International Scholar Services (ISS) SEVIS Introduction You are not expected to be an expert in every matter of immigration law, nor are we trying to intimidate you with a barrage of acronyms related to the government. This being said, international students have special regulations to follow and these regulations change often! Please do not hesitate to contact International Scholar Services (ISS) with any questions or concerns. Remember that immigration laws can change frequently. Consult ISS, not your friends. What might have been true a year ago may not be true now. You must notify ISS if you have a name change, an address change, a marital status change, or a major change. Definitions Customs You talked with a US Customs and Border Protection customs officer when you first arrived in the US. You most likely had to gather your luggage and may have shown your I-20 form and passport. You may be asked questions about your educational plans. They typically ask if you're carrying fruit, meat, or other prohibited items into the U.S. If the customs officer does not believe that you intend on being a fulltime student, you could be asked to immediately leave the US even though you have an I-20. Almost all students though are approved for entry to the US. You will receive an I-94 form (admission record). Department of State/State Department The Department of State issues your visa and grants you permission to arrive in the country. They do not admit you into the country -- the USCIS does this. They also do not determine your length of stay. DSO or Designated School Official This is a Wilson employee who is granted permission from USCIS to issue an I-20, sign for travel, grant Curricular Practical Training (CPT), authorized Optional Practical Training (OPT), and other services for international students. We currently have three DSO's. Duration of Status or D/S D/S may be written on the top of your I-20 and also printed on the I-94. This means that have been granted permission by Immigration to stay in the United States as long as you are "in status." I-20 Your I-20 was issued by Wilson College stating that you have been admitted as a full-time student and you (or your sponsor) are able to pay for your schooling. It is a white full-sized piece of paper with three pages and a red stamp in the top right corner. Your I-20, in part, determines how long you can stay in the country -- not your visa. I-94 Your I-94 is a small index-card sized piece of paper where you filled out your name and other information. Upon arrival, an immigration agent stamped this. This card does not look very official; however, it is required to prove that you entered the country legally and when you arrived. It should be stapled in your passport. When you leave the United States it will be taken from you, and you will receive a new one upon return to the United States. In Status This means that you are in the country legally and following all the rules. You should be attending school full-time, taking a full course-load, not working illegally, making progress towards your degree, not overstaying your I-20, and you haven't switched majors without notifying the international office. These are just a few things you need to do to stay "in status." SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information Program SEVIS is a database used by the Department of Homeland Security to manage and track international students and exchange visitors on F, J, and M visas. DSO’s (see above) update SEVIS information and issue I-20s. SEVIS keeps track of your entries in and out of the United States, your enrollment status, internships, and other issues. Travel Signatures Individuals on an F visa who intend to travel outside the United States and return, must have written permission from a Wilson College DSO. The DSO will sign page 2 of the I-20 indicating that you are in good status and registered fulltime for the upcoming semester, if applicable. You also must be maintaining good status in the past. Students need to schedule an appointment in advance if a signature is needed. A travel signature is valid for 12 months or until the end of the academic program. The signature for students on post-completion OPT is valid for only 6 months. USCBP (United States Customs and Border Protection) USCPB is a branch of the Department of Homeland Security that oversees global entry at airports and the border. A person would interact with an officer at the first point of entry into the United States. Students would need an unexpired passport, F-1 visa, I-20, SEVIS fee receipt. Continuing students may need to show current enrollment. The officer would stamp the I-20 and I-94 with date and place of arrival, immigration status and expiration of stay in status.Individuals without the required documents may be selected for secondary confirmation. The CBP officer may deny entry into the US or may issue a form I-515A which allows for temporary entry. The student must provide the required information with 30 days. Contact the DSO for assistance. Visa A visa is an endorsement, usually on the passport, which indicates the type of permission for entry into the country for a specific period of time. Common visa types are for student, workers and tourists. The visa is obtained from the US consulate or embassy in another country. The time period on the I-20 and the time period on the visa may be very different. The visa indicates that the person may enter the US. The end date on the student visa may be for only one year. In another country, the visa end date may be four or five years in the future. An early end date is not a problem as long as the student remains in the US in good status. If the student wishes to leave and re-enter the US, then the student must obtain an updated visa from the US embassy or consulate before returning to the US. Volunteering You are allowed to volunteer if you receive no compensation for this and if it’s normally a volunteer position. You may not: get paid, earn credit, or receive any compensation. If your employer gives you something (i.e., a bus ticket) and then puts this on their taxes, it can be linked to you. You cannot take a volunteer position which is normally paid; this is not a true volunteer position. 60 day voluntary departure Graduation Or Program Completion – students have 60 days from graduation or completion of studies to leave the country. Students who transfer to another college or university will follow the new dates on their SEVIS record Authorized Early Withdrawal – Some students may need to withdraw from the college early for extenuating circumstances such as a family emergency, personal matter or another circumstance that requires the student to leave the US prior to the end of the academic program. These students are permitted a 15-day grace period to leave the US. Any stay beyond that is a violation of US immigration policy. Unauthorized Early Withdrawal - Any student who withdraws from Wilson College without authorization MUST immediately leave the US. Any stay beyond that is a violation of US immigration policy. International Students About the College Admissions Timeline Apply To Wilson International Student Enrollment International Scholar Services (ISS) International Resources Getting Ready for Wilson Visa Information Transfer Students Student Services Relevant links ... International Students About the College Admissions Timeline Apply To Wilson International Student Enrollment International Scholar Services (ISS) International Resources Getting Ready for Wilson Visa Information Transfer Students Student Services CONTACT INFORMATIONSarah-Jane FlookCoordinator Student Engagement & International Scholar Services717-262-2536sf6639@wilson.edu International RecruitmentKirsten BilgerAdmissions Counselor 717-264-2986kirsten.bilger@wilson.edu Academic Support Center Michael Bloom FordAcademic Support Center Director and Accessibility Services Coordinator717-262-2773michael.bloomford@wilson.edu International SupportISS@wilson.edu
You talked with a US Customs and Border Protection customs officer when you first arrived in the US. You most likely had to gather your luggage and may have shown your I-20 form and passport. You may be asked questions about your educational plans. They typically ask if you're carrying fruit, meat, or other prohibited items into the U.S. If the customs officer does not believe that you intend on being a fulltime student, you could be asked to immediately leave the US even though you have an I-20. Almost all students though are approved for entry to the US. You will receive an I-94 form (admission record).
The Department of State issues your visa and grants you permission to arrive in the country. They do not admit you into the country -- the USCIS does this. They also do not determine your length of stay.
This is a Wilson employee who is granted permission from USCIS to issue an I-20, sign for travel, grant Curricular Practical Training (CPT), authorized Optional Practical Training (OPT), and other services for international students. We currently have three DSO's.
D/S may be written on the top of your I-20 and also printed on the I-94. This means that have been granted permission by Immigration to stay in the United States as long as you are "in status."
Your I-20 was issued by Wilson College stating that you have been admitted as a full-time student and you (or your sponsor) are able to pay for your schooling. It is a white full-sized piece of paper with three pages and a red stamp in the top right corner. Your I-20, in part, determines how long you can stay in the country -- not your visa.
Your I-94 is a small index-card sized piece of paper where you filled out your name and other information. Upon arrival, an immigration agent stamped this. This card does not look very official; however, it is required to prove that you entered the country legally and when you arrived. It should be stapled in your passport. When you leave the United States it will be taken from you, and you will receive a new one upon return to the United States.
This means that you are in the country legally and following all the rules. You should be attending school full-time, taking a full course-load, not working illegally, making progress towards your degree, not overstaying your I-20, and you haven't switched majors without notifying the international office. These are just a few things you need to do to stay "in status."
SEVIS is a database used by the Department of Homeland Security to manage and track international students and exchange visitors on F, J, and M visas. DSO’s (see above) update SEVIS information and issue I-20s. SEVIS keeps track of your entries in and out of the United States, your enrollment status, internships, and other issues.
Individuals on an F visa who intend to travel outside the United States and return, must have written permission from a Wilson College DSO. The DSO will sign page 2 of the I-20 indicating that you are in good status and registered fulltime for the upcoming semester, if applicable. You also must be maintaining good status in the past. Students need to schedule an appointment in advance if a signature is needed. A travel signature is valid for 12 months or until the end of the academic program. The signature for students on post-completion OPT is valid for only 6 months.
USCPB is a branch of the Department of Homeland Security that oversees global entry at airports and the border. A person would interact with an officer at the first point of entry into the United States. Students would need an unexpired passport, F-1 visa, I-20, SEVIS fee receipt. Continuing students may need to show current enrollment. The officer would stamp the I-20 and I-94 with date and place of arrival, immigration status and expiration of stay in status.Individuals without the required documents may be selected for secondary confirmation. The CBP officer may deny entry into the US or may issue a form I-515A which allows for temporary entry. The student must provide the required information with 30 days. Contact the DSO for assistance.
A visa is an endorsement, usually on the passport, which indicates the type of permission for entry into the country for a specific period of time. Common visa types are for student, workers and tourists. The visa is obtained from the US consulate or embassy in another country. The time period on the I-20 and the time period on the visa may be very different. The visa indicates that the person may enter the US. The end date on the student visa may be for only one year. In another country, the visa end date may be four or five years in the future. An early end date is not a problem as long as the student remains in the US in good status. If the student wishes to leave and re-enter the US, then the student must obtain an updated visa from the US embassy or consulate before returning to the US.
You are allowed to volunteer if you receive no compensation for this and if it’s normally a volunteer position. You may not: get paid, earn credit, or receive any compensation. If your employer gives you something (i.e., a bus ticket) and then puts this on their taxes, it can be linked to you. You cannot take a volunteer position which is normally paid; this is not a true volunteer position.
Graduation Or Program Completion – students have 60 days from graduation or completion of studies to leave the country. Students who transfer to another college or university will follow the new dates on their SEVIS record Authorized Early Withdrawal – Some students may need to withdraw from the college early for extenuating circumstances such as a family emergency, personal matter or another circumstance that requires the student to leave the US prior to the end of the academic program. These students are permitted a 15-day grace period to leave the US. Any stay beyond that is a violation of US immigration policy. Unauthorized Early Withdrawal - Any student who withdraws from Wilson College without authorization MUST immediately leave the US. Any stay beyond that is a violation of US immigration policy.
