Immigration Basics

Visa and Immigration Basics

SEVIS

SEVIS is the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System that requires all colleges and universities in the US to report electronically to the United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) information about F-1 students and J-1 students and visiting scholars.

We have listed the basics below, but if you want to read the complete and legal listing of regulations, you will need to search for 8 CFR, Parts 103, 214, 248, and 274a at this link of the Federal Register. Or, you can view the website that the government has created to provide helpful information at: studyinthestates.dhs.gov/students/

For a quick overview of your responsibilities as an F or J visa holder, please note that you must inform the International Student Services office BEFORE you:

  • Move to a different apartment, house or dorm room. Please fill out the Change of Address Form.
  • Change your major or program of studies.
  • Drop below full-time status.
  • Participate in an internship or off-campus work.
  • Transfer to another school.

F-1 Visa Information

The ISS office must now report to SEVIS of a student’s:

  • Failure to enroll (termination of studies);
  • Dropping below full-time without ISS authorization;
  • Any other failure to maintain status, such as unauthorized employment or failure to complete program;
  • Change in legal name and address;
  • Disciplinary action taken by Ashland University as the result of the student being convicted of a crime;
  • Students graduation prior to expected end date as listed on the I-20 and,
  • Start date of student's next session.

FULL-TIME ENROLLMENT REQUIREMENT

Regulations require all undergraduate students to enroll for 12 credit hours per semester, and graduate students must enroll for 6 credit hours per semester.


COURSELOAD REDUCTION

ISS must report to SEVIS each semester whether students are full-time or part-time. Those who do not maintain a full course of study will be considered out of legal status by USCIS and must depart the US immediately.

There are, however, approved reasons for students taking less than full-time. They are:

  1. Initial difficulty with the English language or reading requirements, unfamiliarity with American teaching methods, or improper course level placement (allowed only during the first semester, and undergraduates must enroll for at least 6 credit hours).
  2. Last semester of study.
  3. Concurrent enrollment (total combined enrollment at each institution must meet the full-time definitions as stated above).
  4. Temporary illness or medical condition for a period of time not to exceed an aggregate of 12 months while the student is pursuing a course of study at a particular program level. Documentation from a licensed medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, or licensed clinical psychologist is required and must be provided for each new quarter that a student is ill.

US ADDRESS REPORTING REQUIREMENT

Students must notify ISS within 10 days of an address change. These address changes should also be reported to the Registrar’s Office and, if you are working, to the Business Office as well.

F-2 DEPENDENT STUDY

Individuals in F-2 status are unable to study for a degree on either a part-time or full-time basis.

EXTENSION OF I-20

Students must obtain an extension of their I-20 PRIOR to the program end-date noted on their current I-20 by coming to ISS. Students who do not obtain a new I-20 prior to the program end-date violate their status.

CHANGE OF MAJOR

Students who change their majors can also complete the address change form to let the ISS office know; we must notify USCIS within 21 days of this event..

GRACE PERIODS

F-1 students have a 60-day grace period following completion of study or completion of optional practical training to:

1) Depart the US

2) Transfer to another institution, or

3) Change status.


However, students who terminate their studies before completion of their academic program do NOT receive a 60-day grace period. These students MUST notify ISS BEFORE terminating studies in order to receive a 21-day grace period to depart the US.

Note: F-1 students who do not notify ISS before termination of studies receive no grace period and must leave the US immediately.

SAFEKEEPING DOCUMENTS

Never throw away any I-20 after receiving an updated form. USCIS may request to see these forms in the future.

TRANSFERS

Students must notify ISS prior to leaving Ashland University for another institution. Students will not be able to receive an I-20 from the new school unless the following steps are completed: Notify Ashland University of your intent to transfer and provide the name of the new school to which you intend to transfer; Ashland University will update your record in SEVIS as a transfer out and indicate the name of the school to which you intend to transfer, along with a release date. The release date is usually the last day of the semester or the date of expected transfer; You may request that Ashland University cancel the transfer out at any time prior to the release date; As of the release date, the new school will have full access to your SEVIS record and assumes responsibility for you, at which time the new school will issue you a SEVIS Form I-20; Student must contact the international office at the new school within 15 days of the start date listed on the SEVIS I-20 to avoid violating their status; The new school will verify enrollment with SEVIS, thereby acknowledging that the student has completed the transfer process; and In the remarks section of the students SEVIS Form I-20, the new school must note that the transfer has been completed, indicating the date, and returning the I-20 to the student.

REINSTATEMENT TO LEGAL STATUS

F-1 students may make a request for reinstatement through the ISS office. F-1 students must not have been out of status for more than five months at the time of filing the request for reinstatement and not have a record of repeated or willful violations. Students and their dependents who fail to timely report a change of address (see above) are not eligible for reinstatement.