MAINTAINING LEGAL IMMIGRATION STATUS IN THE UNITED STATES
Legal Terms
Maintain Legal Status
F-1 Program Extension
Employment Opportunities
Important Immigration Legal Terms
Before we discuss what you need to do in order to maintain your legal status in the United States, it is important to get familiar with several immigration terms.
1. Visa Stamp: Also known as "entry visa" or "visa". This is the stamp that you get on your passport once you are approved to come to the United States. This process happens at the United States Embassy or Consulate in your country. Once you enter the United States, it does not matter if your visa stamp expires during your stay. The expiration of the visa stamp DOES NOT affect your immigration status in the United States.
HOWEVER, if you choose to travel outside the United States AND your visa stamp has expired, you MUST apply for a new entry visa before returning the United States.
You cannot renew the visa stamp within the United States territory. This procedure must be done outside the United States territory, usually at the United States Embassy or Consulate in your country.
2. Immigration status: This term is also known as "visa". At Morningside College, international students have an F-1 immigration status. This means that they are in the United States to be full time students, as described in your I-20 Form. To be a full time student at Morningside College you MUST have at least 12 credit hours per semester.
The immigration officer in the "port of entry" in the United States will review your visa stamp and your I-20, and then you will be admitted into the United States. The immigration officer will give you an I-94. To find out how long can you stay in the United States, check Item 5 of your I-20.
At Morningside College, a first year student typically has 4 years to complete their program, and a transfer student has 2 years. In both cases, we can extend the duration of the program, provided that we follow the appropriate procedures. A request for an extension of the program of study must be filed prior to the completion of the program. See Lillian Lopez for instructions on how to extend the time to complete your program of study.
3 . I-94: The I-94 is a small card that is stapled to your passport by the immigration officer in the port of entry. This card states for how long you can stay in the United States. Usually, the immigration officer writes "D/S", which means "duration of status." The duration of status refers to the time needed to complete your program of study, as stated in your I-20 form.
4.
SEVIS: SEVIS stands for "Students and Exchange Visitors
Immigration Services. This is a national database that keeps
information on international students and scholars in the United States.
What do I need to do to maintain legal status?
- THE CURRENT UNITED STATES LAW REQUIRES THAT ALL INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
MUST REPORT TO THE OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS SERVICES, EVERY
SEMESTER, WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE BEGINNING OF THE SEMESTER.
- Once you
physically report to the Office of International Students Services,
we will update your information on the SEVIS database.
- You
must be enrolled as a full time student every semester
at Morningside College. At
Morningside College full time students must have 12
credit hours per semester. For an explanation on the very rare
exceptions to the full time enrollment requirement, see
Lillian
Lopez.
- NEVER,
NEVER work off campus without appropriate authorization. If
you are interested in learning about your opportunities
to work off
campus, see Lillian Lopez.
- Keep ALL
your immigration documents valid and current. If you need changes
to your current immigration status you must contact the Office of
International Students Services as soon as possible. Most changes
to your immigration status require time specific applications.
- Notify
the Office of International Students Services with any change of
address within 10 days. Immigration law requires a physical address
and does not allow for a post office box address. We will update
your change of address in the SEVIS database.
- Every
time an international student leaves the United States, their I-20
Form MUST be signed by any of the following persons:
Lillian J López --- Charles City Hall, Room 206
Terri Curry --- Lewis Hall, Room 105
Mary Krejci --- Lewis Hall, Room 105
This signature on your I-20 Form is necessary for re-entry into the United States .
- Always notify the college of any changes in you immigration status.
F-1 Student Program Extension
International students on an F-1 visa that need additional time to complete their program of study at Morningside College MUST apply for an extension 30 days before their current I-20 expires. Failure to comply with this procedure could have serious consequences on the student's ability to maintain their immigration status in the United States.
To extend your immigration status you will need to make an appointment with the Director of the Office of International Students Services.
Morningside College