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Immigration Regulations and
Online Documents
Online Documents:
Immigration Regulations:
USCIS
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service also referred to as
Immigration or USCIS is a branch of the U.S. Department of Justice. Formally
known as the Immigration and Naturalization Service, or INS, the USCIS, approves
the applications for the students and other visitors to enter the country,
maintains records on all non-immigrants, and has a jurisdiction over the cases,
such as change as status, employment, etc.
I-20 Certificate of Eligibility for Non-Immigration (F-1) Student Status
I-20 forms certify that the student whose name appears on the form has applied
and been accepted to the U.S. school named on the form After receiving this
document, students may use it to apply for F-1 student visa U.S. Consulate
abroad. This document is also used for travel purposes or to transfer form one
school to another. Students must maintain this document at all times and apply
for a new one, if an extension or change of program/level is needed.
DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status
This document is used to apply for a J-1 exchange visitor visa at a US consulate
abroad, to leave and return to the US, to transfer from one school to another
and to extend the period of stay in the US. This form is used by both students
and visiting scholars who are sponsored either by U.S. government, home country
government or Monmouth College, or another agency or institution. Students are
required to keep this document valid at all times and apply for a new one, if an
extension is required.
International students who enter the United States have agreed to follow the
regulations of their immigration status. It is important to pay close attention
to these regulations because they affect your academic study, travel and
employment in the U.S.
Students are legally responsible for maintaining their status by understanding
and complying with these regulations. If you are not sure of a particular aspect
of maintaining your status, consult with the Intercultural Office. It is not
advisable to rely on information given to you by other sources. The regulations
change periodically, and only the Intercultural Office can provide you with
proper advice.
To maintain your status with U.S. Immigration, you must:
- Keep your passport and I-20/DS-2019 form valid at all times
- Attend the school you were authorized to attend as a student as per your
I-20/DS-2019
- Carry a full course study (3 units/quarter or 12 credits/semester). Students who
become ill or are graduating may drop below a full load but they should fill out
the Reduced Course Load Form and receive permission from the International
Office.
- Apply for an extension of program at least 45 days prior to the expiration date
of your I-20/DS-2019 form, if more time needed to complete your studies.
- Request a new I-20/DS-2019 if changing from one level of study to another (or if
changing major) at least 30 days before beginning classes at new level of study.
- Complete transfer to another school no later than 15 days after beginning
classes at new school. For students on F-1 status, school transfer must be
initiated within 60 days period after the completion of the program or the
ending date of the OPT. J-1 students need to transfer by the end date on the
DS-2019
- Obtain a work authorization prior to the beginning date of your off-campus
employment. Students must refrain from off-campus employment unless legally
authorized by the INS or the Director of Intercultural Life
- Not commit any felonies (serious crimes)
Please realize that although this office is committed to doing its best to
assist you, it is your responsibility to maintain your nonimmigrant status at
all times and to comply with the College academic policies/procedures.
Travel Information
Before traveling out of the US, Your I-20 or J document has
to be endorsed by the
PDSO for you to travel. The endorsement is valid for a one year period from the
date that it has been signed or until the expiration date of the I-20 or J
document, whichever comes first. The expiration date is given on item #3 of the
J document and on item #5 of the I-20.
To maintain your nonimmigrant legal status, you must always be in possession of
a valid passport, your I-20/J document must correctly reflect your degree
objective, educational level and funding, you must be a full-time student* and
you must follow USCIS guidelines concerning any employment, both on and off
campus. (*Full-time means that you must take and complete: 12 credit hours for
undergraduate students, 9 credit hours for graduate students and 6 credit hours
for a graduate student with an assistantship.)
J-1 scholars, staff and faculty maintain status by pursuing their original
objective and goals, maintaining correct funding information and engaging in
activities as described in #4 on the J document.
Students are expected to return to campus by the first day of class each
semester. Travel authorization to return after that date is not to be understood
to mean that permission has been granted to miss any classes. Students who
return to campus after classes have begun are responsible for missed coursework
as determined by their professors. Professors may impose penalties for missing
classes. Therefore, students must speak with individual professors prior to the
start of a semester, whenever possible, to make necessary arrangements.
Likewise, students who plan to travel during a given semester must make
arrangements, prior to departure, with professors from each class he/she is
enrolled in at that time.
Travel Signature
The certification signatures on I-20/DS-2019 forms are valid for 6-12 months.
The signature is required for travel purposes and can be obtained at the
Intercultural Life Office only.
Visa
A Visa is either a multicolored stamp or computerized document affixed to a page
in the passport by a U.S. Consular office abroad. It allows international
visitors to travel to the U.S. as long as the visa has not expired. Once
visitors are admitted into the US, visas are no longer the most important
documents governing their status. A visa is used only for travel to the US, but
it is not used to determine how long individuals may stay in the US.
Immigration Status
This is the immigration classification USCIS gives international visitors when
they enter the US (such as F-1/J-1 status). The status is written on the I-94
card (see below). Under certain circumstances, individuals can apply for a
change of immigration status within the United States. Students and scholars who
wish to change their status should consult with the Office of
Intercultural Life.
Passport
Your passport is issued by the government of the country of which you are
citizen. It can be used as a primary identification document. Replacement or
extension of passport has to be valid for 6 months into the future. Check the
expiration date frequently and apply well in advance (at least 6 months prior to
ending date).
I-94 Arrival Document Record
The I-94 is a small card (usually white) that international visitors receive
upon arrival to the US. It contains an eleven-digit arrival/departure number,
the person’s name, birth date, citizenship, the date of entry into the US, and
the immigration status given. This important document is used to establish the
duration of the legal status while in the United States. Individuals in F-1/J-1
student status should have “D/S” written on their I-94 cards. This refers to the
legal ending date of their stay in the US. (See D/S – Duration of Status below).
Visitors will be asked to submit the I-94 card to the airline when leaving the
country.
D/S – Duration of Status
Individuals in F-1/J-1 status are allowed to stay in the country for the
duration of their program of study as long as they maintain their student status
at all times. Duration of Status (D/S) refers to the period during which the
student is pursuing full-time studies or post-completion training. J-1 students
are permitted 30 days (grace period) after end of their academic program before
they must leave the U.S. F-1 students have a grace period of 60 days.
Attention all VISA applicants
The Department of State (DOS) has indicated, without giving precise details that
certain visa applications will receive greater scrutiny. This may include males
between the ages of 16 and 45 from the following countries. These countries are
Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Indonesia,
Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan,
Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, and the United Arab
Emirates, and Yemen. Please note that others may be subject to this procedure at
the discretion of the DOS. This procedure may take 1 month or more, so plan
accordingly.
Before traveling, you may wish to review the specific instructions and
procedures of the U.S. consulate or embassy where you will be applying for your
visa. See the following website for links to all U.S. consulates and embassies
worldwide, http://travel.state.gov
Recommendations from Office of Intercultural Life
Keep copies of all documents issued to you (I-20, J document, I-94(s) (front and
back), visas and passport) in a safe place.
Give up your current I-94 upon departure from the U.S. (unless you are traveling
on auto revalidation to Canada or Mexico, See Information below).
Give copies of all new documents to OIL (including new U.S. visas and new I-94’s
obtained upon re-entry to the U.S.).
Carry original proof of financial support documents when re-entering the U.S.
This may be required for entry.
Traveling to Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean
(If you are not a citizen of one of these countries then follow the procedures
below)
Auto revalidation of visa: if you travel less than 30 days to Canada, Mexico, or
certain Caribbean Islands you may re-enter the U.S. with your present expired or
a valid Non-immigrant F or J visa in your passport. In order to re-enter the
U.S. you not only need the expired or valid visa but also a valid passport, an
endorsed I-20/J document, a valid I-94 and a letter from OIL to ensure that you
retain your I-94 card(s). See the exceptions below.
Exceptions
Auto revalidation is cancelled if you choose to apply for a U.S. visa at the
U.S. consulate/embassy in one of these countries and are denied.
- Canada
- Mexico
- The Caribbean
Citizens of Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, Sudan, North Korea, and Cuba are not
eligible for automatic revalidation when traveling to Canada, Mexico, or the
Caribbean Islands. Citizens from these countries must have a valid visa before
they may re-enter the U.S.
If you remain in Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean Islands for 30 days or longer,
you must obtain a re-entry visa at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Your
application for a re-entry visa may be the lowest priority and may be denied.
General Travel Information
Obtaining a re-entry visa: Your I-20/J document has been endorsed for
traveling outside the U.S. You must obtain a valid re-entry visa at the U.S.
Embassy or Consulate before returning to the U.S.
General Documents
Transferring From Monmouth College
To transfer out of Monmouth College to another U.S. educational institution
which is activated in SEVIS (Student & Exchange Visitor System), you must first
get admission from the institution you want to transfer to, and then notify the
Director of Intercultural Life of your intent to transfer by completing the
transfer form.
(Please complete this form Transfer Form if you intend to transfer out of
Monmouth College to another U.S. educational institution which is activated in
SEVIS, to notify the Office of Intercultural Life of your intent).
After receiving your completed form, the Director of Intercultural Life will
determine the appropriate ‘release date’, list that date in section B below, and
fax this form to the new school to which you intend to transfer to. The PDSO
will also update your SEVIS record as a transfer out and indicate in the system
the release date and the institute to which you will transfer. The release date
for students will normally be the end of the current semester.
Students wishing to cancel a transfer request must notify the Director of
Intercultural Life of such change prior to the release date indicated on this
form.
Once the release date is reached, the new institute to which you intend to
transfer to will gain full access to your SEVIS record and is then responsible
for administering your program. They will then be able to issue you a new
transfer I-20/DS-2019. You will need to contact the staff handling international
student issues at the new institute about completing the required transfer
procedures. Simply receiving the new school’s I-20/DS-2019 form does not
complete the transfer process
F-1 Documents
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Form
CPT is an F-1 student benefit. It is authorization for employment which is an
integral part of an established curriculum and is related to a student’s major
area of study. This can be defined as: alternate work/study, internship,
cooperative education (CO-OP) or other type of required internship or practicum.
Click here for detailed information regarding CPT. The following downloadable
form is needed to apply for CPT: CPT Certification Form
Social Security Number (SS #)
Social Security Number is needed for employment. If you plan to work you must
have a Social Security number. You can obtain a support letter for the
application at the Intercultural Life Office and apply at the office in
Galesburg. At the office you would need to fill out the necessary paper work
needed to obtain the SS#.
Program Extension
/ Academic Advisor Recommendation Form
To be filled out by student academic advisor and
submitted to the OIL by the student
Student
Request Form
Should be used when requesting any of the following changes on your I-20
- Change of major
- Travel endorsement
- Change of funding
- Program Extension
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
OPT is an F-1 student benefit. It is authorization for employment directly
related to a student’s major of study. The following downloadable forms are
needed to apply for OPT:
In order to apply for optional practical training, you must be able to respond,
“Yes”, to the following questions:
1. Is your I-20 current? Does it reflect your current field of study and
educational level?
2. Do you have a valid, unexpired passport?
3. Have you had less than 12 months of full-time curricular practical training (CPT)?
4. Have you been a full-time student for one full academic year?
5. Have you been full-time as an F-1 student every semester you attended
Monmouth (12 credit hour minimum)?
If you have answered “no” to any of these questions you will need to speak with
an immigration counselor in OIL by phone (309-457-2241) or during walk-in hours.
If you answered “yes” to all of the questions, you will need to complete the OPT
forms. All of the OPT forms are available online and may be downloaded from the
web.
After completing the OPT Certification form, you must make an appointment for an
OPT follow-up session. During the OPT follow-up session you may turn in your
completed paperwork and ask individual questions of the Director of
Intercultural Life. Please allow 5 workings days for the Director to process
your OPT paperwork. You will be given a pick-up slip for your OPT paperwork when
you turn it in. Mailing instructions will be given to you at the time you pick
up your OPT application.
Off-Campus Employment Based on Severe Economic Hardship:
Employment authorization due to severe economic hardship is difficult to obtain.
It is a very limited option for students who can prove extreme
unforeseen economic
hardships. The application must be submitted to and approved by the
Office of Intercultural Life.
Students interested in this option should see the Director of Intercultural
Life. |
