Friendly Guide to Navigating U.S. Laws and Regulations

Hello and welcome! We're delighted to have you here. As you embark on your journey in the United States, understanding your legal requirements is crucial to ensuring a smooth and successful experience. Whether you're a student, a professional, or a visitor, staying informed about U.S. laws and regulations will help you navigate your time here with confidence and peace of mind.

Our goal is to provide you with clear, accessible and helpful information about the various legal requirements you may encounter along with guidance about your benefits and choices. From visa and immigration terminology to regulations and applications, we've got you covered. We believe that staying informed should be straightforward and stress-free, and we're here to support you every step of the way.

So, let's dive in and explore the essential legal information you need to know. We're here to help you make the most of your time in the U.S. while staying compliant with all necessary regulations so your future is open to whatever direction God takes you. If you have any questions or need further assistance, don't hesitate to reach out. We're here for you!

Immigration - Acronyms and Definitions

OISVS (Office of International Students and Visiting Scholars) - The office tasked with assisting international students in F and J status at ACU.

DHS (Department of Homeland Security) - This is an Executive branch of the U.S government responsible for immigration laws. Branches of this include:

SEVP: Student and Exchange Visitor Program, governing F-1 students and J exchange visitors
SEVIS: the Student and Exchange Visitor System for electronic records
ICE: Immigration Customs and Enforcement

USCIS - United States Citizenship and Immigration Services which processes and adjudicates benefit applications for things like work authorization, reinstatement and change of status.

DOS (U.S. Department of State) - This executive branch fulfills all of the diplomatic functions for the U.S., including issuing visas and governing the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program.

PDSO (Principal Designated School Official) or DSO (Designated School Official) - It refers to the school employees who are authorized by the Department of Homeland Security to issue F-1 immigration documents and benefits on behalf of the university. At ACU, the PDSO is in the Office of International Students and Visiting Scholars.

RO (Responsible Officer) or ARO (Alternate Responsible Officer) - This refers to the university employees who liaise with the U.S. Department of State for the J-1 Exchange Visitor program. ACU’s RO is in the OISVS and the ARO is in the Office of Institutional Compliance.

Passport – This card or booklet is issued to you by the government of your country. Please note that:

Expiration date must always be at least 6 months in the future.
If your passport expires while in the U.S., contact your country's closest embassy. You may not re-enter the U.S. with an expired passport.
Report a lost or stolen passport to your embassy and the international office immediately.

I-20 – “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status” This document is issued by the sponsoring school, indicating unconditional admission and funding sufficiency. This document allows the student to apply for an F-1 visa from the U.S. Department of State, and reenter the U.S. after school breaks.

You must show this (paper) document when you apply for a visa and upon entry to the U.S.
It shows the date when a student is expected to complete his/her studies. F-1 students who maintain their status as students may remain until the end date on the I-20.
All data on the I-20 must be kept current for a student to be in the U.S. legally.
If a student is suspended from the university or terminated in SEVIS, the I-20 is no longer valid.
The program end date is an estimate based on normal progress toward your degree, and it may change if your academic plans change. You are responsible for notifying the international office promptly if any change to your academic plans could affect your expected program completion date.
Request an I-20 extension before the program end date if you need additional time to complete your degree.
Report any changes (major, level, funding, or address) within 10 days.
Keep all previous I-20s for your records, as they document your entire F-1 history.

U.S. Visa – Your F-1 or J-1 visa allows you to request entry into the United States within the period of visa validity. Your visa shows how many entries you are allowed into the U.S. Note:

You may remain in the U.S. legally as long as your I-20 or DS-2019 and your SEVIS record are valid and you follow status rules, even if your visa stamp expires.
You will not be able to re-enter the U.S. with an expired visa (see the travel page for two exceptions)
A valid visa is required only for re-entry to the U.S. after travel abroad.
U.S. visas may only be issued outside the U.S. at a U.S. consulate or embassy

DS-2019 - “Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status” - This is the document issued by the sponsoring program for J-1 exchange visitors documenting their admission to the program and the financial terms and conditions.

The program end date is an estimate based on your current program plans. You are responsible for notifying the international office or your J-1 sponsor if any changes to your academic or program plans could affect your expected end date.
You must maintain valid health insurance that meets Department of State requirements.
Extensions, changes, or updates must be coordinated through your program sponsor before your DS-2019 expires.

I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record) – This is the official government record of your legal arrival to the U.S. and designates your immigration status. This document shows how long you are authorized to stay in the U.S. with your visa status.

Download your most recent I-94 by going to the official I-94 Website, and clicking on "Get Most Recent I-94."
F and J students should have “D/S” listed as their end date, which means “duration of status.” This indicates F/J students may remain in the U.S. until the end date on that document, or they complete their program, whichever comes first.
It shows your admission number and the date of your admission to the U.S.
If you lose your I-94 or notice wrong information, contact the immigration advisor in the OISVS.
Each time you reenter the U.S., you’ll have a new I-94. Be sure to download each one after you return to ensure you were assigned the correct status each time you enter.

I-901 SEVIS Fee – This one-time fee is required by Congress to support the services and automated system for students and exchange visitors. You can get a new copy of your fee by going to www.fmjfee.com. If you have not paid the fee, your status cannot be maintained in the U.S.

OPT (Optional Practical Training) - This is a 12-month period of work authorization authorized by USCIS that is a benefit for F-1 students who remain in good immigration status to the completion of their program. See the OPT page for more information.

CPT (Curricular Practical Training) - This is a period of work authorization to fulfill work that is required by the curriculum. See the CPT page for more information.

STEM OPT (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics optional practical training extension) - This is an extension to the OPT available to students in STEM fields. See STEM OPT extension page for more information.

EAD (Employment Authorization Documentation) – This is the card issued by DHS - USCIS to authorize off-campus employment under various situations, such as OPT or economic hardship.

AT (Academic Training) - this is a period of work authorization for J-1 exchange visitor students to gain experience directly related to their major. See the Academic Training page for more information.

In order to remain in the U.S., F and J international students must follow the regulations to maintain their immigration status.

Click on the appropriate video for your status type for an introduction

F-1 Immigration

J-1 Immigration

As an international student in the U.S., it’s crucial for you to maintain your F/J status in compliance with U.S. immigration laws throughout the duration of your studies in the U.S. We're glad you are taking the time to consider these laws and regulations carefully and seek out a consultation whenever you have questions and especially before applying for benefits.

Violating the terms of your immigration status will lead to the termination of your F-1 or J-1 status in the U.S., necessitating either a quick departure from the U.S., or the process of regaining your status, which can be both time-consuming and expensive.

In addition, losing your immigration status may cause repercussions in the future, including:

Difficulty with or denial of future OPT requests
Difficulty with or denial of future change of status applications, such as H1B, O1, permanent residency (green card), etc.
Difficulty with or denial of F-1 or J-1 visa renewal
Denial of entry into the U.S.
Deportation from the U.S.

F-1 and J-1 Student Legal Requirements

Here are the basic legal requirements for all F and J students. If you have any questions, be sure to ask the DSO or PDSO in the OISVS!

Keep your immigration documents valid and unexpired.

Your passport should be valid for at least six months into the future at all times. If your passport is expiring soon, renew it with your country’s consulate in the U.S. or in your home country.
Your I-94 record should be correct every time you reenter the U.S. to ensure you were assigned F-1 or J-1 status. Save a copy of your I-94 for your records after each entry. Click here to get your most recent I-94.
Your I-20 should have an end date into the future for the period of your degree program. See the extension page if you need to request an extension to your I-20 to complete your program.

You are required to enroll in a full course of study each Fall and Spring semester:
- - Undergraduates must enroll at least 12 credits.
  - Graduate students must enroll in at least 6 credits but some departments require more.
Freshmen and students with documented medical conditions may be eligible for authorization to enroll in a reduced course load for certain reasons. See the Reduced Course Load pages for more information.

Full-time enrollment must be maintained throughout the semester. Withdrawn courses do not count toward full-time enrollment.
Summer enrollment (with face-to-face classes) is only required for the first and final semesters.
Students in their final semester may also request a reduced course load to complete only the courses required to complete their degree. Email the immigration advisor in the OISVS to initiate that request.

Ensure you are enrolled in sufficient face-to-face courses during your entire program, including your final semester.

You must register for mostly in-person courses each Fall and Spring semester. Each course is assigned an instructional mode: “F2F,” “Hybrid,” or “Online.”
- - - Only one online course or 3 online credits may count toward full-time enrollment.
      1. Students in their final semester must enroll in at least 1 in-person course. Please note this applies to summer session completions as well.
        Students must remain in the U.S. for their final semester if they intend to apply for OPT or AT.

- - - Once the full-time enrollment requirement is met - including online course enrollment minimums - additional courses are permitted whether in-person, hybrid or online.

You must be making normal progress toward your program completion

This is defined as consistently keeping a GPA above 2.0 (UG) or 3.0 (GR).
Probation (due to low GPA) may prevent you from qualifying for some immigration benefits.
Avoid frequently dropping multiple classes as this impedes your progress toward your degree.
Students suspended from the university are no longer able to enroll and make progress, and should consult the DSO/PDSO immediately.

Notify ACU within 10 days of any changes to your name, address or phone number.

The can be done by informing the OISVS in person at 124 Admin, or emailing internationalsvs@groupmail.acu.edu
Students should also make the change in their My.ACU portal as well.

Do not begin work without authorization.

Consult the Work and Volunteering section in this handbook for the work limitations and authorizations available to you.
Working without authorization is considered a serious violation of your F-1 or J-1 student status and could have serious implications for your future.
The advisors in the OISVS are here to help guide you toward the best options for your future.

J-1 Students Must Maintain Health Insurance

The U.S. Department of State has specified requirements for J-1 health insurance.
The ACU international student group policy meets these requirements, and all students are enrolled each semester.
J-1 students who willfully refuse to maintain suitable health insurance violate their status.

Follow University and U.S. government requirements.

The university has policies governing various behaviors. A student can be disciplined or even suspended for possession of pornography, for example. If you are suspended from the university, your SEVIS record will be terminated and you are legally required to leave the U.S. immediately. All international students are advised to review the General University Policies to be aware of the behavioral expectations of ACU.
You will be enrolled in the required health insurance group policy while you are a student at ACU. To learn more about the health insurance policy, go to the OISVS health insurance webpage here.
Students in J status can be terminated if they refuse to enroll in acceptable health insurance at any point, and especially while on Academic Training.
Each year, you are required to file a tax form regardless of whether you work in the US. For more information about how and when, visit our Tax WebPage.
You are required to obey all local, state and federal laws during your stay in the United States. Any violation of the laws could impact your immigration status. For more information, contact the DSO/PDSO to discuss the impact of an arrest or conviction on immigration status.
As international students, you need to be cautions about accepting public benefits from local, county, state or federal agencies. Receiving government funding or benefits could make it appear you will become a “public charge” - someone dependent on government funding and unable to support themselves. The ability to cover all of one’s personal and family expenses is a condition of obtaining and maintaining F-1 or J-1 status. For support managing your finances, please talk with a financial advisor. For questions about a public charge determination related to a visa, change of status or other immigration applications, please consult a qualified immigration attorney.

Carry all the required documents when traveling and reentering the U.S. as an international student.

See the Travel pages in this handbook for more information.

Consider your options and deadlines before you complete your degree

Upon completion of your degree program, F-1 students have 60 days and J-1 students have 30 days to do the following:
- Prepare to depart the U.S.
- Transfer to another school / degree program
- Change to a different immigration status
- Apply for work authorization, such as Post Completion Optional Practical Training.
- J-1 students must apply and be approved for Academic Training before the end date listed on your DS-2019.

For questions related to any of these requirements, make an appointment with the immigration advisor in the OISVS!

Click the link below

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