New International StudentOrientation:

International Coordinators: Vida Bonsu (Takoma Park/Silver Spring campus only)

Heidi Russell-Kalkofen (Rockville and Germantown campuses)

Germantown WEDNESDAYS ONLY in SA150 - CIMS

Marlon Vallejo (Rockville Campus only)

General Information

Email: I20questions@montgomerycollege.edu

Telephone: (240) 567-5043

BEING AN F-1 STUDENT AT MC

UNDERSTANDING AND KEEPING YOUR LEGAL F-1 STATUS IN THE UNITED STATES

MAKING SURE YOU HAVE THE CORRECT AND CURRENT MONTGOMERY COLLEGE I-20 FOR “CONTINUED ATTENDANCE”

DOCUMENTS AND PAPERS

WHAT DO ALL THESE PAPERS MEAN??

WHAT ONES ARE IMPORTANT TO KEEP??

HOW DO I USE THESE DOCUMENTS?

Your Passport

Your passport is your most important proof of your identity (NOT your F-1 status).

It must be valid while you are in the United States (and to travel to other countries).

Contact your country’s Embassy in Washington DC to learn their procedure for extending a passport. (it can take from one day to 3 months to extend!)

Your United States Visa

A Visa is glued into your passport by the United States Consulate OUTSIDE of the US.

The Name on your visa should match your Passport name (though it

does not have a place for a ‘middle name’ so may show two ‘first or given’ names)

Your United States Visa (continued)

The Visa is to help you ENTER the United States until the date it “expires” (for the last week or two it is valid you may need to explain your plans to the border officers to enter the US). – If the visa expires while you are inside the U.S. it is

NOT a problem. If you travel outside the U.S., and your visa has

expired, you will need to renew it before re-entering the U.S.***– ***EXCEPT some short term travel to Canada, Mexico,

or Caribbean Islands that border the US

Your I-94 Card

Your I-94 card shows your Legal F-1 status in the United States (Not used for identity)

It is given to you at the border when you enter the United States and is usually stapled in your passport

It has an 11 digit ID number

Do not lose this card!

Your I-94 Card (continued)

If you Changed Status

inside the United States,

your I-94 card will be your I-797

Notice of Action for your Change

Of Status to F-1. Remove the right portion to

Staple it onto your original,

I-94 (white card). *Keep the left part

Safe as it has a lot information on it.

I-94 Card NEWS!!

The Name you wrote on your I-94 is your legal name in the United States. SEE the Office if you have questions

I-94s will be CHANGING this Fall so will be different the next time you travel. They will become electronic and automatically match your passport name.

You give up your I-94 when you depart the United States and get a NEW one each time you enter (**EXCEPT when travelling to Mexico, Canada, or the Caribbean Islands for a short trip)

F-1 Student I-94 cards do NOT have an end date = you can stay as LONG as you are a student “In Status”!

To Review…Visa versus Status

The VISA is the sticker in your passport that lets enter the U.S. and return after travel.– It is placed in your passport by the US Consulate

STATUS is your legal “state” inside the U.S.– It is given to you by USCIS and recorded on your

I-94 card.– It is also verified through the information on your

I-20 and in your I-20 computer record.

Your form I-20AB “Certificate of Eligibility”

Your I-20 is the printout of a government computer database about your F-1 status

It shows important information about:– You! (Name, citizenship, birthdate)– Your school (campus and location)– Your major/field of study– How LONG (until what date) you will be a student– Your expenses and financial support

**If ANY of the above changes you must get a NEW printout with the new information!!

I-20 SAMPLE

Box 1 – Personal Information

Box 2 – Campus Information # 3 – MUST say “continued

attendance at this school”#5 – shows government title of

your major and ***the DATE your I-20 ENDS!!

#6 – will change if you move from EL to EN English

#8 – must change if your sponsorship changes

TRAVEL SIGNATURE on last page – page 3

SEVIS: Student and Exchange Visitor Information System

Your I-20 has a bar-code and number above it. This is your “SEVIS number”.

SEVIS electronically reports information such as the following to USCIS (U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services:– Personal addresses: US (no PO Box) and Home country– Financial Information: estimated costs and sponsorship– Academic Program: major changes, extensions, full-

time/part-time enrollment– Employment Information: requests and authorization for

any off-campus employment – Dependent Information– Termination or completion of studies– Transfer from one school (or campus) to another

Keeping Information Current

Make the Change of Address with the Admissions and Registrar’s Office on your campus. This must be done within 10 days of moving.

Change your Major with the Registrar’s Office (Speak with an Academic counselor if you have questions)

We will immediately update this information in the SEVIS system. Remember all “Official” information and notifications are sent to

you on your Montgomery College email. You should check it on MyMC daily!! But ALSO update your personal email with the Registrar’s office if it changes.

Keep Sponsor Information current

All Sponsorship changes MUST be in writing. The STUDENT must write why any change is made

– NEW sponsors must submit all sponsorship documents: Affidavit of Support, Bank letter, Proof of Income, and the signed Sponsor Responsibility Document

Continuing sponsors do not need to submit documents unless specified by the Coordinator

– Sponsors ENDING or STOPPING sponsorship (before the date on the original Affidavit of Support) must submit a letter to the International Coordinators AND the to the student 30 days before sponsorship ends

A Student may LOSE F-1 STATUS if new sponsorship documents are not provided within 30 days

Sponsorship information is for the I-20 ONLY. It is NOT shared with other College offices or any other parties.

Maintaining (keeping) Your Legal F-1 Status in the United States

Enroll Full-time for classes each Fall and Spring semester. – Full time is usually 12

academic hours, (known as “billing hours” at MC)

There are a limited number of reasons for under-enrollment. The International Student Coordinator must authorize under-enrollment.

Maintaining (keeping) Your Status continued

Enroll for “Credit”. Taking a course for “Audit” and Non-Credit/WDCE courses do not count toward the full-time requirement.

Withdrawal (dropping the course after the first week and receiving a grade of “W”) does not count toward the full-time requirement.

YOU MUST ENROLL IN AND COMPLETE THE REQUIRED 12 BILLING HOURS TO REMAIN IN F-1/STUDENT STATUS.

On-Line Courses

ONLY ONE ON-LINE COURSE PER

SEMESTER WILL COUNT TOWARD THE

FULL TIME ENROLLMENT (12 credit)

REQUIREMENT

(9 credits must be on a campus – “Blended” classes count as on campus)

Maintaining (keeping) Your Status continued

Make “normal” academic progress.– Maintain an average gpa of 2.0 (grade of C)

Some grades may be lower if others are higher– Do not repeat courses more than the allowed number of times

Graduate on time (by date on #5 on I-20)– OR extend* program for valid reasons

*Need documentation on WHY more time is needed– From Medical Doctor or Academic Counselor

*Need proof of continued financial support from sponsor

Maintaining (keeping) Your Status continued

Get your I-20 signed each time you travel outside of the United States

Make sure the information on your I-20 is correct and up-to-date

Depart the United States within 15 days of stopping studies (there is a 60 day period for transferring or after graduation)

Follow United States federal and state laws– Especially DO NOT WORK UNLESS YOU HAVE

LEGAL, WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION

TRAVEL INFORMATION

If you travel outside of the United States the I-20 must be signed on page 3 to allow reentry into the U.S.

If your visa has expired you must obtain a new visa for re-entry to the U.S*.

*EXCEPT when travelling to countries immediately bordering the United States: Mexico, Canada, and Island countries In the Caribbean that touch US waters (except Cuba)

You can travel inside of the U.S. without the endorsement on page 3.

See the International Coordinator TWO WEEKS before traveling.

– Make any travel plans between semesters AFTER you know the date of your last exam.

WHO CAN HELP YOU??? ACADEMIC COUNSELING

**Academic Counselors– Assist New Students: How to be successful working with

American faculty, prepare for your degree, – Advice and documents to help you maintain your F-1 status.– Assist all Students: Transfer Preparation and Scholarships– Located in the Counseling Center

Additional Resources for all students:

Department (major) Advisors

Transfer Center

Working in the U.S.

You must have written AUTHORIZATION from an International Coordinator to be LEGALLY employed either ON or OFF-

CAMPUS!!

DO NOT WORK OFF CAMPUS WITHOUT LEGAL PERMISSION.

F-1 Employment in the U.S.

F-1 students may work ON CAMPUS or for a company doing business as part of the campus. **These jobs are very limited – Look for “Student Assistant” positions on eJobs (through MyMC) and complete paperwork through the Financial Aid Office

After one academic year (generally) students MAY be able to apply for off-campus work authorization for experience in their academic (major) field

Plan ahead and get additional information and help!

EMPLOYMENT RESOURCES

Student Employment Services helps students prepare for jobs (resumes and mock job interviews) and can help you find a job

Internships through department advisors and the Cooperative Education Office.

On-campus Student Assistant jobs listed on eJobs. New students usually not hired.

“First Friday” Information Sessions ON the ROCKVILLE CAMPUS – The First Friday of each month regular classes are in session. (Check MyMC calendar for times and place)

WHEN TO SEE A COORDINATOR***ALWAYS READ EMAILS FROM OUR OFFICE FOR UPDATES AND DEADLINES

TRAVELTwo weeks before departureRegistered and paid for next semester (between terms)Get help to apply for a visa stamp

TROUBLE (if we can’t help we’ll refer you) TRANSFER

Bring forms when new school requires themBe SURE how your credits will transfer FIRST (see Counselors)We can only release your I-20 to ONE SCHOOL

TO EXTEND AN I-20 THAT IS ENDING/COMPLETING WORK PERMISSION (appointment needed for off-campus)

HOW TO SEE A COORDINATOR

Visit the Office during WALK IN Hours for:On-campus work forms, travel signatures (no visa application), questions about whether to see an Academic Counselor, application packets, transfer forms signed, other simple issues.

APPOINTMENT REQUIRED for:Off-campus work authorization, visa applications, letters of reference or any specialized letter, serious academic issues, change or problem with financial sponsorship, I-20 extension

Office Hours will be POSTED at the Office, listed on the webpage, and available by phone. CALL for information and Appointments.

Actual EMERGENCIES (emergency travel, personal crisis, etc) are seen as soon as possible and may be referred to other offices

Student and Office Staff can help with many issues – ask them!!