Changes pertaining to those in F-1 and F-2 status
A December 11, 2002 rule published by the Immigration and
Naturalization Service contained several changes in the
regulations for those in F-1 and F-2 status. Some of these
changes are outlined below. Also see an Office of
International Programs handout called SEVIS Information for
information about additional provisions the rule contains.
F-1 Students
General
Must obtain a SEVIS I-20 no later than August 1, 2003
Address Reporting
Must report a change in legal name or address to a
designated school official (DSO) in the Office of
International Programs (OIP) when 10 days of the change
occurring. The DSO will give the student written
confirmation that the information has been received. Entry
to and Exit from the U.S. Can be admitted to the U.S. no
more than 30 days before the start date on the I-20. Will
receive a 60 day period to allow for departure from the
U.S. or to arrange a transfer to another school after
completing a course of study/ practical training. Will
receive a 15 day period to allow for departure from the
U.S. after terminating a course of study prior to its
completion if the student has obtained permission from the
designated official in the Office of International
Programs prior to stopping study. Will receive no
authorized period of time to prepare for departure if a
student terminates his or her study without receiving
prior approval from the DSO or otherwise fails to maintain
status.
Enrollment
No more than 3 hours per semester of on-line/distance
education can be counted toward the hours required to be
considered full time. Medical conditions requiring that a
student enroll less than full time must be documented and
approved by the DSO in the OIP each semester and a student
cannot be enrolled less than full time due to medical
reasons for more than 12 months aggregate during a course
of study. Students in their final semester of study who
only require classes that amount to less than full time
study, must receive permission from the DSO before
enrolling for only those classes. There will no longer be
a one year grace period added to the completion date on a
students I-20. Extension of Stay Extension of stay
requests can be made as soon as it is known that someone
will not be able to finish by the end date on the I-20.
(Formerly, an extension request could only be made 30 days
prior to the end date on the I-20). An extension request
must be made before the end date on the I-20.
Transferring to another school
A student transferring to another school must begin
classes within 5 months of transferring out of the old
school or within 5 months of the completion date on the
I-20, whichever is earlier. Only one school can have
access to a students SEVIS record so a student who has
applied to many schools will need to choose which school
he/she wants the record to be released to in sufficient
time for the other school to prepare documents.
Transferring students must present the new I-20 to the DSO
at the new school within 15 days of the start date on the
I-20.
Practical Training
Students are eligible for a new 12 month period of
optional practical training after changing to a higher
education level. Requests for OPT must be submitted prior
to completion of course requirements for the degree or
completion of the course of studies. Beginning study at
another school or beginning study at another educational
level will terminate any time remaining on previously
approved practical training. Students who have been
approved for practical training must continue to report
changes in legal name or address within 10 days of the
occurrence to the school who recommended the practical
training. These changes must be reported to the OIP. The
student will receive confirmation from the OIP that the
information has been received. Reinstatement Students who
have been out of status for more than 5 months are
ineligible for reinstatement unless exceptional
circumstances can be documented. Students with a pattern
of repeated or willful violations are not eligible for
reinstatement.
F-2 Dependents
Must obtain a SEVIS I-20 no later than August 1, 2003. Can
be admitted to the U.S. no more than 30 days before the
start date on the I-20. Must report a change in legal name
or address to a designated school official (DSO) in the
Office of International Programs (OIP) when 10 days of the
change occurring. The DSO will give the dependent written
confirmation that the information has been received. Full
time study is not allowed except in the case of elementary
and secondary school. Part time avocational or
recreational study is allowed.
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