Rules and Guidelines for Student Visas

*Rules and Guidelines for Student Visas*

Student Visa Rules and Guidelines

Maintenance of Student Status
In order to maintain your student status in the United States, you must meet certain obligations. School officials are required to report violations of status to SEVIS within 30 days when any student is out of status. But school officials must first make students aware of the following status requirements.

Full-time status at TLHU:

•Intensive English Program: 735 total clock hours, 36 semester credits. The whole program is 38 weeks long.
•Bachelors of Arts Degree Program: 120 total credit hours, between 12 to 18 credits per semester. The whole program is 8 semesters long.

The following is a list of requirements you must meet in order to maintain F-1 status:

1. Have a valid passport at all times.
2. Attend the school you were authorized to attend (as indicated on your I-20).
3. Continue to carry a full-time course of study.
4. Follow proper procedures if you must remain in the United States longer than the length of time estimated for completion of your educational program, as stated on the initial I-20 issued to you when you began your program of study.
5. Follow procedures to continue from one educational level to another at the same school.
6. Follow procedures to transfer to a school other than the one on the original authorization.
7. Limit employment, both on campus and off, to a total of twenty (20) hours per week while school is in session; full-time work is permitted during school breaks.
8. Refrain from off-campus employment without authorization from INS.
9. Report a change of residence to INS within 10 days of the change. Fill out the form called “Alien’s Change of Address Card.”

Program Extension
If you are unable to complete your program in the time given on your I-20, you may be eligible for a program extension. There are certain requirements that must be met in order for you to be eligible for a program extension. Contact the Admissions Office if you foresee a problem in completing your program on time.

You must obtain permission from the Admissions Office in order for you to extend your program.

If a student must remain in an educational program beyond the date originally estimated for completion of the program, the student must comply with USCIS procedures for obtaining a program extension. Application for a program extension must be made prior to the expected completion date noted on the I-20 Form. Extensions are not allowed after the program end date shown on the I-20 (Item 5).

Eligibility for the extension depends upon:
1. You have continually maintained F-1 status.
2 You have a legitimate reason for requesting a program extension.Transfer-In Students
In order to transfer from a school to TLHU, students are required to meet the following conditions:
1 Be in current F-1 status.
2 Have maintained F-1 status and completed all financial obligations at your previous school.
3 Submit photocopies of your I-94 card, your passport, and your old SEVIS I-20 to the Admissions Office at TLHU.
4 You must complete the TLHU Transfer-In Form, have it signed with a release date by your previous school’s official, and bring this form to the Admissions Office at TLHU.
5 The Admissions Office will contact your previous school’s official to make sure your SEVIS I-20 record transfers to TLHU’s SEVIS system.

Transfer-Out Students
In order to transfer from TLHU to another school, students are required to meet the following conditions:

1 Have maintained F-1 status and completed all financial obligations to TLHU.
2 Be intending to pursue a full-time course of study at the new school.
3 Register full-time at the school you transfer to.
4 F-1 students should notify the Admissions Office of their plan to transfer not less than 30 days before your TLHU program ends.
5 F-1 students must complete the TLHU Transfer-Out form and bring it to the Admissions Office. After you have been released, your new school will have access to your SEVIS record. You must report to the new school within 15 days of the program start date.

Immigration Documents
Passport
Your passport must be kept valid while you are in the U.S.A. You should begin renewal procedures six months prior to its expiration date. Contact your country’s local consulate or embassy when necessary for passport renewal procedures. Click the link below for a comprehensive list of foreign embassies in the United States.

http://www.state.gov/misc/10125.htm

The visa is a stamped endorsement in your passport that indicates that all requirements have been met for entry into the U.S.A. The visa is actually an entry permit. You may have been issued a single-entry or a multiple-entry visa with a certain time limit. If you are a full-time student, you probably have an F-1 student visa. If you decide to leave the country, you will need to make sure you have a valid multiple-entry visa or you must apply for one while you are outside the U.S.A. in order to return. You will need to follow the same procedures that you initially followed when applying for a visa. You should speak to the Admissions Office if you are planning to leave the U.S.A.

I-20
An I-20 form is issued to you when you are accepted at TLHU. It is used as proof of acceptance and financial certification in order to obtain a student visa. This form must remain valid while you are a student in the U.S.A. It is used to keep track of all school transfers, practical training, permission to work, extensions of stay, etc. The Admissions Office must sign it in order to travel outside the U.S.A. It is your responsibility to make sure your I-20 is valid at all times. If it expires, you will need to apply for reinstatement to student status, which can be burdensome and is not always guaranteed. You must contact the Admissions Office not later than 30 days before your I-20 expires.

I-94 Form
This form is a small white card that was issued to you on the airplane as you flew to the U.S.A. The customs officer stapled it into your passport as you entered. It is the record of your permission to remain in the U.S.A. F-1 students receive a D/S (Duration of Status) notation on their I-94 form at their port of entry into the U.S.A. This means that the student may remain in the U.S.A. as long as he/she maintains a valid F-1 student status. The I-94 form includes an 11-digit Admission Number that is used for the purpose of identification by INS. It is used to monitor your arrival in and departure from the U.S.A. You must surrender this card as you leave the U.S.A., unless you plan to travel for less than 30 days into Canada, Mexico, and adjacent islands other than Cuba.

Travel Outside the USA
If you plan to travel outside the U.S.A. for less than five months, you must make sure all of your documents are in order. These include:

• Passport valid for at least six months;
• Visa valid for multiple entries beyond your re-entry date. If your visa will expire prior to this date, you must meet with the Admissions Office about obtaining a new I-20.
• I-20 with a recent signature by a designated school official.
• Letter signed by the Admissions Office agreeing that you must receive a new I-20 form if you plan to travel outside the U.S.A. for more than five months.

You will need to provide current financial documentation in order to receive a new I-20 form.

Employment
Employment is defined as any type of work performed or services provided in exchange for money, tuition, fees, books, supplies, room, food, or any other benefit. If you do not receive compensation in money or in kind for work, this is considered volunteer work, which is allowed in F-1 status. It is your responsibility to comply with all immigration regulations that apply to F-1 students. Employment for dependents in F-2 status is prohibited under any circumstance.

On-campus Employment
As an F-1 student, you are allowed to work on campus, if such employment is available. On-campus employment primarily means work performed on the school’s premises. This includes employment on site with commercial firms that provide services to the students, for example in a school bookstore or cafeteria. You must have a Social Security number to participate.

The most fundamental eligibility requirement for all types of employment is that you maintain lawful F-1 status. You must never work more than 20 hours per week while school is in session, but you may work full time during school breaks. It is your responsibility not to exceed the limit. Please note, if you do not intend to continue your studies in the U.S.A., you may not be employed on campus after you have completed a program of study. The only exception would be optional practical training (see below).

Off-campus Employment Based on Unforeseen Severe Economic Hardship
An F-1 student in good academic standing may qualify to apply for off-campus employment if on-campus employment opportunities are insufficient or unavailable and there are circumstances beyond the student’s control, such as severe sickness or economic hardship. Written proof and evidence must be provided to support the hardship.

Optional Practical Training
As an F-1 student, you may apply to INS for Optional Practical Training directly related to your major area of study after being enrolled for nine consecutive months. Optional Practical Training may be granted for a maximum of 12 months. This training is granted to complement your degree by giving you experience in your field of study.

Note: Optional Practical Training is only available for International Business students. IEP (ESL) students are not eligible for Optional Practical according to INS regulations for I-20 students.

Social Security Number
You will need to have an available passport, I-20 form, I-94 form, and a letter from the school’s designated school official or school director to apply for a Social Security Number. Do not confuse the Social Security Number with your Admission Number. The Admission Number on your I-94 card is used for immigration purposes to keep track of people arriving and departing the U.S.A. The Social Security Number is used for identification while in the United States and keeps track of your income taxes.

Income Tax
All F-I students must file both federal and state income tax returns annually if you work off campus with an employment authorization card. For federal income tax reporting, you must use the IRS form 1040NR, which is specifically designed for non-residents. You must also file a state income tax form. Check with your employer to see if they can supply you with the correct forms, or you may call 1-800-829-1040 to have the correct forms mailed to you free of charge. The forms are available after January 1st and must usually be filed no later than April 15th.

If you are employed, taxes are automatically deducted from your paycheck for federal, state, and local taxes. Your paycheck stub should show how much is being taken out for each.

When completing the tax forms, you will need to attach copies of the W-2 form that your employer sends to you by January 31st of the year you must file (you must file during the current year for last year’s taxes). You will discover that you either owe money or have overpaid and are due a refund (rarely does it work out that you paid exactly the right amount). If you owe money, make sure you mail your federal and state tax forms by April 15th, or you will be subject to a penalty. If you are owed a refund, you can miss the April 15th deadline without incurring a penalty. But if you are owed a refund, you will probably want to file for it as early as you can!

Some countries have tax treaties with the U.S.A. that allow you to earn a certain amount of money tax-free. You must still file a return, but you may deduct the treaty amount from your taxable income. To find out if your country has a tax treaty with the U.S.A., consult IRS Publication 901. You may also wish to consult IRS publications 518-519 that help explain how to complete your 1040NR form.

Spouse/Dependent Status
Your spouse and unmarried minor children may accompany you to the U.S.A. or join you at a later date. Before an I-20 can be issued, financial documentation must be provided. A person in F-2 status may never be employed.