{"id":132,"date":"2012-03-12T09:44:36","date_gmt":"2012-03-12T09:44:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/webmanager.nicholls.edu\/international\/?page_id=132"},"modified":"2025-01-17T09:36:40","modified_gmt":"2025-01-17T15:36:40","slug":"maintaining-status","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.nicholls.edu\/international\/maintaining-status\/","title":{"rendered":"Maintaining Status"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"132\" class=\"elementor elementor-132\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-32b4e38 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"32b4e38\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6a3a498\" data-id=\"6a3a498\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f712b9e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f712b9e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Maintaining Status<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5c264cfa elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5c264cfa\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1c5d80ff\" data-id=\"1c5d80ff\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cf41009 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cf41009\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: #000000\">The<\/span> <span style=\"font-size: 14pt\"><strong><span style=\"color: #a6192e\">Department of Homeland Security (DHS)<\/span><\/strong><\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000\">tracks and monitors international students electronically through SEVIS, the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. Colleges and universities are required to report specific events through the SEVIS system.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #000000\">With these requirements, it is very important that you understand and abide by the regulations for international students.\u00a0 The Office of International Student Services is well-equipped to advise on all international student requirements, and federal regulations.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #000000\">It is our responsibility to know the rules and explain them to you, but it is your responsibility to follow the regulations. You may be confused by the many forms, numbers, and deadlines, but if you understand and meet the following requirements, you will be able to maintain your legal status in the U.S.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-206f247 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"206f247\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Important Documents<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3eb8aad elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3eb8aad\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Passport:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>Record of your legal citizenship which must be valid at all times while in the United States.\u00a0 <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>You must maintain the validity of your passport at all times.<\/strong><\/span> \u00a0When entering the U.S. from abroad, your passport must be valid for at least 6 months into the future. Please contact your country&#8217;s embassy or consulate for information about renewing your passport.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><ul><li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Visa:<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong>Allows you to request permission to enter the U.S. and must be presented at the port of entry. Your visa may expire while you are in the U.S., but it must be valid in order to re-enter from abroad (exceptions may include Mexico, Canada and some Caribbean Islands&#8211;see the Automatic Revalidation rule).<\/span><\/li><\/ul><ul><li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">I-20:<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong>Legal document stating educational institution, personal and degree information. Your I-20 must be valid for as long as you participate in an academic program. The information on the I-20 should be checked regularly to ensure accuracy. Please schedule an appointment with an ISS advisor if you need to update your I-20.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><ul><li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>I-94:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>The I-94 is a record of your entry into the U.S. to show that you entered under the correct immigration status. Each time you enter the U.S. you will receive a new stamp in your passport showing the day you entered the country and the mark &#8220;F-1&#8221; and &#8220;D\/S&#8221;. Your I-94 record can be found and printed <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/i94.cbp.dhs.gov\/I94\/#\/recent-search\">here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><ul><li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">SEVIS Fee Receipt (I-901):<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong>Paper or electronic receipt for the SEVIS registration payment. This receipt may be required for future visa interviews and it is recommended you carry it with you during international travel.\u00a0 The SEVIS fee can be paid <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fmjfee.com\/i901fee\/index.html\">here<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4482fa0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4482fa0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Maintaining International Student Status<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-41ebbf9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"41ebbf9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\"><strong><span style=\"color: #000000\">Enroll in a full-time course load, each semester.\u00a0\u00a0<br \/><\/span><\/strong><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><span style=\"color: #000000\">For <u><i>undergraduate<\/i><\/u> students at ÐÓ°É´«Ã½, a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester is considered full-time.\u00a0For <u><i>graduate<\/i><\/u> students, a minimum of 9 credit hours per semester is considered full-time.<br \/><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><br \/>If for any reason you fall below a full-time course load, please contact International Student Services.<\/li><\/ul><ul><li><span style=\"color: #000000\"><span style=\"color: #000000\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\"><b>Keep your local U.S. address up-to-date.\u00a0\u00a0<br \/><\/b><\/span>Students must inform international student services of a change of address within 10 days of moving to a new location.<\/span><\/span><\/li><\/ul><ul><li><span style=\"color: #000000;font-size: 14pt\"><b style=\"font-style: inherit\">Work ONLY with proper employment authorization.<\/b><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 16px\"><span style=\"color: #000000;font-size: 14pt\">\u00a0<\/span> <br \/>Student are permitted to work up to 20 hours a week during the school semester.\u00a0 Off-campus work can be authorized only under certain circumstances.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><ul><li style=\"font-size: 16px\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Stay for the time indicated on your I-20 or DS-2019, and understand your completion date.\u00a0<\/span> <br \/><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\"><u>Your I-20 or DS-2019 is your &#8220;living&#8221; document<\/u>, and is only valid as long as you are a continuing, full-time student in your degree program, or on your approved post-completion training.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/li><\/ul><ul><li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\"><b>Attend the school indicated on your I-20 or DS-2019.<\/b><\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<br \/>Students who attempt to enter or re-enter the USA with an I-20 or DS-2019 for a school they do not plan on immediately attending may incur serious immigration difficulties.<\/li><\/ul><ul><li><b><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">Before international travel, contact International Student Services (ISS).<\/span><br \/><\/b>Obtain a travel signature on your I-20 or DS-2019, in order to re-enter the USA.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/li><\/ul><ul><li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\"><b>Understand your grace period after completion.<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><br \/><i><u>F-1 students<\/u><\/i> have a 60 day grace period following the end of their program of study or authorized OPT Post-Completion Training.\u00a0 They may use this period to depart the USA, continue studies via a change of program, transfer to another school, or apply for Post-Completion OPT.\u00a0 \u00a0<br \/><em><br \/><u>J-1 students<\/u>\u00a0<\/em>have a 30 day grace period following the end of their program of study, or Post-Completion Academic Training.\u00a0 Any transfer or post-completion training requests must be submitted BEFORE the end of your program of study.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li><\/ul><ul><li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\"><b>Do NOT violate the Student Code of Conduct, or U.S. Laws.\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/span><br \/>If an F-1 or J-1 student is <u><i>academically dismissed<\/i> <\/u>(upon suspension or termination), there can be severe immigration consequences.\u00a0 Your SEVIS record can be terminated, and this would require you to leave the USA.\u00a0\u00a0Please view the ÐÓ°É´«Ã½ Student Code of Conduct <a style=\"font-weight: bold\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nicholls.edu\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2019\/09\/Code-of-Student-Conduct-Handbook-2.pdf\">here<\/a><b>.<br \/><\/b><br \/>In the event that a student is <i style=\"font-weight: inherit\"><u>arrested<\/u><\/i><span style=\"font-size: 16px\"> for an alleged crime, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will determine whether additional action is required.\u00a0\u00a0An arrest or conviction that does not result in disciplinary action may still be reported by law enforcement officials to ICE; in which case, ICE officials would have the same discretion to determine whether additional action is warranted.<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-77b29b7 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"77b29b7\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-8cb6eb3\" data-id=\"8cb6eb3\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Maintaining Status The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) tracks and monitors international students electronically through SEVIS, the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. Colleges and universities are required to report specific events through the SEVIS system. 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