International Services - [ SEVIS ]
Who Enters Important Information
SEVIS Reporting Requirements
IS Office Report
Employment
General Documents
Enrollment Requirements
Who Enters Important Information
The International Services (IS) office on campus is the primary unit with the ability to enter records into SEVIS, but the student/scholar/dependent has a legal obligation to report some of the information to IS as the list below shows. The USCIS says that it is still the non-immigrant’s responsibility to make sure that he/she stays in compliance with the laws at all times. The IS office wants all MSU students and scholars to be able to focus on their studies and research so it is very important that you stay in contact with this office as a source to get the latest news. Please visit the office before planning any out of the country trips for yourself or your family members to make sure all documents are in order. Check the IS office homepage regularly.
SEVIS reporting requirements for students in F or J status
The following events require that you inform the IS office in order to retain legal status in the United States.
- Change of address - All changes of address for students and their dependents must be reported within 10 days of moving. Even if you are just moving down the hall to a different room in the residence hall, you must inform this office of the change.
- Legal name change for the student or his/her dependents must be reported within 10 days.
- Any changes to the information listed on the I-20 or DS-2019.
The IS office must report the following:
- Change of address or name within 21 days of being notified by the student.
- Any student who has failed to maintain status or complete his or her program.
- Any student who has graduated early or prior to the program end date listed on SEVIS form I-20/DS 2019.
- Any disciplinary action taken by the school against the student as a result of the student being convicted of a crime.
- Any other notification request made by SEVIS to the school with regard to the current status of the student.
- Each term or session and no later than 30 days after the deadline for registering for classes, schools are required to report whether the student has enrolled at the school, dropped below a full course of study without prior authorization by the Designated School Official (DSO) or failed to enroll; the current address of each enrolled student and the start date of the student’s next session.
Employment
F-1 and J-1
- Work is limited to 20 hours per week while school is in session.
- Work required for an assistantship counts toward the 20 hour limit.
- Work hours may not be averaged to equal 20 hours per week, Example-it is not ok to work 30 hours one week and 10 the next.
- Work must be on campus.
- May begin work before obtaining a social security number, but must have the social security number before first paycheck will be issued.
- During official school breaks work may be full time.
- The student Employment office in Montgomery Hall maintains a listing of student job openings.
- www.career.msstate.edu/students
J-1
Must obtain written permission to work from the office that issued the DS-2019 form before beginning work.
Things to consider later for F-1’s
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) - must have been enrolled for at least nine months. Allows off campus work if it is a departmental requirement or recommendation for a course or the degree. Requires adjusted I-20 from the IS office.
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
Must have been enrolled for at least nine months. Allows off campus work for up to one year if it is related to the degree program. Usually done after the degree program but must apply before graduation. Requires a filing fee and an application to the USCIS service center in Texas. Takes several months to process.
Things to consider later for J-1’s
Academic Training (AT) - allows 18 months of off campus employment if related to field of study. Requires a job offer. Requires advance permission from the office that issued the DS-2019 form.
General Documents
Passport
Keep passport valid. Recommended that you keep it valid at least six months into the future.
Check with your country’s consulate to renew or replace a passport.
I-94
- White card usually stapled in the passport.
- Shows that you entered the country in a legal status.
- Should have your class of admission (F-1, J-1, etc), the day you entered and an expiration date. For F-1’s and J-1’s, the expiration should say D/S. This stands for Duration of Status and means that you may remain in the US as long as you continue to have a valid I-20/DS-2019 and pursue the objective listed on that particular document. Anyone who has a specific date written in the space for expiration should bring this to the attention of the IS office.
I-20/DS-2019
- I-20-Document for F status
- DS-2019 - Document for J status.
- Shows program of study, finances and start and end dates. End date is very important. If you will not graduate by the end date listed you must request a program extension prior to the expiration date. Visit the International Services website for details.
Visa
- Required for entry into the U.S. except for Canadian citizens.
- Shows the dates, number of times and purpose for which it can be used.
- Might expire while you are here and that is ok. It only needs to be valid at the time of each entry to the U.S.
- Renewal cannot be done within the U.S. Can only be done by application at a U.S. consulate/embassy. Highly recommended that the request be made in the home country.
Grace Periods
The grace period refers to a period of time during which you are able to stay in the US to prepare for departure or a change to another status. Employment is not allowed during the grace period.
F Status
- 60 days following graduation/completion of rogram objective.
- 15 days after authorized (by IS office) withdrawal from the university.
- 0 days for unauthorized withdrawal.
J Status
- 30 days following graduation/completion of program objective
Enrollment Requirements:
Graduate F-1 of J-1
- 9 hours each fall and spring term.
Undergraduate F-1 of J-1
- 12 hours during each fall and spring term
Exceptions to the above are limited and require that permission be given by the International Services office. Examples include:
- Medical reasons – must be documented and recommended by a doctor and approved by the International Service office.
- Summer sessions - do not require full time enrollment unless your documentation reflects a summer start date.
- During the last semester of study - only need to take what is required in order to graduate.
Travel
- Must get travel signature from International Services on your particular document.
- For J’s the travel signature must come from the office that issued the DS-2019.
- Check passport validity.
- Check visa validity. If your U.S. visa will expire prior to your planned re-entry, you must be prepared to renew the visa during this trip. Visas cannot be renewed within the U.S.
SEVIS Fee
The toll-free telephone number for International I-901 SEVIS fee customers is (212)620-3418.
International students and Exchange visitors may call the toll-free number for all questions regarding the I-901 SEVIS fee that cannot be answered after viewing the information available at http://www.ice.gov/sevis/i901/index.htm.
Please note that the toll free number is for international callers only and is available during the following business hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
