F-1 Intermediate Workshop

James Dorsett, WSUKatie McGee, WSURosemary Max, MSUChris Bargerstock, MSU

What is this intermediate workshop about? Assumes 18 months of experience with F-1

regulations Basic working knowledge of SEVIS functions Will not cover everything in the F-1 second

step manual Shortened to half day thus covers key

concepts rather than a general overview Time for Q and A throughout presentation Will draw on school experience and

experience of participants

Key intermediate concepts Reporting Registration Reporting Reduced Course Load Employment CPT/OPT/Hardship Transfer/Extension Semester Off Completion/Termination Out of Status/Reinstatement Change of Status Managing Alert Lists

Reporting Registration DHS registration vs. school registration Initial students-within 30 days based on

program start date Continuing students-within 30 days based

on next session start date “What needs to be updated in SEVIS

within the 30 day deadline is that student reported to the academic institution as expected” DHS October 17 2003 Memo

Social security issues and registration

Reporting Reduced Course Load According to the October 17th memo,

RCL if not confirmed within the 30 days can be reported thereafter

School experience and procedure

Other issues regarding RCL Definitions of full time Prior approval: What does it really

mean? Improper course placement: how is

it defined? Resuming full course load in SEVIS

Registration and RCL QUESTION and ANSWER

Employment-CPT Regulations have not changed with SEVIS Regulations still sparse Schools need to set policies and be

consistent Batch problem with adding a third CPT Can now cancel a CPT segment before the

start date of that CPT

Employment-OPT Regulation change includes new OPT after each

higher degree level Can now cancel and OPT request that has not been

adjudicated (4.10 update) Can call help desk to change OPT dates if OPT has

not been sent in (4.10 update) Expediting OPT Interim EAD Card Travel and OPT Reporting requirement for students on OPT I-765/OPT petition received at NSC before

completion date

Employment-Other Issues Severe Economic Hardship Proposed changes at Social Security-

need a job offer to apply for a SSN

Employment QUESTION and ANSWER

Transfer and Extension Transfer is a critical transition time

and burden falls on the student Pick an appropriate release date-

usually last day of semester Summer employment issues Transfer and travel out of US Transfer out form/Transfer in form Transfer pending I-20 to Cont. I-20

Transfer and Extension Must begin at transfer in school within 5

months Transfer during 60 day grace period is still

valid Transfer unnecessary for guest student

taking classes during summer Check in and Transfer: does the student

need to attend for one semester?

Transfer and Extension Extension is one year at at time in

SEVIS (4.10 update) Can go in to SEVIS and give several

back to back extensions Academic or medical reason Verify student eligibility for I-20

extension

Transfer and Extension QUESTION and ANSWER

Semester Off-In the US Two cases in which a student has

permission to NOT be enrolled during a normal term and remain in the US

Authorized medical term off Non-traditional term off-Student has taken

two semesters full time. For example full load in summer and full load in fall, winter/spring can be “off”

DSO indicates the semester off by adjusting the next semester start date

Semester Off-Outside US Rule: absent for more than 5 months

means a new I-20 Goal of SEVIS system is to maintain SEVIS

ID and continuity of SEVIS record How to handle this contradiction? In Salt Lake DHS said they would clear

this up and indicated that in some cases DSO would maintain the record and in other cases DSO would re-issue an I-20

Semester Off-Outside US When to maintain when to re-issue I-

20? Problem with identifying these

students up front Registered for credit while outside of

the United States School experiences

Semester Off QUESTION and ANSWER

Completion and Termination When to complete a student in

SEVIS? After graduation and no open OPT application

Keep in mind students ability to transfer in 60 day grace period

No need to complete after OPT For early completion of program can

use shorten program

Completion and Termination When to terminate a student? SEVIS

offers a multitude of reasonsSome often used reasons: Withdrawn from program Out of status Change of status Absent from country for more than

five months

Out of Status/Reinstatement Terminating a student for failing to

maintain status. Who and how to notify on your campus? Student, academic advisor and student payroll.

Reinstatement-leave the US and return or filing the I-539

School experiences with reinstatement

Completion/Termination/Reinstatement QUESTION and ANSWER

Change of Status F2 to F1-no degree course work

while waiting for COS to be processed.

ICE vs. CIS, ruling pending Long processing times in the US.

Option to go home and re-enter as F-1

Change of Status Other visa types (H, L, J, etc.)

changing to F-1. Long processing times in US Can attend school, no F-1

employment benefits until COS approved

COS approved mid-semester

Managing Alert Lists Students within 45 days of program end

date Active students requiring registration-list

includes OPT people Students in initial status with port of entry

records Students on RCL who need update Nearing OPT/CPT end date Active students requiring status verification Terminated students/adjudication results

Managing Alert Lists Which ones are the most important School experience. How do schools

manage alerts? Audit your data on a regular basis

Other Topics and Q & A FINAL QUESTION and ANSWER