Maintaining Status

MAINTAINING YOUR STUDENT VISA STATUS

The Student & Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), 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. Understanding your responsibilities is essential to maintaining a valid student status.

 F students and J Exchange Visitors (students, scholars, and researchers) must pay a $100 SEVIS I-901 fee prior to the visa appointment in addition to any visa issuance or reciprocity fees (based on the country of citizenship).

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 summer is your first semester of enrollment at UAH you are required to enroll full-time during the summer.

Spring: full-time

Summer: (usually optional)

Fall: full-time

Employment:

No more than 20 hours total of on-campus work during fall and spring; full-time on-campus work possible in the summer (max. 32 hrs.-UAH policy) if not enrolled in classes full-time.

NO OFF-CAMPUS employment without specific immigration permission (CPT, OPT, or J1 Academic Training work permission). Attend an off-campus employment workshop or meet with an international student advisor for information.

Unauthorized employment or on-campus employment over the number of hours allowed will be considered a violation of your student visa status.

Changes in Major, Address, financial support, name or degree objective:

You must notify the international student advisor within 10 days of making any of the changes listed above. The information must be updated in SEVIS and often a new I-20 or DS-2019 will be issued to you reflecting the change.

Make academic progress and do NOT let your immigration documents expire:

The I-20 or DS-2019 form must not expire prior to completing your studies at UAH. The end date is listed on the front page. If you know that you cannot complete your studies before the I-20 or DS-2019 expires you should meet with an advisor and are required to submit an extension application to document the reason your end date needs to be extended.

If you fail to make academic progress at UAH you will not be eligible for an extension of your I-20 or DS-2019. This means you must successfully pass classes, pass any required comprehensive exams, and other thesis or dissertation requirements within the normal period of time.

Notify the international student advisor of:

• Intent to transfer to another school
• Change of status/visa classification
• International travel plans to ensure that you obtain an travel signature prior to travel
• Academic dismissal