Immigration Basics
Terminology
What is a Visa ?
Determining the right Visa
Payments to Foreign Nationals

Employment and Sponsorship Basics
F-1 Students
J-1 Exchange Visitors
H1B Temporary Worker
TN NAFTA Treaty
B1/B2 Business/Tourism
Permanent Residence

Students

SEVIS, The Student & Exchange Visitor Information System, is an electronic database of information about F students and J Exchange Visitors in the U.S. The ISSO advisors are required to keep accurate data in SEVIS on all current UAH F students and J Exchange Visitors. There are some important activities that are common to students and that the advisors must record in SEVIS.  

The student visa category allows work that is incidental to the primary purpose of the visa. As long as a student is pursuing an academic objective at UAH they are authorized to work on-campus for a limited number of hours. After a student completes all coursework and other degree requirements (graduation date for that term) they are no longer eligible to work on campus unless immigration has granted them a work permit or other form of work authorization to continue working at UAH.  

F and J student employment basics:

• Can work on-campus while maintaining status and enrolling in classes at UAH
• Can work no more than 20 hours per week (part-time) on campus while they are enrolled full-time in classes
• During semester breaks, students can work more than 20 hours per week on-campus

• Immigration must grant special work authorization to a student in order to be eligible to work off-campus
• Students do not need a SSN to begin working but must apply for one upon obtaining an offer of employment
• Anyone who earns income in the U.S. is taxed by both the federal and state governments
• Students can get free tax assistance each year from ISSO and the UAH VITA program
• After completion of studies, students must have been granted work authorization to continue working in the U.S. (either for UAH or off-campus)

Full-time Enrollment in Classes: 

    * Enroll full-time in classes each fall (August-December) and spring (January-May) semester (minimum of 9 hours for graduate student and 12 hours for undergraduate students)
    * A student who has been enrolled full-time in classes continuously since their first semester (fall or spring) and will to enroll in the following fall semester is eligible to take the summer (June-July) semester off and have a vacation (no enrollment in classes is required). 

If you have been authorized for employment through the Co-op program or if the summer is your first semester of enrollment at UAH you are required to enroll full-time during the summer. 

    * Fall: full-time
    * Spring: full-time
    * Summer: (often optional)

Students should be reminded to notify the international student advisor of:

     * Intent to transfer to another school
    * Change of status/visa classification
    * International travel plans to ensure they obtain a travel signature prior to travel
    * Academic dismissal

Administrators who have additional questions or concerns about hiring a student in an F or J visa status should contact the ISSO for guidance.