International Students |
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| Maintaining Lawful F-1 Immigration Status | |
| All international students in F-1 status are obligated to meet certain Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS) requirements in order to maintain their lawful immigration status during their stay in the U.S. It is the responsibility of the student to maintain his/her lawful F-1 status. When a student completes section 11 of the I-20, the student is certifying that he/she has read and understood all of the terms and conditions of the F-1 status and agrees to abide by them. Students who violate their status (even by accident) are considered to be “out-of-status” and will not be eligible for any INS benefits, including on-campus employment and other work experiences after completion of their studies. Failure to maintain lawful status may also result in deportation, as explained on the I-20. North Dakota State College of Science will report when an F-1 student withdraws or when a violation of F-1 student status occurs. In addition, beginning in January 2003, all U.S. institutions that sponsor F-1 students will be required to report various types of F-1 student information to the INS electronically. The information will include, but is not limited to: address changes, violations of status, failure to enroll, last date of attendance, etc. Students who have fallen out-of-status may be able to apply for a reinstatement to lawful status under certain circumstances and should see the NDSCS Enrollment Services as soon as possible. Students who remain in the U.S. while out of lawful immigration status may be barred from reentering the U.S. for up to 10 years. In order to maintain lawful F- 1 status, it is your responsibility, as a student, to do the following: | |
| 1. Keep your passport valid at all times. Passports may be revalidated or reissued in the U.S. at the Embassy of the country that issued your passport. Students should apply for a new passport about 6 months in advance of expiration at the Embassy of the country that issued your passport. | |
| 2. Attend the school you are authorized to attend as noted on your I-20 (section 2) and as noted on your visa (for initial attendance only). A student who attends a school without authorization from the NDSCS Enrollment Services, or without following proper INS transfer procedures, is considered to be out-of-status and should consult the NDSCS Enrollment Services immediately. | |
| 3. *Maintain full-time enrollment each semester and make normal progress towards the completion of your course of study (degree). Undergraduates must complete at least 12 credit hours each semester. A few exceptions can be made to this full-time rule, student should consult Academic Advisory for approval. Students dropping below a full-time enrollment will be in violation of F-1 status. | |
| 4. Employment - INS defines employments as the following: | |
| • Type 1 - Employment at North Dakota State College of Science; any on-campus work for which you receive a paycheck. | |
| • Type 2 - Certain Off-Campus Employment where there is an official educational relationship between NDSCS and the off-campus employer. INS regulations allow work at an off-campus location provided the: | |
| 1. Location is educationally affiliated with NDSCS; | |
| 2. Educational affiliation is associated with your school’s established curriculum; and | |
| 3. Work is an integral or important part of your program of study. | |
| Do not work off-campus unless you have first received authorization from a Designated School Official or INS. On-campus work does not require authorization, but is limited to part-time (less than 20 hours per week) during normal enrollment periods. | |
| On-campus employment: Working on NDSCS’s campus is usually permissible if it meets certain requirements. The authorization for on-campus employment is obtained from OISS (a stamp is placed on the back of your I-20) INS authorization is not necessary. Work on-campus is limited to 20 hours per week when school is in session but may be full-time during holiday and vacation periods. A new F-1 student who has been issued a form I-20 may work prior to the commencement of classes, but for no longer than 30 days prior to the actual start date of classes. | |
| On-campus employment: may be full-time (more than 20 hours per week) during the summer and official school breaks. When you work on-campus during normal enrollment periods, you must maintain your full-time student status or your employment will be considered illegal. Please notify the NDSCS Enrollment Services if/when you accept on-campus employment. | |
| To be considered work eligible, you must obtain a social security number. It is your responsibility to obtain a social security number. You will need to visit the Social Security office in Fergus Falls, Minn., or Fargo N.D., to fill out all paperwork. You will need to bring your passport, I- 20, and a letter from the NDSCS Enrollment Services stating the reason you need a social security number. You can stop by the Enrollment Services to pick up the letter. You must have a social security number before you can work on-campus. | |
| 5. REPORT a change of address to the INS, and the College, within ten days of the change. To report a change of address to INS within 10 days, all international students should complete the INS form AR-11. Form AR- 11 can be obtained from the following website: | |
| http://www.bcis.gov/graphics/formsfee/forms/files/ar-11.pdf | |
| To report a change of address to NDSCS, contact the Records/Registrar and Enrollment Services in Haverty Hall. The form must be submitted to the NDSCS Records/Registrar and Enrollment Services within 10 days of your address change. You must report both your Physical address and your Mailing address to NDSCS. | |
| 6. Follow INS procedures for changing from one educational level to another at the same school (from a bachelor’s degree to master’s degree, etc.), and when changing or declaring your major. Notify your Academic Advisor and the NDSCS Enrollment Services about any degree level changes or any changes or declarations with your major, and apply for a new I-20 within 30 days after completing your first degree. | |
| 7. *Follow INS procedures for transferring from one school to another. Notify the Academic Advisor and the NDSCS Enrollment Services you will be leaving, notify the Enrollment Services at the school you will be attending, secure and I-20 from the new school, and report to the International Student Advisor and Enrollment Services at the new school within 15 days of beginning attendance. | |
| 8. Leave the United States within the 60 days after the program expiration on your I-20 (section 5) OR your actual completion date, whichever comes first. If necessary, apply for a program extension within a 30 day period before the program expiration date on your current I-20. | |
| 9. If you are traveling in the United States while you are a student at NDSCS, you need to inform the Enrollment Services office or speak with the International Student Advisor prior to your travel. | |
| 10. If you are traveling outside the United States while you are a student at NDSCS (either to return home or for other reasons), you need to stop in the Enrollment Services office prior to your departure to obtain a current copy of your F-1 visa. | |
| 11. If you are leaving NDSCS for a semester to return home but plan on returning to NDSCS to complete your studies, you need to inform Enrollment Services of your intent to register and update your F-1. If you fail to notify them prior to your departure, your F-1 will be cancelled. | |
| 12. All academic policies stated in the catalog apply to international students. If an international student is not following the policies outlined in the catalog (not maintaining GPA, not following attendance policies, etc….) you are considered “out-of-status” and are not eligible for INS benefits (F-1 Visa). | |
| 13. All new students and exchange visitors with a Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 issued on or after September 1, 2004 need to complete I-901 form and pay a fee. This is effective September 1, 2004. The payment website at www.fmjfee.com. Continuing students and exchange visitors are not required to pay the fee except under certain circumstances. | |
| NDSCS Office of Enrollment Services is located in Haverty Hall, Room 106. | |
| PDSO - Principal Designated School Official I-20 Status/Employment Approval: Karen Reilly Director of Enrollment Services Haverty Hall |
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| Academic Advisor/International Advisor Harvey Henderson Hektner Hall 302 |
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