Maintaining STudent Visa Status

Your Main Visa Responsibilities

Student to Student: Studying in the States provides prospective and current international student visa holders with key tips they should keep in mind in order to stay in compliance with U.S. immigration rules and ensure their time when studying at a college or university in the United States is a positive one.

Below are the basic requirements for maintaining F Student Visa Status. Please be aware that a violation of status may lead to falling out-of-status which carries some serious consequences.

ENROLLMENT: Be enrolled full-time during standard academic semesters (fall and spring semesters). Full-time status is being enrolled in a minimum of twelve (12) credit hours per semester for undergraduate students and a minimum of nine (9) credit hours per semester for graduate students. For F-1 students, only one 3-credit hour online class can count toward the minimum enrollment requirement. If the summer is your first semester of study in the U.S. on an F-1 student visa, you must enroll full-time through the summer.

ADDRESS UPDATES WITHIN 10 DAYS (SEE “YOUR ADDRESS” BELOW FOR MORE INFORMATION): All non-U.S. citizens residing in the U.S. are required to update their address within 10 days of any change of address (U.S. or Permanent Home Country Address). F visa holders should update their address in Populi, and ISSD will report the change to the Department of Homeland Security in SEVIS.

TRAVEL: Please contact our office before you travel outside the U.S. A valid travel signature is required on your I-20 for you to return to the United States.

MONITOR DOCUMENT EXPIRATION: Know your program end date on your I-20. This is the date by which you should complete your studies. Please contact our office before this date if you need more time to finish your degree. We must extend your documents before they expire in order for you to be able to remain in the U.S.

I-94 RECORD: Make sure you have a copy of your most recent I-94 Record. After arriving in the U.S., go to https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home to print your electronic I-94 record. Additional information can be found at www.cbp.gov/i94.

OTHER UPDATES: Notify International Student Services Department within 10 days of any change to your information listed below:
- Dependents (addition of new dependents, change of name, or citizenship)
- Financial Information (when your financial information changes you must both inform ISSD, and bring to ISSD proof of finances for your studies)

You must request & receive permission from ISSD prior to acting on these events:

Dropping below Full-time Study (below 9 credits for graduates, and 12 credits for undergraduates)
Early completion of program (if you complete your program of study earlier than the end-date in the Program of Study section on page 1 of your I-20).
Termination of studies (if you are withdrawing from SFBC, taking a Leave of Absence, stopping your studies, or if you have been suspended).

Your Address

All non-U.S. citizens residing in the U.S. are required to update their address within 10 days of any change of address (U.S. or Permanent Home Country Address).

F-1 Student Visa holders should update their address in Populi, and ISSD will report the change to the Department of Homeland Security in SEVIS.

What information do I need to update my address in Populi?

In order to update your address and phone number, you will need to find your physical address and phone number.

Understanding a U.S. Physical Address

In the tri-county area, there are two primary types of physical addresses: apartment addresses and residential home address. We will show you how to correctly format each type.

Apartment Address

An apartment address typically has two lines followed by the City, State, and Zip code. See the example below for a correctly completed apartment address:

1234 Apple Tree Drive
Apt 123A
Deerfield Beach, FL 33442

In the example above, notice that the apartment complex name is not used in line one. Line two contains the apartment or unit number; this number can have letters and numbers. And Line 3 line indicates the city, Deerfield Beach, state FL, and 5 digit zip code.

The next apartment address example includes a building number. Some apartments will include the building as part of the address:

1234 Apple Tree Drive
Building 1, Apt 123A
Deerfield Beach, FL 33442

Remember, line one is only for the physical street address. The building and apartment number are included in line two. Sometimes “bldg” is used as an abbreviation for building.

Residential House Address

A residential house address typically has one line with the number of the house and name of the street followed by the City, State, and Zip code. See the example below for a correctly completed residential address:

1234 Apple Tree Drive
Deerfield Beach, FL 33442

In line 1, notice that the neighborhood’s name is NOT used. The street address uses only the actual street name. And the second line indicates the city, Deerfield Beach, state FL, and 5 digit zip code.

Understanding a U.S. phone number

Phone numbers in the U.S. are typically made up of 10 numerical digits. When entering a U.S. phone number in Populi, you do NOT add the + symbol on the country code “1.”

See the example below:

(954) 637-2294

This is the phone number to International Student Services Department. Using the ISSD phone number as an example, we would enter “954” in the space marked for area codes. We would then enter “637-2294” as the prefix and line number respectively. We would enter either 6372294 or 637-2294 in the box marked for phone number.

Unless you have a business line, most people do not have extension numbers. If you do not have an extension, leave that box blank.

Your Immigration Documents

Keep your original documents in a safe place. We recommend you keep documentation regarding your visa status up-to-date and always carry proof of status, such as a photocopy or scan/digital copy of your primary immigration documents.

Your primary immigration documents include:
Passport. Do not allow the validity of your passport to expire. In general your passport must be valid at least 6 months into the future. Without a valid passport, you may not be allowed to re-enter the United States after travel abroad, even if all other immigration documents are still valid. Read about what to do regarding lost or stolen passports.

Visa Stamp. The visa stamp is entered into your passport at the U.S. Consulate or Embassy where you applied for it. The visa stamp does not govern your stay in the United States. It governs the time period during which you may apply for entry into the U.S., meaning that it must be valid for entry to the U.S. but once inside the United States, it is your I-20 which governs your ability to stay.

Read: Department of State – About Visas- The Basics

Read: DHS Study-in-the-States – Student Visa vs. Student Status: What is the Difference?

I-94 Record (Arrival/Departure record). Make sure you have a copy of your most recent I-94 Record. You will now go to a website and print the electronic record of your I-94 after arrival at https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home. More information can be found at: www.cbp.gov/i94. This form should indicate your arrival date, your visa status, and the length of your stay, usually marked D/S (duration of status) for F-1 students. It will also include an 11-digit Admission/Departure Number; this number is your I-94 number and is the identification number with DHS.

If you completed a change of status in the U.S., your I-94 Record will be the I797 Notice of Approval that you received from USCIS.

I-20. This is the document that proves your eligibility for F-1 or J-1 status. You must make sure that it is accurate and up-to-date at all times. (SEE UNDERSTANDING MY I-20 FOR MORE DETAILS)

In addition to the above documents, the Department of Homeland Security has also identified the following as important items to carry especially when you travel internationally (Please see our travel page for more information: Student Travel Requirements):

Transcript. It is highly recommended that F-1 students who will need to renew their U.S. visa stamp during travel abroad carry copies of their South Florida Bible College transcripts with them to show the consular officials that you have been making satisfactory progress towards your degree. An increasing number of consulates ask for transcripts when students come to renew F-1 visas. Official transcripts can be obtained at the Registrar’s Office; unofficial transcripts are available through Populi.

Letter of Registration/Confirmation of Enrollment. The letter of registration/confirmation of enrollment is an official document which confirms your status as an active SFBC student and can be obtained from the Registrar’s Office.

Financial Documentation. It is a good idea to carry financial documentation when re-entering the U.S. to prove your continuing ability to pay for studies. You must have updated financial documentation with you when applying for a new visa at a US Consulate abroad.

Additional Proof of Identity. Carry any ID cards with you and any old passports which you may still have.

In the event of an emergency, contact:
International Student Services Department
Phone: 954-637-2294
Email: issd@sfbc.edu

If International Student Services Department is closed, contact SFBC Front Desk:
Phone: 954-637-2292
SFBC Front Desk Attendant will contact an ISSD Advisor to assist you.

Understanding the I-20

Note: The Form I-20 is updated with minor revisions periodically. Your actual I-20 may differ slightly from the sample included, but the main sections should be the same.

The version of the Form I-20 is noted in the bottom left corner of Page 1 of the I-20. The date listed on the Form I-20 version has no impact on a student visa status.

Your Visa Status

Your Status – The difference between visa status and a visa stamp.
Everyone who enters the U.S. is given an immigration status at the U.S. Port of Entry. For most students this is an F-1 visa status. This status is noted at the U.S. Port of Entry on the Form I-94.

Please be aware that immigration status is different than the visa stamp in your passport – your visa stamp is not proof of visa status or legal status. Visa stamps are used to enter the U.S.

Read: Department of State – About Visas- The Basics.

Read: DHS Study-in-the-States – Student Visa vs. Student Status: What is the Difference?

Benefits of Your F-1 Student Status could include the ability to:

• Change to another immigration status from within the United States;
• Change degree level;
• Change program of study;
• Transfer to another College or University;
• Extend your status, if more time is needed to complete your degree;
• Sponsor your dependent spouse or child(ren) to join or accompany you;
• Obtain employment (under restricted conditions & only with specific approval);
• Travel outside the U.S. and reenter to continue study (with a valid VISA).

If you wish to discuss any of these benefits you should make an appointment with an Advisor at International Student Services Department.

Limitations

Duration (Length of Stay): You may remain legally in the U.S. as long as you are maintaining your F-1 student visa status and engaged in a valid, full course of academic study (those who have completed their degree may remain in the U.S. legally during authorized periods of post-graduate Optional Practical Training (OPT).

When you have completed your degree or post-graduation training, you must take one of the following actions during your Grace Period (F-1 students have 60 days to complete these actions):

• Change to another immigration status;
• Change degree level or program of study;
• Transfer to another University; or
• Depart the United States.

Violations – Falling Out-of-Status and Accruing Unlawful Presence: If you do not comply with all of the F-1 student regulations, you will fall out-of-status. When you fall out-of-status, all of the benefits of your F or J visa status are cancelled, such as the ability to work on-campus or seek off-campus work authorization.

Additionally, USCIS regulations introduced on August 9, 2018 mean that you will begin to accrue unlawful presence and may face a potential bar from the U.S. The enforcement of the rule is currently under injunction as of February 6, 2020.

Despite the injunction, students who have fallen out of status may need to consult with an experienced immigration attorney regarding the accrual of unlawful presence.

Additional information about the Unlawful Presence Policy can be found on the NAFSA Website.

Resolution of your violation will depend on your specific situation. Contact International Student Services Department for an appointment with an Advisor, who will consult with you about your options, including reinstatement.

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