Massachusetts Institute of Technology ISO VIRTUAL FORUM · 2021. 6. 21. · INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS OFFICE Massachusetts Institute of Technology New Admit Visa Documents ¨Certificate

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS OFFICE

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

ISO VIRTUAL FORUM: NEW STUDENTS

Q&A

TUESDAY, JUNE 8, 20219:00AM – 10:00AM EASTERN U.S. TIME

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS OFFICEMassachusetts Institute of Technology



New Admit Visa Documents

¨ Newly Admitted Student Information – “Getting Started”(http://iso.mit.edu/students/getting_started.shtml)

¨ iMIT (http://imit.mit.edu)¤ MIT ISO Online Portal¤ “Admission” menu to request visa document

n “New F-1 Student Application” (Form I-20)n “J-1 Application for New Student” (Form DS-2019)nComplete ALL eforms in the application menu

¨ International students will need MIT Kerberos ID before submitting their application for a Certificate of Eligibility (Form I-20 or DS-2019) on iMIT

http://iso.mit.edu/students/getting_started.shtml

http://imit.mit.edu/




¨ Certificate of Eligibility processing time = 15 business days

¨ Students will be sent electronic copy of Form I-20 to students to download, sign, print and use to apply for entry visa and enter the U.S.

¨ J-1 visa applicants will be express mailed a paper original Form DS-2019

¨ Students can arrive to the U.S. no earlier than 30 days prior to the Fall 2021 Registration Day on September 7, 2021 (arrive no earlier than August 8, 2021)



“Getting Started”



iMIT: ISO International Student Portal

STUDENT NAME



iMIT: ISO International Student Portal

STUDENT NAME



Financial Support Documentation

¨ https://iso.mit.edu/getting-started/requesting-an-i-20-or-ds-2019/financial-documentation-requirements/

¨ Costs of Attendance¤ Tuition¤ Student Activity Fee¤ Health Insurance¤ Living Expenses for Students¤ Additional Living Expenses and Health Insurance for dependent family members (required)

¨ Guidance on accepted documentation, for both I-20/DS-2019 issuance and to present to U.S. Embassy/Consulate at visa interview and to U.S. Customs and Border Protection upon entry to the U.S.

¨ Financial documentation must be submitted at time of Form I-20/DS-2019 request in iMIT¤ If financial support changes, students notify ISO in iMIT to request an updated Form

I-20/DS-2019

https://iso.mit.edu/getting-started/requesting-an-i-20-or-ds-2019/financial-documentation-requirements/




¨ Individuals already in the US¤ F-1: Coordinate process of SEVIS Transfer ¤ J-1: Determine if SEVIS Transfer or Change of Exchange

Visitor Category is necessary¤ H-1B or other status: Change of Status to F-1 application

within U.S.n Certain statuses can start classes while COS application is

pending, but cannot pursue any employment until COS is approved

n B-1/B-2: may NOT begin classes until COS is approvedn F-2 to F-1: may only pursue part-time study until F-1 is approved

¨ Please contact your ISO advisor to discuss options

https://iso.mit.edu/about-iso/student-advisors-by-program/



Visa Processing at U.S. Embassies/Consulates Abroad

¨ Instructions on scheduling visa interviews, and status updates, can be accessed on the US Embassy/Consulate website where you will apply (http://usembassy.gov)

¨ Consulates resuming visa services will depend on staffing levels and any COVID-19 stay-home regulations in the host country

¨ Per U.S. Department of State, consulates will attempt to prioritize student visa applications based on resources and local conditions.

http://usembassy.gov/



Visa Interview Guidance

¨ Once receive your Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 from the ISO, you can then schedule your visa interview appointment (*I-20s sent electronically; DS-2019 express mailed)

¨ Schedule interview time for whatever time you can reserve

¨ Procedure to request earlier visa interview time only possible when have an initial time scheduled (no guarantee time can be changed)¤ “Expedited appointments” may not be available at all

consulates based on staffing




q Visa Applications still subject to security check procedures (Administrative Processing)¤ Can be subject based on a number of factors (country of

birth/citizenship; field of study; travel history; employment history; funding source; family visa history; etc.)

¤ NOT possible to request expedite of Administrative Processing (security checks)

¤ Embassy/Consulate does NOT have control over Administrative Processing (U.S. State Department and other government agencies in the U.S. responsible for these security check procedures)



Visa Interview Process

¨ Actual interview time very short (average time under 1 minute)¨ Be prepared:

¤ Have all of your documents in case Visa Officer requests them (admission letter, financial documentation, Form I-20/DS-2019, passport)

¤ Non-immigrant intent – what are your ties to your home country that you intend to return to?(e.g. family, job offer, own property/house/apartment, etc.)?

¤ Know your MIT degree coursework requirements¨ Why pursue this particular degree program at MIT? ¨ Why not pursue the degree in your home country?¨ How will this degree assist you in pursuing your professional goals

in your home country?




¨ Tracking New Student Visa Processing in iMIT¤ ISO developing two eforms for New Students to report status of

visa processing:n Visa Interview Scheduled

n Date of Visa Interviewn Visa Status Requestedn Consular Post City and Country

n Visa Issued (visa and passport received from U.S. Embassy/Consulate)

n Date visa granted / date visa and passport returned to studentn Issue and expiration date of the visa



Travel Restrictions to the U.S.

q COVID-19 Travel restrictions still in place:q Europe (most Schengen countries, including United

Kingdom and Republic of Ireland)q Chinaq Iranq Brazilq South Africaq India

q May not enter U.S. within 14 days since last physically present in one of the above countries

q ISO ”Visas and Travel”: https://iso.mit.edu/visas-and-travel/

https://iso.mit.edu/visas-and-travel/




q National Interest Exemptions (NIE) to Restrictionsq For F-1 and J-1 student visa holders, eligible for

exemption to travel restriction from the following countries:o F-1 students (and F-2 dependents) can enter under NIE

with copy of USDOS announcemento J-1 students (and J-2 dependents) must obtain NIE from

U.S. ConsulateqEntry to U.S. after August 1, 2021:

qChina, Iran, Brazil, South Africa, IndiaqCurrently eligible for entry to U.S.:

qSchengen area, United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland




q For students applying for visas, NIE will be granted when U.S. Embassy/Consulate issues your F-1 or J-1 visaqValid for entry for a 30 day period

q For students who already have a valid F-1 or J-1 entry visa in their passportq F-1 visa holders (and F-2 dependents) can enter with only a

copy of USDOS announcement q J-1 visa holders (and J-2 dependents) must contact U.S.

Consulate to obtain written NIE permission with each entry to the U.S.

q See ISO notice about NIE conditions from the USDOS

https://iso.mit.edu/news/usdos-provides-clarification-on-nie-for-china-iran-brazil-south-africa-india-effective-08-01-2021-applies-to-travel-on-f-1-opt-stem-opt-extension/



Vaccine Information

q Please see the MIT Medical Vaccine Information Page and FAQ, which has specific information for international students: https://covidapps.mit.edu/vaccine-informationq If you are unable to be fully vaccinated before arrival,

MIT will assist you after you arrive on campus.q Please read all notifications from MIT regarding Vaccine

and Campus Access in case there are any changes due to US Federal or Massachusetts State requirement.

https://covidapps.mit.edu/vaccine-information



New Student Eligibility for On-Campus Employment

¨ International students are eligible for on-campus employment after arrival to the U.S. and the start of their academic term as long as they are enrolled full-time¤ Work for MIT, at MIT, and paid by MIT

¨ Eligible for 20 hours per week maximum while school is in session (usually during fall and spring semesters)

¨ Eligible for more than 20 hours per week during Institute vacation periods (IAP, summer term)¤ For academic programs that have required coursework during

vacation period, maximum on-campus employment is 20 hours per week

¨ See detailed info on ISO Employment webpage

https://iso.mit.edu/employment/



New Student Eligibility for Off-Campus Internships/Employment

¨ To be eligible for F-1 CPT or OPT, students must first be enrolled as a full-time student in F-1 status for at least “one full academic year” ¤ Must establish their F-1 student visa status by physically

arriving to the U.S. and pursuing on-campus instruction¤ A remote instruction term abroad does NOT currently

count towards eligibility ¨ J-1 visa holders must meet academic training

eligibility requirements¨ See detailed info on the ISO Employment webpage




ISO Online Resources

q ISO Website: https://iso.mit.eduq Getting Started: https://iso.mit.edu/getting-

started/q ISO ”Visas and Travel”: https://iso.mit.edu/visas-

and-travel/q MIT Immigration Alerts & Updates: https://iso.mit.edu/news-and-announcements/major-immigration-updates/q ISO Advisor Point-of-Contact:http://iso.mit.edu/about/student-advisor.shtml

https://iso.mit.edu/

https://iso.mit.edu/getting-started/


https://iso.mit.edu/news-and-announcements/major-immigration-updates/

http://iso.mit.edu/about/student-advisor.shtml



Life at MIT Resources

q “Life at MIT” webpage: https://iso.mit.edu/life-at-mit/q Transitioning to MIT

q Connect with Student Cultural Groupsq Obtain SIM card before arrival to USq Understanding Tipping

qCultural Adjustmentq Understand Culture Shock and the 4 adjustment phasesq Americanisms (Hi, how are you?…and what it really means, etc.)q Idioms (The ball is in your court, etc.)

q Programs & Eventsq ISO Programs - ”Navigating MIT” Series in fallq Partner Programs- Language Conversation Exchange (LCE)

q And more!q Subscribe to ISO Newsletter (you will automatically be

subscribed in Fall 2021, but you can subscribe for summer)

https://iso.mit.edu/life-at-mit/


INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS OFFICEMassachusetts Institute of Technology IAP 2019

Pre-Submitted Questions




I know that if I and my dependents travel to US earlier in July with B-1/B-2 visas (due to some family reasons), I will need to re-enter US in mid-August with F-1 visa in order to attend orientation and start my classes. Will my family members need to re-enter US too? If yes, should they re-enter with me in August or can they do it later since they will not be studying/attending college? (All of us have received both B and F visas in my homecountry)

Yes. If you and/or your family members enter the U.S. in tourist or some other status, all would need to depart the U.S. and make new entry in your F-1 student visa status (and dependents in their F-2 dependent status). We do not recommend entering in another status, but rather planning arrival for up to 30 days prior to the Fall term start date (no earlier than August 8, 2021). We also recommend, if possible, students arrive first and get settled in before having family members join you in teU.S.




Is there a template for the proof of finances within the financial Information required for the F-1 Visa application?Each financial institution will have their own format of their financial statements. Ideally we would like clarification of the exchange rate of foreign currency to U.S. dollars, but we can calculate the exchange rate at the time of processing your Form I-20 (or Form DS-2019 for J visa applicants).If you have a private or family sponsor providing funds, a letter must be issued by the sponsor confirming they are providing you (and should include your name) a specific amount of funds (in US dollars) for the purpose of your study at MIT. They just also provide the financial statement showing that those funds are available. Please see the financial documentation guidance on the ISO website.

https://iso.mit.edu/getting-started/requesting-an-i-20-or-ds-2019/financial-documentation-requirements/




When is the appropriate time to arrive on campus if I plan to get vaccinated in the US? Most likely, I won't be vaccinated until my arrival in the US. Can I make an appointment for vaccination at MIT under the school health insurance? I am planning to arrive by mid-august, would this plan flexible enough for me to get fully vaccinated before the class start date?

Students can arrive no earlier than 30 days prior to their program start date (for Fall 2021, arrive no earlier than August 8, 2021). MIT Medical will provide updates on vaccine procedures over the summer as more details are available. If you have any questions, you can also email MIT Medical directly ([email protected]).

mailto:[email protected]




I have already submitted my I-20 Request in iMIT. It should be under verification process. Is it possible to anticipate and book a visa appointment within the next 10-15 days?Once the Form I-20 (or Form DS-2019) is issued by the ISO, you will receive an email confirmation with the SEVIS ID number and School/Program Number – both which are needed in order to complete the Form DS-160 Visa application form before a visa interview can be scheduled. While the Form I-20 will be attached to the email notification, since the Form DS-2019 original must be sent by express mail, students can use the emailed SEVIS ID number and School/Program Code to schedule the interview (while planning for some days to receive the document via express mail).




I have submitted my request in iMIT for my initial visa document, but have not received notification that the document has been issued. It has been more than 15 business days, who can I contact for an update on the status of my document?ISO does process documents in the order they are received with the goal of processing the documents within 15 business days. Please double-check that you have submitted all of the required eforms in iMIT.If you have not been notified of approval of your document request, please contact your ISO Advisor directly via email, or you can contact the ISO by phone (617-253-3795), for an update.





I have been waiting for my i-20 processing for a week. I had deferred last year and hence, I have a SEVIS ID from last year. Also, I have added a dependent (spouse F2) on my i-20 application this year. Will my last year's SEVIS ID change or I can go ahead with DS-160 with my previous year SEVIS ID?Students who have deferred there in-person start date in the U.S. will need to submit a “New F-1 Application” or “New J-1 Application” in iMIT to have a new Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 issued. Students will need to wait for notification of the new visa document being issued to confirm if the document can be issued with the same SEVIS ID number or if a new record was required, before completing a new DS-160/scheduling a new visa interview.




Is it a bad idea to tell the consular officer that we are interested in working in the US for a few years after MIT graduation?While international students in F-1 or J-1 status can earn eligibility for post-degree training authorization (F-1 Optional Practical Training or J-1 Academic Training), and visa officers understand this benefit is available, as outlined earlier in the presentation students still need to prove at time of visa application that they do not intend to immigrate to the U.S. and have ties to their home country that they wish not to abandon.




Does Canadian student only need to bring the I-20 form with them when cross the border?While Canadian Citizens are not required to obtain an entry visa from the U.S. Embassy/Consulate before entry to the U.S., students must present their valid passport, Form I-20 (or Form DS-2019 for entry in J-1 status), letter of admission to MIT, and original financial support documentation.The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (USCBP) officer may ask similar question about the purpose and goal of pursuing your degree at MIT, and your ties to your home country (non-immigrant intent).




Will there be any issues with my F1 visa if i travel from a different country than the country in which the visa was issued? (visa obtained in Germany, travelling from Ireland)It is not a problem if your entry visa was issued by a U.S. Embassy/Consulate in one country but you will be entering the U.S. from a different country.Please be aware of the country you are traveling from may be subject to any travel restrictions to the U.S., or if there are exemptions to any travel restrictions.




I have received a scholarship in the form of a monthly research stipend. In addition to opening a US bank account, is there any tax forms (or related document) that I should fill?After arrival to campus, students working on-campus will need to complete certain payroll paperwork, including the Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification Form, with the MIT Atlas Service Center and will apply for a U.S. Social Security Number.

https://atlas.mit.edu/atlascenter/

https://iso.mit.edu/employment/social-security-number-ssn/




How do I update the financial information (to include a scholarship I recently received)? will it be a problem if my I-20 is not updated in time for my VISA interview?

If your financial information has changed, you can request an updated Form I-20/Form DS-2019 by logging into iMIT, select the left-hand menu “F-1 Student Services” (or “J-1 Student Services”), and select the button for “Funding Source Update” so a new document can be issued. You will need to update all of your funding documentation to show how you will meet costs of attendance.




I listed in my DS-160 that I have no immediate family, but extended family (aunt and uncle) living in the US. Do I need to prepare any specific answer if questioned about this/is this a point that can negatively impact my visa interview?Students should be honest if they have extended family members in the U.S., especially if they live close to MIT and if one of the reasons you chose to apply to/attend MIT was because your have family that live local to campus. Visa officers want applicants to be honest.




As a graduate student receiving a stipend that covers all my tuition and living costs at MIT, my I20 indicates that assistantship is my only source of funding and personal funds = $0. Do I need to carry any personal finance proof at my interview? Have students receiving a stipend been asked about personal finances and if so how much do I need to show?

If a student’s award from MIT will cover all estimated costs of attendance as reflected in the Form I-20/DS-2019 request, then carrying additional personal funding documentation is not required. However, it may be beneficial to carry your personal financial documentation with you just in case you are asked about how you might cover any additional/unexpected costs.




Discover Loan is requesting Form I-20 in order to approve my loan, but I need the loan approval in order to complete proof of funds (and then get the Form I-20). How should I proceed?

Our understanding is that Discover Loan will issue a letter confirming the amount of loan that has been approved for a student, but will not release the funds until the have a copy of the student’s Form I-20 and the student has entered the U.S. The MIT ISO will be able to utilize the letter confirming approval of, and the approved amount, of the loan.




For the student loan application, which email address should we reach out to for tuition and course load proof?

If students must provide certain documentation confirming their enrollment status, they can contact the MIT Registrar’s Office.For confirmation of the costs of attendance or billing information, students should contact MIT Student Financial Services Office.

https://registrar.mit.edu/transcripts-records

https://sfs.mit.edu/




Is it possible for CS track EECS majors to be listed as CS instead of EE on i-20 form? Listing CS people as EE 1. leads to unnecessary trouble of explaining the discrepency when applying for visa and2. makes CS people more vunarable to months of administrative processing when applying for visa

If a student has been officially admitted to the EECS program, and specifically to the EE or the CS track and provided by the academic program/department, the Major/CIP code that will appear on the Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 will reflect that information.




Can a J-1 visa student travel outside the U.S. for more than 30 days without being considered to have “abandoned their program"? Which is this time for F-1 visa students?Students must be continuously enrolled as a full-time student and pursuing in-person coursework in order to maintain their F-1 or J-1 student status (with some recent exceptions for continuing students enrolled prior to March 9, 2020 under pandemic conditions). Students can travel for vacation periods or for academic purposes, as long as they are and have been enrolled as a full-time student, and will be enrolled as a full-time student after return to the U.S., can be considered to be maintaining status.For F-1 students, USDHS regulations consider an absence from the U.S. for more than 5 months as more than a temporary departure and would not be maintaining F-1 status. J-1 guidance advises a student must be maintaining their status and eligibility to return to the U.S. after period abroad.




Where can international students get more information about how their assistantship or fellowship award may be subject to income tax withholding, eligibility for a tax treaty, etc.?

The MIT Office of the Vice President for Finance has created a specific website for international students - ”Tax Guidance for Nonresident Aliens”, referring to tax status. This website includes both information about payroll, tax treaties, links to past tax information workshops, and additional resources.

https://vpf.mit.edu/tax-guidance-for-nonresident-aliens




When applying to summer internship, companies do preferred students with specific type of visa (F-1 or J-1)? Or it does not matter at all?

The specific visa status does not matter, but a student must be able to secure appropriate off-campus employment authorization available to F-1 or J-1 visa holders in order to pursue internships. For more information on eligibility for off-campus employment authorization, please review the MIT ISO “Employment” webpage.





Thinking ahead, how does the OPT work for MIT students interested in building a startup company in the US (where they are co-founders)?Working on a startup can be complicated during a student’s program of study, and would require some consultation with your ISO Advisor to determine when and how you may pursue such activity and obtain any necessary employment authorization. We recommend that you first watch the ISO Employment Information Session, linked on the for more details, and that you read through the various employment ISO “Employment” webpage authorization information before scheduling an appointment to meet with your ISO Advisor.The ISO also sponsors presentations by immigration attorneys during the year that speak specifically about longer term employment visa scenarios including startups. The ISO will be sure to advertise these events in our ISO e-newsletter and ISO website.





ISO Online Resources

q ISO Website: https://iso.mit.eduq Getting Started: https://iso.mit.edu/getting-

started/q ISO ”Visas and Travel”: https://iso.mit.edu/visas-

and-travel/q MIT Immigration Alerts & Updates: https://iso.mit.edu/news-and-announcements/major-immigration-updates/q ISO Advisor Point-of-Contact:http://iso.mit.edu/about/student-advisor.shtml


https://iso.mit.edu/getting-started/


https://iso.mit.edu/news-and-announcements/major-immigration-updates/

http://iso.mit.edu/about/student-advisor.shtml

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS OFFICEMassachusetts Institute of Technology

Questions?