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F-1 Visa FAQ

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The role of the International Student Advisor is to provide guidance and assist international students in F and J visa classification, who have been issued immigration documents by the University of Alabama in Huntsville,understand the immigration laws that direct their stay in the U.S. International students are required to sign the bottom of their I-20 or DS-2019 before entering the U.S. Signing this immigration document is confirmation that you understand your responsibilities to maintain F or J visa status while studying in the U.S.

The ISSO advisors seek to be a buffer between the USCIS (immigration service) and students. We recognize that students cannot know every immigration detail. We do expect that all UAH students will assume responsibility to take an active role in maintaining a legal student status while studying at UAH and will ask questions of the advisor whenever needed. We provide students with multiple avenues for obtaining immigration-related information to help avoid violations of status including an international student handbook provided to students before classes, weekly e-mail reminders, easily accessible educational handouts, walk-in advising hours and individual appointment times to meet with an advisor in addition to the information available on this web site.

Immigration Documents and Terms

USCIS- United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (formerly INS)

I-94 Card- The card given to you on the airplane before you entered the U.S. This card was stamped by the Port of Entry immigration official and documents your status and period of stay in the U.S. It should be kept in your passport at all times and handed to the airline official each time you leave the U.S.

Admission Number- The number found on your I-94 card.

I-20 or DS-2019- The document given to you by your school that allows you to apply for an F1 or J1 visa for entry purposes. It is the immigration paperwork that gives you the ability to stay in the U.S. legally as long as you are maintaining your status.

Passport- Your official identification while you are in the U.S. Only carry your passport when you need a picture ID since replacing a lost passport can be time consuming and costly.

SEVIS- The Student Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) used by the federal government to electronically monitor F and J students.

OPT- Optional Practical Training is a year of off-campus work permission for which F1 students who obtain a degree in the U.S. can apply.

CPT- Curricular Practical Training is off-campus work permission for F1 students based on course work or an internship in your field of study.

Academic Training- is off-campus work permission for J1 students to provide an opportunity to work in your field of study.

Social Security Number (SSN)- F and J students are not required to have a SSN for any reason and only F and J students who have authorized on-campus employment will be eligible to apply for a SSN. Speak with an international advisor if you have secured on-campus employment and need to apply for a SSN or are having problems with a business that requires a SSN.

Student ID number- UAH generated a student ID or A number (#) when you were admitted to UAH. This identification number is only valid for internal UAH purposes to track information relevant to your student records. It is not recognized off campus but is a very important number for all UAH activities. Immigration also has an "A#" which is NOT the same as the UAH ID.

What's the difference between an F-1 student and a J-1 student?
While both are non-immigration visa classifications issued for the purpose of study, an F1 student status is the most common status for students who come to the U.S. to pursue a degree and are “self-funded” (graduate assistantships, scholarships, personal, and family funds included) and a J1 student status is reserved for students who are participating in an established educational exchange (an agreement between UAH and a foreign university), and are funded by the US government or the home country government or by an international organization dedicated to supporting international exchange.

The expectation of F and J students to maintain legal status in the U.S. and fulfill an educational objective are similar. While there are small differences in the F1 and J1 student immigration laws, there are many more similarities. Students in a J1 visa classification are expected to meet with an international student advisor upon arriving on in addition to participating in new student orientation.